Dinghy motor hp

skennelly

What size motor for a 8' 3 person dinghy?

Would a 3.5 or 2.5 work for putting around the harbor?

YYZRC

There are some cool electric outboard options for putting around. I would try that first. 

skennelly

@YYZRC -:pretty expensive compared to a gas.  No?

Any recommendations on electric at a good price point?

YYZRC

I thought money was no object!!

There are a couple of Torqeedos at my marina but I just looked them up and $$$

Dream_Inn

I loved my Merc 3.3hp.  It is extremely efficient on fuel and can actually get my dinghy, with just me in it, up on plane if I sit forward.  I have a 2-stroke one that weighs only 28lbs.

skennelly

skennelly

@Dream_Inn - based on ur comment I'd probably be okay with a 2.5?

skennelly

Think I found a 3.5hp engine for $1050 free shipping

Dream_Inn

Yes, 2.5hp would probably be fine as well, although maybe that little more up to the 3.5 would allow single person to plane like mine.  I did use to have a 2.5hp Nissan, but really like my 3.3 Merc a lot more.

skennelly

@Dream_Inn - I'm pulling the trigger on 3.5

Dream_Inn

FWIW, my dink is almost the same as you show.  I think mine is 8' 6".  I'll also add that I was not happy with an 8hp I tried on it.  It was also a 2 stroke that weighed 56lbs, but without a hard bottom, just was not worth it.  I love the motor and actually letting a friend use it on his hard bottom right now.  He's not sure if he wants to buy it or go with a 9.9hp.  For those saying go with electric, he had an electric and switched because, even with 2 batteries, he found it was a pain to try to keep them charged.  He has dogs and uses it often and dislikes running his generator just to charge them up.  Now, on the other end, another person loved his electric motor but he always had his generator going.  So no big deal keeping it charged.

PickleRick

A 9.9 on your dingy? What are you doing, running your dingy for green peace to get between whales and a whaling boat?  

I ran an electric start 1986 Yamaha 4 stroke for years. Never gave me a bit of problems but that 100 lbs sucked to lift 

skennelly

What I just ordered says it's 41#...not too bad

Liberty44140

You will be just fine. My dad had that exact dinghy with a 4 stroke 4hp merc and it was more than enough power for 4 adults to put put around the harbor. Agree 2.5 would even be fine, I had a 2.5 on a 9' as a kid and it moved 5 people around the harbor with ease. Dad's biggest issue with that WM dinghy was that it was a bit tight for 4 adults.....

skennelly

@Liberty44140 - it will mostly be my wife, me and daughter and small dog.  Perfect for us.

Ian

We have an 8HP 4 stroke Tohatsu (made by Merc) on the 9’ hard bottom, got to 17mph SOG with my son and I in it and on plane - about 400 pounds between us. 

skennelly

@Ian I think Merc is a rebrand of Tohatsu.

Ian

skennelly said:

@Ian I think Merc is a rebrand of Tohatsu.

I thought it was the other way around, either way it’s nice engine.

skennelly

Actually many outboard brands are Tohatsu rebrands.

https://crateinc.com/history-tohatsu-outboards/

andyd

I have a 2hp Honda. I'm not winning any races with it, but it starts easily, sips the fuel and hauls me and a friend around the harbor just fine. Andy.

skennelly

Got my dink setup and the Merc 3.5 hp.  I don't have any experience driving a tiller outboard and I have to say it's more difficult to coordinate than I thought.  LOL.  

I had issues with the little Merc...I was really frustrated.  It ran great initially and then all of a sudden started to run like crud.  It would die and then dump fuel out of the carb indicating a stuck float or something like that.  WTF...brand new outboard.

I took the engine home and ran it on a garbage can full of water and disassembled the carb.  Turns out the float assembly has a rubber plug that covers one of the jets that popped out causing the carb to flood.  Replaced the plug and back in business.

Crazy.

Dream_Inn

That is crazy for a brand new outboard.  QA has sure disappeared!

YYZRC

I wouldn’t have spent that much time on a brand new motor but glad you got her running! 

randy56

It's easy to over steer, there may be a way to tighten the friction, so it is a little stiffer to steer. Try that. 

skennelly

Follow up on this.  I've determined that storing the motor in a vertical position is key.  Laying it down does something to the carb float.  Luckily on my 270 it hangs nicely on one of the cockpit rails.  I haven't had any issues.

The motor instructions absolutely say you can store it laying down...there's even a sticker on the motor.

YYZRC

I always ran mine out of gas before storing but it was easier to do with an external tank. 

skennelly

Yes I've been doing that too.  Shutting off the gas valve and running all the gas out of the carb.  Thing will run for 15 minutes before it dies.

Ian

Mine says lays only on the left side, there’s a small square foot it rests on built into the cover. However I have an outboard stand I use over winter when it’s home that hangs it upright.