Advice on buying an inflatable and outboard

[NLR]

Hi. I'm looking to get an inflatable with outboard to use as the escort craft when we go for longer trips on paddleboards and kayaks.

The dinghy would need to take 2-3 adults plus a picnic.

We are only looking to explore rivers such as the Yealm and the Helford.

I was thinking about a 2.6-2.9 m dinghy and not sure what size outboard due to the tidal nature of the areas we are looking to go.

As we will only use it when we are away for a few weeks a year the set-up needs to be transportable. Not sure how well petrol outboards take being transported in a car, but also not sure how suitable an eletric outboard is. I was considering a Bison 68lb electric, but not sure if it's up to the job.

Any advice on kit to consider gratefully received. Ideally looking to spend £750 max for the dinghy and outboard.

Many thanks

 

[V1701]

Hi and welcome to the forum,

Assuming that you'll not need to be going very fast nor against much tide most of the time a relatively small engine (say 3.5 or 4hp) should, I'd have thought, be fine with a 3-3.5m or thereabouts dinghy. But you'll be struggling with a budget of £750 so I think watching the likes of ebay and facebook like a hawk for something suitable and pouncing on it will be the order of the day, this on ebay for example would suit if you could stretch to it...

 

[Tranona]

You won't get new in that budget - £1k+ at least. A 2.6 and 3.5 would be more than adequate. Bison not powerful enough and range too short unless you have an expensive lithium battery. Better to stick with the conventional.

If going used I have a good Plastimo 2.6 with slatted floor that I am selling which would be a fraction of your total budget leaving plenty for a good outboard.
Listed here forums.ybw.com/index.php?threads/davits-dinghy-solar-panel-and-wind-generator.581990/ if you are interested.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Are you looking to buy new? If so, you need to double your budget. A 4hp outboard from a reputable brand is about £900. There are cheaper Chinese brands but the reports on their quality and reliability are not good.

A Petrol outboard can be transported in a car. If 4 stroke (as all new ones are) it only needs to be laid down in the correct orientation and the petrol tap/vent closed. That's all.

Electric may be suitable if you don't need to go far or fast, but once you're out of Amps, that's it. Petrol engines can be refueled. Some electric outbaords are a lot more expensive than petrol ones so will be beyond your budget.

 

[ashtead]

If you want to go cheap as you like fiddling with/cleaning carbs etc a mercury/mariner 3.3 2stroke would be a choice on back of say a plastimo or old Avon or if you are lucky a tinker tramp with a sail as well . Personally I would look for an air deck model ideally . We have quicksilver for example which was happily powered by a 2 stroke.

 

[dslittle]

Like Tranona, I am also selling a dinghy on here but not with an outboard.

Mine is more expensive but is a third of the price buying new. The inflation tubes are also available at a fifth of the price new but looking at the Walker Bay site, I think that I’ll take them back to France and sell them there for more…

It did have a brand new sail kit but that’s already sold (at a quarter of the price WB want)

 

[snowbird30ds]

I have a 2.75m rib sat on a trailer that I'd part with, it's flat bed trailer with shaped foam block so needs lugging to water but has retractable wheels fitted, trailer tyres are old as is rib but surprisingly good nick tubes, floor is double skin so not sat in a vee.
No motor on it.
I'm in cambs. If interested.

 

[Farmer Piles]

I'm Falmouth based and I just kept a lookout on FB Market Place. I bought a Waveline 2.6m inflatable in great condition for £280 and a very tidy 2.5hp fourstroke Yamaha for £330.
It's out there if you keep looking.