Dinghy's, pro's and cons

Re: Dinghy\'s, pro\'s and cons

Ive always wondered....why do tohatsu make the engine 9.8hp?
I have been told that 9.9 is used instead of 10 as in the US, 10hp or over has to be registered, which would make sense, but why 9.8 from tohatsu?
 
Re: Dinghy\'s, pro\'s and cons

I have the Honda 3.2m air floor. I use it with a 15hp, 2 stroke for fun (Does about 20kts). Works well with a 2hp as a tender as well.

Having owned slatted, wooden, allloy and ribs I think this inflatable high pressure v shaped air floor is the best that i have tried.

Its easy to blow up since the floor is all part of the dingy, but it is heavy with a big bag to pack it away. The 15hp is far to heavy to be dangling off the swim platform.

Big usable internal space (about the same as a 3.5m Zodiac) due to clever bow design. I rang round all the dealers and got one for £785 against a list of £899. Should get better deals now.
 
Re: Dinghy\'s, pro\'s and cons

We ran a group test in August 2005's MBM of the Avon Rover R260, Bombard Max3, Jets Marivent JM260, Lodestar NSA 260, Plastimo Pi265K, Quicksilver 270GA, Suzumar DS2651B, Wetline 265AR, XM260l, Yamaha 260Sti and Zodiac 260FR.

The winner was the Lodestar, which we reckoned was well built and thought out, and at a good price. We also recommended the Quicksilver and the Suzumar, but it was the Lodestar that came out on top.
 
Re: Dinghy\'s, pro\'s and cons

Agree with houghn. Anything more than your existing 3.3hp motor will be a pita to handle but why dont you take the oppurtunity to fit davits and get a proper RIB with a 10-15hp motor and have some fun with it?
 
Re: Dinghy\'s, pro\'s and cons

What are your storage considerations - How big/ small a space does the folded dinghy need to fit into??
 
Re: Dinghy\'s, pro\'s and cons

was going to suggest the same myself, but he did say he hardly uses it. Maybe its chicken and egg though, I guess i wouldn't use the dinghy as much if i had to unpack, inflate, attach o/b, remove o/b, deflate and re-pack each time.
 
Re: Dinghy\'s, pro\'s and cons

Thanks Simon and others, I will dig out the issue and re read it. Foldability and weight is the main issue, I don't want davits on my boat as it ruins the use of the bathing platform and causes a hazard for swmbo when leaping on and off.

There have been some fine points put forward which have got me thinking e.g. Weight, storage and hassle. My main massive storage area has now been closed for all things non mechanical and fixed :-), so that makes storage a more important issue. I must say I am not a regular tender user, I used my other one a maximum of 12 times as I had no need being in marina's mostly every night, but having a bigger boat with a large bathing platform changes things a bit.

I would no doubt have fun in a tender but I have the speed fun on the mother ship, so not lacking in that dept.

I am now convinced from replies that inflated keel is the way to go, do I go 260, 285 or 310, the price between the 285 abd 310 is only £50. Another issue is the motor, I have a little used 3.3, do I keep that or get a monster 9.8 that requires a seperate fuel tank, more aggro, and more storage required!! The 9.8 is available at £950.

I quite fancy a bigger dinghy, so say I kept the 3.3hp, up to what size would that move along for pottering to the beach e.t.c. Dinghy weight between a 260 and 310 is only 5kg, but fills the same bag they use more.

Thanks again.
 
Re: Dinghy\'s, pro\'s and cons

The 3.3 will be fine for any size of dinghy you will buy as a tender, it'll just take a while to get SWMBO out of the water on a pair of skis
 
Re: Dinghy\'s, pro\'s and cons

[ QUOTE ]
and causes a hazard for swmbo when leaping on and off

[/ QUOTE ] glad you have done a risk assesment on this activity but somewhat surprised she is still permitted to do this at all!
 
Re: Dinghy\'s, pro\'s and cons

[ QUOTE ]
May one be crass enough to ask why the existing dinghy cannot be repaired? The damage, whilst significant did not look as if it need be fatal.

Or are the insurers coughing up......?

[/ QUOTE ]

And the answer is.....?
 
Re: Dinghy\'s, pro\'s and cons

We are considering a trip to the Dordogne next year for a holiday, we already have a 3.2 mtr dinghy with a slatted floor and inflatable keel, the dinghy has a transom mount and a carrying capacity of 704lbs, We are looking to hang a small outboard on the back but unsure of the hp size we can fit, we need something to move it comfortably through the water, bearing in mind that weight /size is to be considered with everything else in the car and small trailer.

Any ideas?

Kind regards Dave
 
Re: Dinghy\'s, pro\'s and cons

You could probably fit up to about 10 hp, but if i understand you right you need to take it over to France in the car? If so i'd buy GC1's 3.3hp as its the best option when size and weight are critical. It'll move your dinghy round no problem, in fact you'll be surprised just how fast, though it almost certainly wont plane even with just one person in it.
 
Re: Dinghy\'s, pro\'s and cons

AFAIK it's a funny legislative thing; some countries have rules about the power of engine you can have without having a license/certificate of incompetence. I forget what countries it is that have this, but the cut off is 10hp and above, so 9.8 neatly gets around that and thumbs its nose at rubbish bylaws.

cheers,
David
 
Re: Dinghy\'s, pro\'s and cons

Pete,

I would say the Quicksilver 270 Airdeck is the best. It has huge tubes, much bigger than most which help stop your bum getting wet. Inflatable keel and inflatable floor. The sponsons at the stern of the dinghy are tapered to give it a longer water line than other dinghies of the same overall length which make if faster and plane easier.

You must get one with an inflatable floor as it keeps your feet dry should any water get in the dinghy as the water sits under the floor.
 
Re: Dinghy\'s, pro\'s and cons

As for davits, mount them under the bathing platform not on top, which is what I've done.



Just had a thought..... You can't mount them under cause your bathing platform is stuck on and not part of the boat mould and has no bottom to mount them on /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
 
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