How fast

[andy01842]

3 years ago I brought an 8’6” GRP tender as I was going to have a mooring. Long story did not happen. Last year I brought an old short shaft seagull and a trailer for tender. I had a fun day on the river Orwell very long story but tender fell off trailer, seagull staled stopped, run, sized, throttle broke, ore broke seaweed round prop etc if it could go wrong that day it did. This year I got a 4hp Mercury short shaft 2 stroke in vary good nick. So how fast will this thing go? Tender is flat bottomed is 4hp enough to make this plan? Got nearly 3 knots from seagull so with a good tide it could hold is own, just with no wind!

 

[philip_stevens]

I used to have a little Newbridge something-or-other 8ft GRP dinghy that with only me in it, would get up on the plane with Yam Malta 3hp. So I would think your 4hp should get you up on the plane - weight notwithstanding. I am just under 11 stone.

My inflatable-bottom 2.6mtr inflatable really gets up and going with only me in it with our 4hp Evinrude twin, but has a struggle to almost get up on the plane with two of us in the dinghy.

 

[Channel Ribs]

Yer, tis all about weight. Your length of boat will plane with that power.

We had a 9ft heavily built dinghy and a 4 horse, the 4 was too much power for it but the sturdy build of the boat meant it was never going to get over 6kn. I keep meaning to try a 4 on the back of a 12ft plywood canoe, but thats another story. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Captain Haddock]

I had a Mercury 4hp strapped to a Pioneer 12 dinghy, it moved my family and 12 foot of Dinghy in most conditions with no problems.

I did find it died a couple of times for some reason when the tides were very strong, I assumed it must have been because were were going into a tidal eddie either that or the thing knew people were watching me and decided to put on a show.

In my experience I always carry a set of oars and never rely on the outboard. The missus has to cover the kids ears on a regular basis when the sod refuses to start after a trip away, raining and everyone tired.... altogether now <pull cord> !@@£$!... <pull cord> tw@ IT!... <pull cord> !@@@@@£$!!!!... and repeat several times after checking fuel you know you put in the other day, knobs, prop etc. etc.

Thing is you take it home to determine the problem and it starts first time every time in the test tank ARRRGGHH!!!

Great outboard though when it works