Inflable dinghy (not RIB) and "3 horsepower" electric outboard. Flat or inflatable V keel bottom?

Driver

Driver

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Having been seduced by the idea of a tender as above, I wonder which kind of bottom gives the better performance with the limited power available. Any ideas, please?
 
A solid or v keel is better. If I don't put the floorboards in and inflate the keel the drag is much higher.

I use a Torqeedo I transferred from a small keelboat. At a given power output the engine drove the keelboat almost twice as fast as the inflatable!
 
I've had both a flat bottom (figuratively speaking!) and V-Keel and the V Keel is definitely to me far better. Firstly it actually tracks a reasonable straight line and secondly the flat bottom will always be a little 'baggy' by comparison and the drag will be worse. (Rigid bottom is always better except for being much heavier and not as convenient for dragging up a beach etc.)
 
Fire99 said:
I've had both a flat bottom (figuratively speaking!) and V-Keel and the V Keel is definitely to me far better. Firstly it actually tracks a reasonable straight line and secondly the flat bottom will always be a little 'baggy' by comparison and the drag will be worse. (Rigid bottom is always better except for being much heavier and not as convenient for dragging up a beach etc.)
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Thank you guys. My current much loved tender pictured is only 3 metres long but is too heavy to manouvre alone onto the chocks when there is some swell and water is sloshing about over the submerged hydraulic platform. BTW is there anywhere on the forum I can advertise it for sale? I have rather sneakily attached a photo.
 

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Driver said:
Thank you guys. My current much loved tender pictured is only 3 metres long but is too heavy to manouvre alone onto the chocks when there is some swell and water is sloshing about over the submerged hydraulic platform. BTW is there anywhere on the forum I can advertise it for sale? I have rather sneakily attached a photo.
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That's only 3 metres long?? That looks excellent!! What motor are you running on the back?
 
Performance will not be a thing with a 3hp electric outboard.
It will not plane unless you fall out of it.

Hull shape will make almost no difference to speed - it will be in displacement mode.
Having said that, some sort of V in the hull might make it track a little better and "not go sideways so much", it could also keep the bow up a bit for a drier ride.
 
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I had a V Keel. New tender has a flat floor. My lessons - always buy one with a V floor / keel. Trying to steer the flat floorered tender with an outboard - ie coming alongside the main boat is an odd steering sensation with a seemingly variable pivot point. The manoeuvre is never particularly reliable. I'm very likely to change again soon for a drop stitched v floor.
 
Fire99 said:
That's only 3 metres long?? That looks excellent!! What motor are you running on the back?
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Yes, and a special motor mount allows the Evinrude 9.9/15hp. to lift up then pivot around sideways leaving the required space on board at 3 metres. Only one pin to remove leaving all controls attached.
 
Minerva said:
I had a V Keel. New tender has a flat floor. My lessons - always buy one with a V floor / keel. Trying to steer the flat floorered tender with an outboard - ie coming alongside the main boat is an odd steering sensation with a seemingly variable pivot point. The manoeuvre is never particularly reliable. I'm very likely to change again soon for a drop stitched v floor.
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Thanks for your help everybody, a V floor it is. I have just ordered a a Plastimo Fun 270. Is there a place on the forum Ican advertise my cute little speedboat? Sniff!
 
Driver said:
Thank you guys. My current much loved tender pictured is only 3 metres long but is too heavy to manouvre alone onto the chocks when there is some swell and water is sloshing about over the submerged hydraulic platform. BTW is there anywhere on the forum I can advertise it for sale? I have rather sneakily attached a photo.
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Keep us posted where you advertise your little speedboat. I'm rather taken with that little thing.. :cool:
 
We have an excel volante 235 and an epropulsion which I can highly recommend. The 235 is a small dingy but it has the larger tube diameter providing great buoyancy. It has an inflatable v floor. The epropulsion is also fantastic. For us I feel it's the perfect solution to our needs.
 
I would like to advertise in the For Sale section. I may be a bit dim, no, I AM a bit dim, but cannot find the For Sale section.

There is nothing avaiable like it, It was specially converted to the present form in 2015.
 
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