Outboard advice required

[PEEJAYSEA]

Hi

hopefully you guys can provide some guidance:

I have just bought a tender (inflatable, 2.9m) and have been offered the choice of two outboards for it from the curent owner:

1. Mariner 4hp 2 stroke 2002 model with about 200hrs (approx £350.00).
2. Mariner 15hp 2 stroke (unknown hours) for about £450.00

Not a massive amount of difference in price but I would appreciate some guidance on choice - is 2 stroke better than 4 stroke or vice versa (i.e. look elsewhere) and is 15 hp too much for a tender? I know nothing about outboards or the servicing requirements etc.

Basic intent is to get from ship to shore and pootle about a little.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Paul

 

[ostell]

I would think the 4HP is adequate for an inflatable tender. At least you know the useage. Heck, my 18 footer cruiser only used a 5HP to move it about!

2 Stroke for weight and simplicity.

 

[Twister_Ken]

15 horse definitely too much power, but also too much weight to lift easily from tender to mothership.

As regards price, maybe 4 horse is over the top. I bought a new 2 horse Suzuki for £499. 13 kg weight.

 

[Talulah]

Definately not the 15Hp.

I would be tempted to get new or nearly new 2.5Hp Honda or equivalent at that price.
It depends on how you intend to stow the outboard and what space is available. 4Hp can be quite heavy.

 

[Roger52]

outboard advice

15hp is far too much. You would need to check the spec for the tender but I would think it improbable that it was rated for such a large outboard.

 

[Lakesailor]

They are both 2 strokes (is a typo?)
I would agree with the others that for the odd occasion you may want to plane when laden the 15hp is more weight/fuel/agro than it's worth.
Does the 4HP have an integral tank? That's very useful. You don't want to be hawking a fuel tank about as well and crouching on it in the tender.
If the 4HP doesn't have an integral look around for one. £350 is not way over the top for a 2002 model with history. Don't forget it has gears, including astern.
But for that money you could find one of the right spec.

 

[VicS]

I agree also

15hp is far too big for an inflatable, both in terms of weight and power, even for a 3m RIB.

The boat manufacturer should advise the max hp suitable. Exceeding it could well invalidate your insurance.

Likely to be 10 hp for a RIB but 4 to 6 maybe 8 for an inflatable depending upon type.

You do not tell us anything about the boat but ask for advice on a suitable engine size !!

 

[dleroc]

I have an electric outboard bought brand new on Ebay (from a Germandistributor) for £150 plus a golf buggy battery for £36. Works fine to get to and from beach and mooring. It has 5 speeds in forward and reverse and is very quiet!

 

[TQA]

Two schools of thought in the cruising community.

1 GO FAST have a planing dink usually a RIB with at least a 10hp and a 15 hp is better. That is what I have. Usually need a way of hoisting the engine on and off.

2 GO SLOW any dink will do and even a 2 hp egg beater will get the dink up to displacement speed. The only times you need more than 2 hp is if you have a strong headwind.

 

[stevensuf]

i have a 2.9m air deck dinghy, have a little 4hp for stroke, great for puttering about, drinks virtually no fuel, 1.3 l per hour at full throttle, but half throttle easily reaches hull speed, it will plane with just one aboard and some fiddling, its 22kg and just manhandleable enough, i also have a 9.9hp 2 stroke, 27kg, a bit harder to get on/off, drinks far more fuel, but will plane with 2 on board and some provisions.