recommended inflatable dinghy size and outboard ?

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niccapotamus

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sorry guys but you are going to be inundated with daft questions as we are returning to sailing after about a 15 year hiatus. Lots seems to have changed (some for the better) such as cheaper inflatables and electronic nav rather than decca.

luckily I was sailing in my early 20's so I'm not yet decrepit!

Assuming we buy this boat (30ft seawolf) on Monday next week we'll need a tender. One to carry 4 to and from the pub or with bags and stuff, but not too large that it becomes a complete PIA.

what size do you guys recon - is 2.3m a bit short and would 2.65/2.7m be better? I'd like to avoid the wet bum syndrome as much as possible.

and what a 2.5 - 3hp outboard?

my Ebay and paypal accounts are about to take a hammering I think :)

cheers

Nick
 
Getting that balance right between too small, too heavy, not heavy enough, too big is difficult, and combine that with a fairly modest sized boat were storing and managing a big dink is a pita.. Doesn't help.

We went from 3.0 to 2.3 to 1.8 and now we are back at 2.6meters...

Weight is crucial IMHO... Our 2.3 seago with wooden slats was good, But slats are rubbish... The 1.8 was not too heavy... But hopeless with more than one...

I do like the current 2.6... It's seems like a good comprimise size, and it's not too heavy... Got a inflatable floor on this one and it's a big improvment over wooden slats... It's one of those Eco wave jobs... So was pretty cheap... But seems to be pretty good, and as we didn't spend much if it needs to be replaced it's not a big deal...

As for motors.. Our 3.3 mercury has powered all of these with up to 3 onboard with no issues... But of course it's a two stroke...

So I think that is plenty of power... IMHO it would be very worthwhile looking for one of these motors, or the identical but rebadged ones... Used in good nick... Versus getting a new 4 stroke which will be a lot heavier and more costly.

So on our 31 foot boat the 2.6 with a inflatable keel and 3.3 2stroke is the best combo we have had.
 
We had a 2.4 Zodiac Cadet with a flat / slatted floor and it was a bit small / wet so moved up to the 2.6 which has an airfloor & an ibnflatable keel - it was much better as it sat further out of the water and you could actually plane it with a 2.5 hp engine one up.

We found them both to be decent quality happy to be dragged up the beach, easily cleaned, good oars and quick to deflate into a neat bag if required. Good resale value also.

Engine wise Originally we had a 2.3 Honda which was very light but quite noisy and no neutral so took a bit of getting used to i.e. pull to start needed a bit of throttle so your off !
When we bought the 2.6 dinghy we fitted it with a 2.5 Suzuki which was marginally heavier but quieter, more powerful and easier to start & drive as it has a neutral.
 
Going through the same thought process just a bit further down the line. Have a boat and need a tender. I like to row but hate rowing inflatables. I had one of those old avons but someone nicked it.
Now want a tender which shows easly. In car. As well as on boat. My old hard dingy was nicked despite being chained to dock.
From now on dingy comes home.
I was thinking of small slated zodiac or similar just for portability.
To big I can't. Lift it to small I have to make to many trips.

Actually wife doesn't like getting on board from dingy. So I usually go out to the boat myself and bring it in to the dock.
Currently using a 16ft motor boat. It's a pia. But good for fishing.
 
In anything less than about 3m you are going to know when you have 4 full adults aboard and bags! A 2.5 will push you along OK, but not very fast - 4-5kn maybe. We have a 3D 2.5 with an air floor and I never take more than 3 adults and clobber in it as the freeboard gets very small when you are on the move. The water just splashes in more easily, obviously, if you hit a few waves or some chop. If you don't mind the weight (40+KG) the honwave 270 might suit (we had one but it was too heavy) - big tubes, air floor and keel and well made. But large and cumbersome to haul on and off the boat. If you want to plane (with just you in), then probably 4hp+ is wise on this size IMO.
 
Any recommendations regarding inflatable floor and inflatable keel. I was looking at an inflatable 10 ft inflatable keel with floor inserts for a reasonable price with old ob its a far ways from me so not sure. And a make I've never heard of. Noah
 
After trying several different sizes over the years I decided this year that the common 300cm / 5hp engine combo was just too big and too heavy.

In the end we settled on an Ultralight 260 by Highfield aluminium hull (29kg) plus a Suzuki 2.5 (13kg). Easy to manage with two people and large enough to carry 4 when necessary.

Not cheap though!

Richard
 
Whatever you get, sit in it and row, even if it's only on the showroom floor. I wish I'd done that before buying my current Excel 200. It's really hard to get the oars forward past my knees, which makes rowing a frustrating and ultimately unfruitful experience, even for just a few yards, never mind going half a mile out to a mooring.

My previous Zodiac Cadet 240 would have been far better if only the rollocks had been fit for purpose. The pins are plastic, "reinforced" with a self tapper or something a bit fancier but no more effective, and bend or break if you lean on the oars a bit, leaving you paddling.

To my mind both are potentially dangerous - as is any flubber you can't row hard when the engine lets you down in a bit of breeze. No inflatable is ever going to be as good as a propely designed rowing boat under oars, but you do need to be able to get yourself out of trouble.

An inflatable floor does wonders for keeping your feet dry - well worth the extra compared with slats, IMO
 
I have had an Excel 230 for some years. It's really a two person dinghy and even my wee Tohatsu 3.3 is a tad OTT. I used to use a Yamaha 4 but I'd buy a 2.5 2-stroke for it if I were in the market for an engine. The dinghy is fine but the accessories ( oars, pump etc) are "low rent" and for older boats the after sales service isn't as good as I'd like. Mind you Avon's are really silly money. I had a redstart or redshank (can't remember) when I bought the boat and it was far too big for the space available on board to stow it. An Avon replacement was out of the question. If I needed to replace the Excel, I'd be looking for something with an inflatable floor and keel, like the Excel. For 4 persons though, I think even a 2.6 would be a little small. BTW you never pack them as small as the factory can.
 
niccapotamus said:
sorry guys but you are going to be inundated with daft questions as we are returning to sailing after about a 15 year hiatus. Lots seems to have changed (some for the better) such as cheaper inflatables and electronic nav rather than decca.

luckily I was sailing in my early 20's so I'm not yet decrepit!

Assuming we buy this boat (30ft seawolf) on Monday next week we'll need a tender. One to carry 4 to and from the pub or with bags and stuff, but not too large that it becomes a complete PIA.

what size do you guys recon - is 2.3m a bit short and would 2.65/2.7m be better? I'd like to avoid the wet bum syndrome as much as possible.

and what a 2.5 - 3hp outboard?

my Ebay and paypal accounts are about to take a hammering I think :)

cheers

Nick
Click to expand...

We've got a 2.3 as well as an old Avon Redstart. I reckon a 2.3 would be a bit small for 4 from the pub but a 2.6 would be a bit big to store on a 30 footer - our 2.3 is a PITA on a 36 footer and cannot be rolled small enough to go through a locker opening. Whats more its heavy - I have to use a winch and spinny halyard to get it on board.

As for engines I have a 3.3 2 stroke Johnson which is just right - light enough not to be a struggle, powerful enough just to get the 2.3 dinghy on the plane, when it becomes totally unstable directionally. :eek:

Going back to the dinghy I dont know what to suggest. Size for size the old Avon is much lighter than a modern pvc dinghy as well as lasting much better. But they are wetter because of small tubes. I suppose I would go for a 2.3 and two pub runs. Interestingly after reading the above post, my 2.3 is an Excel which got a best on test revue some time back. The oars are fine as is the general construction. The company are a bit of a shower in my experience
 
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