Tender and outboard combinations

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mikehibb

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I will soon be looking for a tender and outboard, but so many combinations.

Length: I am thinking of 2.6 to 2.9
Pax: Told by a colleague to always go for 4 (3+1) as manufacturers tend to be slightly optimistic in their claims
Engine: Min 2.5, most likely 4, max 6hp
Stroke: most likely 4 but could buy a new 2 stroke as it will not be in EU

Looking around it looks like I should be looking at Lodestar 2.9 airdeck and inflatable keel with honda 4 stroke.

Is this a sensible combination?

Any other combinations/manufacturers that you would recommend?

Also how much drag would a 2.9 give behind a Gibsea 33, would I be better going for a 2.6?

Reason for thinking about a 2.9 is that its use would be to slip ashore with passengers including beach kit and cool box etc, two trips would be OK 3 trips would be to much of a hassel ( I bought the yacht to sail and to find secluded beaches, not to spend half the time in the tender)

Once again, many thanks in advance.
 
I know the 6hp is heavier, thats why the preferred would be a 4hp
Still not chosen any make, just searching for combinations.

In general would a 2.9m be underpowered with a 4 hp?

Looked at the Tohatsu range, which is a good option, am I correct in thinking that they manufacture for many other companies in the under 10hp range, Mariner for example.

Another question, modern 2 strokes, are they much quieter these days?
 
"In general would a 2.9m be underpowered with a 4 hp?"

Depends really on how fast you want to go..... even a 2 hp engine will probably still push your dinghy faster than an Olympic rower could using oars.....

Re doing shuttle runs if you have guests on board, you could give consideration to acquiring two dinghies - and then you have a certain amount of redundancy if something happens to one of them.
And as soon as there are more than 2 or 3 people on a boat, an extra dink gives the crew so much more freedom to go and do things independently.
(When we go cruising we usually have 2, sometimes 3 dinghies on board....)
 
We used the Lodestar 3.1 airdeck with Suzuki 2.2 (2/S) easily pushed two adults & 2 teenagers around as a tender.

Also used a Yam 5hp 2/S on it, on my own I could get it on the plane.

We got the PVC version, a friend bought the hypalon one, felt it wasn't worth the extra.

My 10 yr old son followed across from Bradwell to W Mersea in a reasonable chop on his own also found no problem.

IanC
 
We replaced our old Avon with one of the new Avon air-decks (3.1M) with inflatable keel last year. We have been absolutely delighted with it. The previous Avon was over twenty years old and still sold for £350 second hand!

We use a 3.3 HP 2 stroke which will allow it to plane one up, but drives it very nicely with 4 on board. Our son borrowed a 9.8 HP 2 stroke and it flew. (He is now trying to suggest that a larger outboard is an essential safety item for the boat!)
 
I'm looking for a dinghy and also have a Gib'Sea 33. One of my concerns with a larger one is putting it somewhere on deck if needs be. The foredeck has a baby stay in the way.

By the way, what anchor winch do you have and how is it mounted?

Andy
 
We have a seago 2.9 airdeck and use a honda 2hp aircooled. Moves four of us around at a perfectly acceptable speed and it's light and has no water pump to clog. Unless you're racing or want to plane I can't imagine why you'd need anything more.

We have cruisers in the 23ft range that use 4hp outboards!

Simon
 
I use a 5hp Honda 4 stroke on my 22ftr, its heavy and we need 2 people to get it safely on and off the back of the boat. Unless you are planning on using a rib I wouldn't reccommend it.
 
and for my penny's worth - 2.9 air deck with a 5hp 2 stroke on the back - engine is still light enough to handle and it gets on the plane 2 up
 
Thanks all for your advice.

Will definately be looking around the 2.8/2.9 models, and most likely go for the lightest 3.5/4 hp that is available at the time.
 
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