Very small inboard engine?

[TwoHooter]

Thanks everyone.
Electric doesn't work for us. We don't go fast but we go longish distances up estuaries and rivers. For example Plymouth to Calstock, Bristol up the Avon, Southwold to Blythburgh. And charging without shore power is a problem now we have reconfigured our big boat so we only need to run the generator 2 hours per day.

If I did this I would probably have a custom dinghy with a skeg to protect the prop.

I'm fed up with modern outboards because I have spent a lot of money on incompetent mechanics whose attitude is that they are doing me a favour. Currently trying DIY repair of a failed Suzuki 20hp and hating every minute. Not how I want to spend my time.

 

[TwoHooter]

Here you go

I did think of steam, for about a nanosecond, because I built this, and ran it until I retired. www.perrygrove.co.uk

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I looked at a Trotter with a view to purchase many years ago (in Exmouth?). That had a Briggs & Stratton engine. I'd assumed at the time it was a home 'PBO' style installation, but maybe they were fitted by the yard building the Trotters.

Grimsby Marine Plastics installed B&S engines from new - I know because Dad bought ours new!

 

[onesea]

Sadly unless you want refurbished old, as far as I know your stuck.

Either a 100kg give or take Marine diesel onboard or an outboard.

Personally I would go with a little 6hp outboard easy to take to mechanics if it goes wrong with less to go wrong. Would push most tenders at hull speed in all but the most extreme conditions.

You could covert something designed for site use but that could lead to nightmares if it goes wrong.

Another option could be a genset and electric. Not certain how it would work in practice possibly giving you best of both worlds.

 

[Tranona]

Thanks everyone.
Electric doesn't work for us. We don't go fast but we go longish distances up estuaries and rivers. For example Plymouth to Calstock, Bristol up the Avon, Southwold to Blythburgh. And charging without shore power is a problem now we have reconfigured our big boat so we only need to run the generator 2 hours per day.

If I did this I would probably have a custom dinghy with a skeg to protect the prop.

I'm fed up with modern outboards because I have spent a lot of money on incompetent mechanics whose attitude is that they are doing me a favour. Currently trying DIY repair of a failed Suzuki 20hp and hating every minute. Not how I want to spend my time.

For what you do the 20hp is a waste, and maybe why you are having problems. A 6hp would be fine and pretty sure you will find new 4 strokes reliable.

However if you do consider going inboard with a modern version of the old gentlemen's launch you will need deep pockets as a Yanmar 1GM or Beta 10 installation alone is more than £7k and you need a stem dinghy of at least 10' to give anywhere near the usable space and carrying capacity of say a 2.5m inflatable. That is why outboards are so popular as they are outside the boat and selfcontained. Not sure why you have reservations about electric - understandable on a sailing boat with limited power generation but you have a generator and if you go down the "Pod" route with a proper lithium 48v battery bank the time demands for charging would be minimal - and your range in the tender greater than a small outboard. The great thing is that the motor will sit under the aft seat and the battery bank under the middle so very space effective. Only downside is weight, but it will likely be better than your current boat and engine, although as you can't remove the engine you will need your davits to be strong enough to lift it.

 

[Stemar]

I did think of steam, for about a nanosecond, because I built this, and ran it until I retired. www.perrygrove.co.uk

It isn't steam - it's a Kubota mower or similar engine.