YAM 240T, HonWave T25 and Suzuki DF2.5 4-stroke?

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aidancoughlan

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We've been thinking of getting our first tender & engine. The boat is a 27ft Westerly Merlin, we want to be able to take 3 people, and size is limited by locker space & "liftability". Thinking of 2.3-2.5M length. We are based in a marina, so usage will be limited to cruising holidays (moorings, anchorages) and occasional weekend visits to Irelands Eye or Dalkey Island.

The YAM 240T is available @ £425 at the moment. Specs @ http://www.yamaha-motor.cz/Images/2008_Inflatables_YMEU_tcm76-236646.pdf
2.4 * 1.43metres, 3-person, slat floor, 2 air chambers, 105cm * 57cm * 30cm package, 21kg hull weight, 39cm tube diameter.

The Honwave T25 (SE1 version) is available @ £455 cheapest I could find.
Specs @ http://ww1.honda.co.uk/brochure/download/marineInflatables.pdf
2.5 * 1.56metres, 3-person, slat floor, 3 air chambers, 113cm * 60cm * 33cm package, 34kg hull weight, 43.5cm tube diameter.

These ranges both seemed to me to be good quality tenders at the boat show when kicking tyres. Looking at the specs, the Honwave seems to be slightly bigger tubes, heavier, larger packed size which I'm not sure I need.

Questions are
(1) Can anyone comment on their use, "liftability" and any observations from personal experience?.

(2) Are the Honda floor variations worth it ?
How about the difference between the Honwave T25 SE1 and the "AE1" version (which seems to have an aluminium floor) - is the AE1 version still "stowable" as a tender?) It's slight bigger, but does it take ages to assemble? Its £110 more - is it worth it for my use ?
There is a T24 version of the Honda which is similar packed size, similar weight but with an "Air" floor, and a good bit more expensive - £150 more. Is it worth it ?

(3) Any other recommended alternatives outside of the sub-£350 models? I can't find Lodestar or Quicksilver at a similar discounted price, and Avon, Zodiac etc. seem higher priced also.

(4) Is a Slatted floor OK, or should we go for a "cheaper" brand to get an Air floor ?

(5) I've settled on the Suzuki DF2.5 4-stroke engine after reading reviews, posts etc. There seems to be a lot of different opinion on the benefits of the old 2-strokes. The old 2-stroke engines dont seem to be any lighter than its 13kg weight, so Im not concerned about that - but what about reliability, ease of starting, amenability to infrequent use etc. Are the 2-strokes really that much better that I should look for one of the last remaining 3.5hp Tohatsus or similar?

sorry for all the questions, please anybody just anwser anything that you think you can.....
 
I have owned both a Yam and a Honda, so to try and answer your questions:

1) The Honda is better made, but at the cost weight. 34kg is very heavy to move about especially on a small boat.

2)The V air floors on the honda are excellent, stable and give a deeper more secure feeling cockpit. They also steer better than a flat bottomed slatted floor version. I wouldnt go near a solid floor -either ali or wood - they are a pain to put together and difficult and heavy to store on a boat. If you can live with the weight the Honda V air floor is the way to go.

3) Ring round a few chandlers, ask them if they have any stock they want to get rid of etc, you might get lucky.

4)Air floor is the better boat and worth the money, but as a low powered tender which needs to be stowed a slatted floor works well.

5)I like 2 strokes for tenders. You can just throw them in a locker with no special care and they run for ever. I use one of the last 2hp Yamaha's. It only weighs 10kg, can be carried with one hand while balancing on the swim platform and never lets me down. If you can find 2.5/3.3hp 2 stroke Mercury/Mariner, 3.5 hp 2 stroke Tohatsu or Yamaha Malta they would be my choice.
 
Re: Suzuki DF2.5 4-stroke?

I recently posted about problems I was having with my nearly new Suzuki DF2.5 4-stroke. I thought I would need to tune it as I was having problems with it stalling and it was not running as smooth as I had hoped.

One problem I had was finding the rather odd little spark plugs it uses. Someone usefully posted me a link to a supplier (arrived with me within 36 hours), and now my motor runs better than it did when new (I must've had a problem plug from day 1).

Now I will again fully recommend the suzi as it does everything it is meant to and is the lightest of the engines in it's class.

I do not like the honda and everyone to a man moans about the centrifugal clutch it uses, impossible to go dead slow. It also sounds like a wet fart and I even prefer the scream of a two stroke to the sound the honda makes. OTOH, as it is air cooled, I presume you can warm it up before launching the dinghy which would be handy if you launch from a slip like us.
 
[ QUOTE ]
1) The Honda is better made, but at the cost weight. 34kg is very heavy to move about especially on a small boat.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think I am at cross purpose, I thought he meant this one

10528065_3.jpg
 
Landlockedpirate, Many thanks for the excellent answers. Though I like the sound of the Honwave boat, I think I will lean toward the Yam 240T becuase of the significantly less hull weight (21kg v 24kg) and slightly less packed size. I think it is still a fairly good quality boat.

I would like an Air floor in preference to the slats ok (drier, more stable etc.), but can't find the YAM 240Sti verison for sale anywhere at the right price. This will be strictly for boat to shore on occasional use, so I think I can live with the slats. Although it's obviously not as good, I'm glad I havnt heard any major compelling reason not to go for a slat floor with my intended use.

I'll have a look to see if I can find a small 2-stroke for sale, but I'm reluctant to buy used unless I can get it locally, which appears to be hard to find. Remaining New ones seem to be few and far between.

Dogwatch, thanks for confirming the DF2.5 is an ok choice. Glad it's going ok for you - it will be my default choice if I cant find a small new 2-stroke for sale. Although it seems to be the main competitor, I too have seen the same negative comments about the Honda (noise, clutch etc.) elsewhere, so ruled it out.
 
I have the Yam 240T and the Yamaha 2.5.

The Yamaha 2.5 is a very nice engine, it's gives slightly less push as the Suzuki, but I've been told it a bit more quiet and the build quality is better (for what it's worth).
The Yam 240T is just awful. It has no sense of direction at low speed and the build quality is not great as well. When you use the oars, be careful not to pull the hinges out!. A friend of mine has a Lodestar. It's cheaper and much better build.
The only thing the Yam has in favor is it's weight.
As far as know they are no longer manufactured as Yamaha has teamed up with Zodiac these days.

Arno
 
[ QUOTE ]
The Yam 240T is just awful.

[/ QUOTE ]

OK, that throws a spanner in the works ! It seemed ok to me (the YAM 240T) at the boat show, but just goes to show that practical experience shows up a lot.

I doubt if I can find the Lodestar cheaper than the Honda or YAM I've found posted above though - if it was recent and you know where the Lodestar was priced by your friend could you pm me ?.
 
If I remember correct he bought it at a local store in Holland, so I doubt that of much use to you. If you can't source the Lodestar in Ireland, I would go for the Honwave. When I looked at those last year, they looked quite nice. One thing to consider: If I recall correctly the floor of the Honwave can be removed when deflated (the floor that is). So when you compare the weight, look at the weight you would need to handle in one go as you could handle the floor separate from the rest.
 
I had the 2.7 Honwave, and as a boat it was excellent, but it took a lot of pumping up due to the huge pontoons, and was heavy fer sure!

The Honda 5hp engine was a waste of time, a 2.5/3.5hp 2 stroke would suit it better IMHO

The Honwave was very very well made though!
 
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