MonacoMike
Well-Known Member
- Sep 15, 2009
- 14,721
- Boat Info
- 2000 Cruisers 3870
8.2 Mercs
- Engines
- 85 Sea Ray Monaco 197
260hp Alpha 1
The boat: 10 year old West Marine RU260 by Zodiac. Roll up slat floor and flat soft bottom. Rated to 5 HP. Does boat weight rating need to include the boat weight or is it what it can haul?
Looking at the Mercury 2.5 or 3.5 HP 4 strokes.
Thinking less of the 4 or 5 HP 4 strokes.
Can you really tell the difference between the 2.5 or 3.5 HP in this type of set up?
With this soft a boat will the higher power of the 4 or 5 HP stress the low end boat? Get it up on plane? Any other benefits over the smaller pair?
How about the 17 lbs. difference in the small outboards vs. the larger HP? I would think 40 lbs. would be easier to deal with regularly than 57 lbs.
For the small inflatable, do I need a long or short shaft?
Use would be around the harbor, a few miles to the beach, and maybe explore a small river sometimes.
Thanks in advance for dinking around with me...
MM
Looking at the Mercury 2.5 or 3.5 HP 4 strokes.
Thinking less of the 4 or 5 HP 4 strokes.
Can you really tell the difference between the 2.5 or 3.5 HP in this type of set up?
With this soft a boat will the higher power of the 4 or 5 HP stress the low end boat? Get it up on plane? Any other benefits over the smaller pair?
How about the 17 lbs. difference in the small outboards vs. the larger HP? I would think 40 lbs. would be easier to deal with regularly than 57 lbs.
For the small inflatable, do I need a long or short shaft?
Use would be around the harbor, a few miles to the beach, and maybe explore a small river sometimes.
Thanks in advance for dinking around with me...
MM
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