A bunch of dinghie questions...

[MonacoMike]

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

 

[Lucky's]

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?

It is what it can carry, not the boat weight. Inspect very carefully and proceed cautiously with a dinghy that age with a soft floor. The glue breaks down and the floor can desperate from the tubes.

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?

On those all boats, every hp makes a noticeable difference.

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?

A dinghy/motor combo like that will likely get on plane with one person, shifting weight forward. Verrrrry unlikely with 2 people.


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.

If you're going to be taking it on and off frequently, you'll definitely notice the weight difference.


For the small inflatable, do I need a long or short shaft?

Absolutely 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

Best advise I can give is with the age you're talking about, really look over the seems carefully and proceed cautiously. Good luck!!

P.s, sorry, sent from my phone. It looks like I just quoted you but my responses are below the questions in the quote.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

 

[Quint4]

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? Not sure

Looking at the Mercury 2.5 or 3.5 HP 4 strokes. I have a merc 3.5 on mine.....great for 5 mph excursions and light weight

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? probably not much......you are not going to plane the dinghy with either one

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? not sure if it will plane.......I personnaly would not want to deal with a motor heavier than my 3.5 without davits (even then it would me a chore)

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. see above

For the small inflatable, do I need a long or short shaft? I have a short shaft and it does ok although at WOT it starts to cavitate so a long shaft would be optimum.

Use would be around the harbor, a few miles to the beach, and maybe explore a small river sometimes. that is what it will excel at........obviously not a speed demon or a ski boat!

Thanks in advance for dinking around with me... you are welcome

MM

see above ...........

 

[MonacoMike]

Thanks again Shaun and Dave. MM

 

[Time To Relax]

I have a Zodiac 200 cadet only 6'7" long with a 2.5 hp 15" short shaft Mercury. Absolutely love this setup. Here are the good and bad points ! very light weight easy to deal with will handle some wight and for two people its great! best for short distances. Hull materials are Hypolon and PVC PVC is less expensive. Most important is make sure you get WELDED seams glued seams will come apart. As I understand it Zooms are glued and Cadets are welded. Hypolon will last longer but cost more. I use aviation fuel in my outboard and never have a starting issue. Always starts on first or second pull. I got one of those containers used for camping stoves to store extra fuel in for backup.

 

[HUMPH]

Short shaft, don't even look at long shafts.

 

[rcmafgny]

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?
Have the same dingy. Believe the weight is all in.. people and motor... think its 800lbs
Looking at the Mercury 2.5 or 3.5 HP 4 strokes.
i have a 2 stroke 3.3 for me it was the weight...less is more
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?
probably not... not going to plane anyway
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?
not sure, but doubt it re stress.
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.
lighter the better
For the small inflatable, do I need a long or short shaft?
short!
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

enjoy
ron

 

[MonacoMike]

Thanks!

MM

 

[Pachanga Boy]

I run that exact boat with 4hp 2 stroke, short shaft. honestly there is no point to the 4hp. 1/2 throttle produces nearly the same effect as full throttle and just cavitates. by myself I got it to almost plane, it popped up then did this really fun maneuver where it "wiggled" itself back down into the water and nearly ejected me out in the process.

 

[Ididntdoit]

That dink has no keel and 0 deadrise - the current/wind push you around - too short to plane - get the 2.5hp - that is a good dink for SHORT trips - back and forth to shore from a mooring or anchorage, putting around a marina. I would not want to go "a couple of miles" in it. As long as you have the right expectations, it will work great. The next logical step would be a 9' with a blow up keel and a 6hp - that might plane with a light load and would be a lot more "fun" on longer excursions while still being quite light and easy to store. good luck

 

[Molson]

I have an 9'6 dink with blow up keel and wood floor. I use a 9.9 and it planes fine, but I find the blow up keel to be a PITA. If I were to do it over, I'd get a FG or aluminum bottom. Less issues, and I could leave the motor on when its tilted up on davits.