Deposit on Mercury 240 dinghy / 3.5 HP outboard; do I buy it?

[rwf]

As the title says. I got a decent price at the boat show and put a deposit on the above. Do I pick it up?

My criteria were a bit strange. I wanted the SMALLEST, and lightest, dinghy and motor. The goal is mostly getting the beach gear and picnic basket from the stern of the boat to the beach without beaching the cruiser (which seemed a really bad idea when it is a 33' Sundancer).

I didn't want to give up my swim platform, so I actually prefer a luggable rollup that I can inflate when I need it.

Reviews I've been able to find are actually pretty positive (other than those that say it's too small), but I know there's a lot more wisdom here than on 100 reviews "out there." So, thanks for any insights.

Next boat will have a garage so I can have a decent size tender without giving up the swim platform. At least, I'd like it to have a garage. Which means Sea Ray needs to wake up to what the competition is doing with space.

Merc doesn't have a direct link; click Specifications then 240: http://www.mercurymarine.com/inflatable-boats/soft-bottom/dinghy/#

Link to the outboard: http://www.mercurymarine.com/engines/outboards/?hp=3.5

Rich

 

[AKBASSKING]

Go at least 8ft and the 3.5hp you will find after awhile will be too small. I have a 8ft and 5hp merc two-stroke. I would recommend an 8hp two-stroke.

 

[Knot It]

I would not expect the dinghy to be as easy to roll up/set up as you think. Last summer, I bought a Baltic 8-1/2 inflatable roll up with a wooden removable floor with a Merc 4.5 hp motor. All the reviews and the instructions said it was very easy to roll up, store and set up. Said it could be done in about 15 minutes. That is BS!!!! It took much longer to set up and get it set to use. The motor is under powered and will not get on plane with me and any amount of gear in it. (I'm about 210 pounds.) The wife is about 120 pounds and loves the thing. She can get it going about 17 mph with her and some grear and or a cooler. I wish I had gotten at least an 8hp motor.

Have you thought about how and where you will store your motor when it is rolled up or stored on the boat? Do you plan to tow it or are you going to want davits installed? I dont want the davits on my swim platform so we just tow ours when we take it with us. If we dont take it, it stays in our slip.

Not trying to talk you out of the buy, we love ours and it is great to have, just some things I have found with mine. Good luck.

Sammy

 

[rwf]

I would not expect the dinghy to be as easy to roll up/set up as you think.

Sammy

Part of the reason I didn't just buy it on the spot was that this gives me a chance to go to the local dealer and make him demonstrate the setup. Teardown I expect will be a pain and take forever (rinse, wait for dry before you can even THINK about rolling it up).

I do worry about planing, but feel that's something I have to give up. On a 33' boat space is just too precious, so I was willing to throw planing away and recognize I just will not be going that far in the dinghy. Until I trade up. Which I thought was 3 years away, but is feeling more like one year these days...

Spring had better hurry up.

Rich

 

[Escapade]

Rich- Sounds like this will do exactly what you are looking for. Note, a used 5HP two stroke will get you a bit futher faster. I used to store our 5HP in the trunk. It was tight but, it fit.

 

[Henry Boyd]

The dinghy is too small. We have an 8'6" zodiac to go sixty feet from our dock to our mooring. Weekend trip for two means multiple trips to get provisions to boat, more than one guest, multiple trips, etc.

If you do insist on inflating as you go look into a battery powered pump. We have one with built in pressure relief valve. Not only will it make filling faster, but you will appreciate the ability to deflate by vacing the air out. A real plus since there isn't a lot of room to roll up an inflatable on a sun dancer.

Henry


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD