What is best size inflatable dinghy for 4 persons for a 320?

As for gas cans, look into the DinghyMate style tank. It's U-shaped and clamps to the inside of the transom. I've got one in our 9'6" Bombard Typhoon and it's great for keeping the floor space clear. I've got a 6hp Johnson 2-stroke on it and it has enough power to get 1 person up on plane, but enough to get 4 adults and two small dogs to shore against a current and some chop. If you can pickup a 2nd-hand 2-stroke it's worth considering. They can be stowed anywhere, at nearly any angle. 4-strokes require being stored at a very limited set of positions, otherwise the engine oil will foul the cylinder (and leak out everywhere). That and 2-strokes are usually weight a bit less.
 
Thanks.. Do they make an 8 or 10hp 2 stroke? Besides weight, what is the difference between the same HP in a 2 stroke as a 4 stroke?

Barry
 
4-strokes are usually heavier, as there's more hardware in them. I believe a number of 2-stroke outboard vendors no longer sell to the US market. I do recall seeing up to 15hp Tohatsu 2-strokes being used on dinghies. I'm sure there are many other sizes.

But you need to trade off between what the boat is rated to allow, what you have storage for and what you're back will tolerate heaving up onto the deck. It's pointless to put on too large an outboard if you have no means to store it or get it SAFELY back onto the boat.

That's why I got a 6hp unit not the 9hp the dinghy would accommodate. I'd have nowhere to put it onboard and the added weight would be just enough to be a problem getting it on/off the platform to the dinghy.

Unless it's a RIB you're really not going to get a very stable ride from an overpowered inflatable. It'd be fun, until it got squirrelly and tossed the passengers (and you) overboard.
 
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Bill, what size boat do you have and how do you store your dinghy?
 
Scott,

I am getting a 340 and was thinking of getting a dinghy. I noticed you said you had one for your 320 but it won't fit on the 340. is the 340 platform smaller?

Greg
 
thanks for the info John.

Does anyone use the Nautley davits? I like the rollers on them but they are a LOT more than the Hurley...
 
OK, went up to West Palm and took a ride out on the dinghy I am getting. 3 people on it and it had a 2 stroke 15hp. It was windy and choppy but handled great and got on plane quickly. I'll have to do some homework on finding either a 10hp or 15; and whether to go with a 2 or 4 stroke.

I'm also leaning towards the Nautley HD+ davits, but waiting for more info on that as well.

Barry
 
At both the Miami and West Palm Boat shows I saw some sharp looking inflatables from a company called Aakron Boats. They are originally from New Zealand, but also have an office in South Florida. The boats felt solid, and their prices were less than most of the other brands. You can go to Aakronboats.com, and then call or email Sam, the owner.

After sitting in a few of them and having Sam put 2&3 other people in them to see how much room there really is, I bought the 10'6" one with the air floor. It weighs about 90lbs (about 10-15%less than the wood floor, ) and will take a 15hp engine. We tested it with a 2 stroke 15, but I'm not sure if I will get that or a 4 stroke. I also am deciding between the Nautley roll on davit system and the Hurley, and am leaning towards the Nautley.

Barry
 
One word of caution, (and I am not trying to sell my old dinghy here), is that you should try to get the appropriate amount of weight up on these manual davits. I had/have a soft bottom 9'6" boat with a 2 stroke yamaha 9.9. Furthermore, I am 6'0" and 240lbs. There were times that it took everything I had to get the dink back on the boat. That is why I commented on the freakishly strong model on the Hurley website.
 
I have a 9'6" Coastal Inflatable with a 6HP Tohatsu. It does the job as a dinghy and the kids use it around the bay. It really goes. It performs well, no complaints here. The price was right too. Only paid a little over $2000 for boat and motor.
 
How does the 320 react (CRUISE ATTITUDE) to the added weight on the platform? I feel a little tail dragging without a dinghy and motor.
 
When we came back from Bimini with the dinghy and motor on the davits on the platform I really didn't notice any drag, but we made sure it was on secure and balanced; and the seas were pretty calm. Most of the weight on the 320 is in the stern anyway and I've always found even it rides a little bow high even with just myself on board. I would always wonder if the trim tabs were large enough as they seem kind of small for this boat, and really don't do much to lower the bow even when they are all the way down.
 
I would probably lean more towards a four stroke, unless the 2 stroke has the oiler, so gas mixing is not necessary. But, you will probably still have to carry 2 stroke oil on board.

But then again with a 4 stroke, where does on carry the fuel tank? Do you just use fuel from the main tanks and before getting underway dump the dinghy tank back into the main tank.

I am not sure where one would carry a small dinghy tank while under way. Would seem to me all of the sloshing could maybe create possible issues.
 
Barry,
What's the cruising speed and RPMs do you maintain?

I first thought that trims tabs are too small, but according to Bennet site they're fine, as far as I understand. Later in the season I was able to find that tabs do ok. I never run having them all the way down, instead they're up about 3/4. If you keep the boat at lower speed/RPMs this is when bow gets much higher. I also noticed while riding in the open ocean that if I run at 3600-3700RPMs the bow is little higher due to the seas, but as soon as I take it to 3800RPMs it makes the ride better with bow being lower. However, when I'm in the bay 3650-3700RPMs are my normal cruising numbers with tabs all the way up having bow not too high.

Alex.
 
I see there are lots of replys on this one. So for my 2 cents. I have a 330DA and I just bought a 8'10" Sea Eagle YT. I chose it over others because it had a soft bottom, inflatable floor, one aluminum seat, and most of all 17" side tubes with over 1060 lbs capacity. I have an older 6HP Johnson 2 stroke, very lightweight and it pushes the inflatable very well even fully loaded (4 peeps + beer). The Sea Eagle also is light enough to lash to the sun platform on the bow. What also sold me on the Sea Eagle was I saw an adventure special on the Discovery Channel where they were using Sea Eagles and they seemed to really take the punishment.

BTW, mixing the gas oil is not a problem as a 3 gallon portable tank will take you a long way.

Hope this helps someone
 
I have read some comments (if not in this thread another one)about swim platform height and loading a dingy being a problem.

Like others one of the factors I am interested in is "ease-of-loading."

Just what heights are we discussing here?

What is the maximum recommended swim platform height for using a davit system

Does one davit perform better then the other, when loading a dingy

Thanks
 
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