Any one know what size motor you REAllY nead for a dinghy?

[Matt19020]

I just purchased a Dinghy for $200. I have a 3hp motor that runs well, the dinghy is 9' tip to tip or 8' bow to transom....With a wooden floor ...I have a 3hp that runs good Is this enough?
HP rating on plate is 10HP max...Should I look for a larger motor? I want to use it to explore coves and buzz around to different local areas where the Mac can not go...
Never owned a dinghy before so no prior expierience..

[mastreb]

Well, I run mine with two oars, so if you decide to replace it, I'm a buyer.

[David Clarke]

I'm currently running a 1.75 Gamefisher. I've had it forever, but I only need to kick around 99% of the time. If you want to get on plane you'll need more. I'm not sure what that would take, so the replies here hold my interest as well. I'm sure more hp would be more fun to tour with.

[Russ]

I've got a 2.5 on mine. Works great.

I'd live with your 3hp. That one will probably be noisy, but all gas powered are.

[Bobby T.-26X #4767]

personally, w/ a Mac i'm only focused on weight. that is, i want a very light weight motor & dinghy.
2 - 3hp is sufficient for boat to shore transportation w/ your typical small Mac dinghy.

Bob T.
"DāBob"
'02X w/ '04 90-TLDI (14" x 11 pitch)
Dinghy Motor: '06 2.5-Suzuki

[aya16]

Well look at it this way, You have a nice size dink, and You and a couple people will have a great time in it. Motor, I would try the 3 hp, see how it goes. Only a couple things will determine if you need a larger motor. First tides, and current's, if your current motor cant make headway where you are using the motor, and you really want to go with
a bigger motor.

The other thing would be, how many people in your dink normaly. 4 or 5 people all the time would warrent a larger engine.

Notice distance wasnt a reason for a bigger motor. Unless you want a jet ski type ride with the dink, like just having fun running around smashing through wakes, what ever. Distance you travel wont be a factor, the faster a 9 foot dink goes, the wetter the ride, as well a bit bumpy too. A 2 hp or 3hp in your case, will push your 9 foot dink at a very comfortable ride.

Buttttttt I would try the 3hp first, see how you like it, My fav, dink motor for my 9 footer is between my honda 2hp and my older 2 cyl, johnson 2 stroke 4hp, both work really well with the boat.
Mike

[Ixneigh]

If you had a six horse you could raft the dinghy to the side of your boat and move it in case your main motor quit.

Ixniegh

[Catigale]

I've done the above with a Nissan 4 HP, so your 3HP will be fine. Im guessing it weighs only 30 pounds or so, which is a lot easier to move around then the next size up.

[Terry]

If you are cheap like me you will make do with the existing 3hp motor, it is a no brainer.
However, I bought my dinghy first and engine later. Being in a position to choose a motor, my preference was toward 6-9 hp because like you I wanted the freedom to explore beyond the Mac. I have a 9'9" Titan and it takes a bit of oomph to get it moving, especially with me in excess of 200 lbs. In the end I got a 5 hp honda but only because the price was right and I would have been a fool to pass it up. With just me or moreso with someone lighter than me it does scoot pretty good, I have clocked 10mph on the gps under ideal conditions so I can't really complain but my heart still aches for at least a 6 hp but better an 8-9hp but that is because I enjoy scooting around the bays exploring places I would not bother with in the Mac. The dinghy can double as a seperate and fun experience with a larger engine but be fore warned, bigger = heavier and my 5hp honda weighs 60lbs and is very cumbersome and awkward to mount and dismount off the transom so I rarely remove it. I know there are engines out there with more HP and still in the 60 lbs range and I sometimes wish I had held out for one but what I have was too good a deal to pass up so I make do.
Think about your intended use and the venue you use it in, up here in the PNW we get well in excess of 10' tides, strong currents, passes, channels and rip tides so I like to have enough HP to deal with these situations since my dinghy is more than just for dinghy dock service. I rowed the first year and that gave me a good idea as to how much hp I needed.

[DaveB]

Gamefisher is a Sears product that is air cooled and for fresh water only in older models. I have a Suzuiki 2.5 hp 4 stroke I am very happy with pushing a 9 ft. inflatable around 5 mph cruise that would run circles around the Gamefisher.
The 2.5 weighs 28 lbs and easy to hang or retrive from my boat mount while in the dingy. The Nissans 6 hp weighs 55 lbs but that extra weight may be a problem for only a 2- 3 mph faster.
Do ck out the Gamefisher for usage in Salt water. I think they did come out with a water cooled outboard that is saltwater good but not sure...memory .
Dave

I just purchased a Dinghy for $200. I have a 3hp motor that runs well, the dinghy is 9' tip to tip or 8' bow to transom....With a wooden floor ...I have a 3hp that runs good Is this enough?
HP rating on plate is 10HP max...Should I look for a larger motor? I want to use it to explore coves and buzz around to different local areas where the Mac can not go...
Never owned a dinghy before so no prior expierience..

[DaveB]

You can change out the 4hp Carberator to a 6hp Nissan for around $130. I did it on my Nissan 5 hp to the 6hp and loved it.
Dave

I've done the above with a Nissan 4 HP, so your 3HP will be fine. Im guessing it weighs only 30 pounds or so, which is a lot easier to move around then the next size up.

[Crikey]

Nobody has mentioned future two stroke restrictions coming into effect in an increasingly large number of places! I don't think the size of the motor is going to matter in this regard. Shouldn't this be a consideration where upgrading to a new engine is being bandied about?

Ross

[Matt19020]

The 3 HP is really light -25 lbs and is air cooled, Budget is a consideration I really do not want to drop $1000. on a new motor. I may wait out the winter stalking craigs list to find something larger. I may have found a Evinrude 7.5 that runs for $350. but it is about a 2 hour drive one way and not sure I want to make the drive for it. I will update this post once I get it out on the water with some results

Dave just curious ...Why would the Suzuki 2.5hp run circles around a 3hp?

Mastreb...not ready to sell just yet but I did put a new carb and fuelbulb on it so I know parts are still available

Russ... I fired it up in a water filled can and it was not terribly lound but who knows once you get out there

[Divecoz]

Matt I wish you were closer to me YOU.... NEED A BIGGER MOTOR and I would swap you my 6 hp off my bigger older heavier dink.. hahahaha PITA to deal with the 6 hp.. it all depends on what you really want it to do.. I used mine to get from the boat on the hook ... to shore ...to the pier... TO THE BAR!!!
6hp way over kill..IMHO and I have one.. Yes she goes fast.. Now all of a sudden I need to go fast after sailing all day week month??
Wish you were closer...

[NiceAft]

Matt,

I have a 9' Achilles with a 6hp Mercury 4 stroke. The Achilles is rated for 8hp, but dealer for Achilles said that the six would do fine, and it only weighs 40lbs. I can handle that well. I would not want a heavier motor.

Now, as to whether 3hp is enough depends on what you want the motor to do. What size motor is the dinghy rated for? I can get up on plane with the 6hp with one other person on board. It takes a bit of weight distribution, but it can be done. I don't think that is happening with a 3hp, but that may not be what you are looking to do?

I have used my Achilles to run twice daily five mile trips for two weeks straight. I really appreciated that 6 then. I mean to tell you that with just me on board, that dinghy was flying over the water.

Figure out what your needs are.

Ray