[C320-list] Zodiac

[oldman1030 at hotmail.com]

Hmmm.  I have a 9ft West Marine dinghy with a Johnson 2Hp and I'm on the 
Mighty Merrimack River and I have no problems.  Don't get me wrong if I go 
up river during an ebb it takes awhile and is very slow going but I have no 
problems moving around the river.

However, I would like a larger horse outboard but that is what came with the 
dinghy and boat when I bought it two years ago so I don't complain, 
especially since my new Gori 3 blade folding prop is on the way to my house. 
Only so many boat bucks :-).

Chris
#447

----- Original Message -----
From: "Arthur Gates" <argates2nd at earthlink.net>
To: "C320-List" <c320-list at catalina320.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2006 9:27 PM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Zodiac

>I agree that 2hp is not enough and the 3.5hp Tohatsu would be good.  2hp
> will not cut it against current.
> Rollie  #182
>
>
>> [Original Message]
>> From: WindSwept <c320_windswept at sbcglobal.net>
>> To: C320-List <c320-list at catalina320.com>
>> Date: 12/19/06 8:40:10 PM
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Zodiac
>>
>> I have a 1992 2 HP Yamaha (22 lbs) that I have used on a 8'6" inflatable
>> without problems in wind and chop.  Not much experience with current
> though.
>> This rig is called the "one-hour" dink.  It takes 1 hour to get anywhere,
>> but if you are patient you will usually get there.
>>
>> The new 3.5 HP models from Tohatsu, Nissan and Mercury all weigh around
> 40
>> lbs.  They are all the same except for the name on them.  Since it
> appears
>> weight is the over riding factor, this seems like a better choice.  You
> will
>> have more power, no 2-cycle gasoline mixing, much less exhaust and noise.
>> And a new motor with a 3 year warantee.
>>
>> Check out www.onlineoutboards.com.  They have the 3.5 hp Tohatsu for 810
> and
>> free shipping.  I have a friend who purchased from this website with
>> complete satisfaction.
>>
>> I plan on buying the 3.5 HP early in 2007.
>>
>> Larry
>> WindSwept C320 #246
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Jeff Church" <jjemail at comcast.net>
>> To: "C320" <C320-List at catalina320.com>
>> Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2006 7:20 PM
>> Subject: [C320-list] Zodiac
>>
>>
>> Greetings,
>>
>> I'm going to purchase an 8.5 foot Zodiac inflatable and I'm wondering how
>> small a motor I can use. I'll mainly use the zodiac when we go cruising
> Lake
>> Michigan and need to transport the 2 of us around an anchorage. I don't
>> intend to bother with davits or a crane.
>>
>> I've got a few shoulder problems and I don't look forward to lifting a
> heavy
>> motor off the dinghy transom and up to the stern perch. Anything much
>> heavier than 40 pounds will probably be a bit uncomfortable, but I'm
>> concerned that the smaller motors won't have enough power. A new 2 hp
> motor
>> is around 27 lbs, 4 hp motors weigh about 55 pounds.
>>
>> Do any of you use a 2 horse motor on an 8 foot zodiac? Is it strong
> enough
>> to push through some wind and chop in an anchorage, or do I really need a
>> 3.5 or 4 horse to do the job? What minimum horsepower would you 
>> recommend?
>>
>> The local Zodiac dealer has a 1996 Johnson 4 hp 2-cycle for sale. He
> wants
>> $495 for it. I think it weighs 38 pounds. That puts it at about the same
>> weight as a new 4-cycle 2.5 to 3.5 hp motor. It doesn't have a reverse
> gear,
>> but that seems to be fairly common in motors that are under 5 hp. Maybe
> this
>> motor would be a good choice?
>>
>> Thanks and Happy Holidays
>>
>> JeffC
>>
>>
>
>
>
>