[C320-list] Zodiac

[Kirk McCullough]

Jeff

That Johnson 4 hp - 2 cycle would work well. The 4 strokes are so much 
heavier. I have new Mercury 9' inflatable, but went with a new Johnson 8 hp 
2 cycle because we like to explore further a field from our anchorage for 
crabbing, prawning and exploring etc. The 8 hp will do 16 kts with 2 people 
aboard. I think the 4 hp will allow you to plane with one person, but you 
will be down to 5 kts with 2 people aboard. That's fine for what you are 
looking for.

I handle the 8 hp everytime I want to take it in on or off, no davits here. 
But I can handle it no problem and don't have the strange look of a dinghy 
hanging off a 32 foot boat. We can often tow the dinghy with the motor on if 
we aren't going too far, and the weather is good.

Kirk

Boomerang #124

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jeff Church" <jjemail at comcast.net>
To: <catalina at thehares.com>; "C320-List" <c320-list at catalina320.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2006 6:40 PM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Zodiac


Thanks guys.

Sounds like one for and one against the smaller motor. I'll check 
onlineoutboards.

As to the davits, I only take 1 or 2 cruises a season where I might anchor 
out, so the dinghy will sit in my slip most of the summer. Davits are 
convenient, but I don't need them very often and would prefer to avoid the 
clutter on the transom. Around here we usually just tow the dinghy behind 
the boat or maybe run it's bow up onto the swim platform in rougher weather.

If the davits were easily removable I might consider them.

JeffC
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Jeffrey Hare
  To: 'C320-List'
  Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2006 8:22 PM
  Subject: Re: [C320-list] Zodiac


  Hi Jeff,

     You know, the davits only take about an hour to install, and with two
  simple clips will hoist and drop the dinghy, motor and all in seconds. 
6:1
  purchase makes it feel like the whole thing weighs 10lbs.

     It's so easy, that you'll take the dinghy everywhere and won't think
  twice about dropping it to go tool around.  If you have to handle the 
motor
  every time you want to go somewhere, that'll get old pretty fast.  I know.
  We used to do it, and for the most part, we just left the dinghy behind
  because of the hassle.

  Just a thought.
  -JeffH

  -----Original Message-----
  From: Jeff Church [mailto:jjemail at comcast.net]
  Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2006 8:20 PM
  To: C320
  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



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