[C320-list] Dinghy Propulsion

[Tom Grass]

Thanks Graeme - the HP Limitation on our current West Marine  310 RIB is 10
HP.   The 2 1/2 HP motor  currently in use came from our previous dinghy -
a home made 8' Eastport Pram with a max hp rating of 3.0.

Tom Grass

On Mon, Nov 16, 2020 at 11:07 AM Graeme Clark <cg at skyflyer.co.uk> wrote:

> Tom
>
> I cant help with most of your questions but worth noting that our own
> dinghy has a maximum HP limitation on it. I dont know why and I dont know
> what happens if you exceed that but you may wish to consider a new dinghy
> as well as a new motor?
>
> Graeme
>
> > On 16 Nov 2020, at 17:02, Tom Grass <tgrass462 at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > Currently Bucket List has a 2 1/2 HP Mercury 4 Cycle Outboard motor on
> our
> > West Marine 310 RIB - which we frequently tow behind our Catalina 320
> with
> > the motor raised..     This motor is fine for cruising back and forth in
> > Covered Portage anchorage  in the North Channel (no wind) - BUT when
> doing
> > the LOOP we were unable to moor at the 79th Street marina in NYC - our
> > little motor could NOT buck the current in the Hudson.  It also  is too
> > small for the long distance dinghy trips required in the Bahamas..
> >
> > We are thinking of repowering the dinghy in 2021.  We are considering
> > either a Mercury OR Tohatsu 8.0 HP or 9.9 HP; 15" shaft length and manual
> > start.
> >
> > Questions:
> >
> > Recommendations on Brand?  Tohatsu, Mercury, Yamaha, Honda, etc.
> >
> > Recommendations on HP?  Can we plane with 8 HP (two adults aboard)?
> > Could we plane with a 5 HP or 6 HP?
> >
> > Motor Handling?  How do you lift the motor on and off the dinghy?  Do you
> > use a special motor lift?  A halyard off the mast?  A line from the Boom?
> > Note - Bucket List does NOT have dinghy davits installed;  When not
> pulling
> > the dinghy we keep the dinghy (without motor) secured to the transom
> with a
> > dinghy davit net.
> >
> > Motor Storage?  Do you lay your dinghy motor down on deck?  Do you hang
> it
> > off the stern rail seat on a motor mount?  Other?
> >
> > Dinghy Motor Starting - Do any of you have electric starters on your
> dinghy
> > motor?  We are all getting  older - is a pull starter still viable?  My
> > wife especially is concerned about this.
> >
> > Thanks for your help.
> >
> > Tom & Tracy Grass
> > S/V Bucket List
> > 2008 Catalina 320 MK II
> > #1135
>
>