[C320-list] Dinghy Propulsion

[RONALD HODEL]

We have a 9’ Achilles with inflatable floor. We have a 6hp Suzuki which moves us very well and can even plane in some conditions. (Both Gail and I are ‘smaller people’. It easily planes with one on board.) We love our Suzuki - I drain the gas out of the carb before storing it and it starts 2nd pull every time - either for myself or Gail. We store it on the outboard mount on the stern pulpit (covered of course) and we use a crane to lower it - Gail on deck and myself in the dinghy. If I were going cruising again (and hopefully we will after COVID) I’d keep the 6hp (although it is a bit small honestly, but it’s light so there’s that and besides, that’s what the suggested hp for that particular raft is) and I’d get an electric motor to cruise around anchorages, etc. But IMHO being able to plane is important if you’re out cruising. It gives you access to places you would otherwise not have.  

Ron Hodel
S/V Lokomaikai #1070 

Sent from my iPad

> On Nov 16, 2020, at 9:02 AM, 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