[C320-list] Dinghy Propulsion

[Tom Grass]

Thanks Chris for your information.  What year is your Mercury 2 stroke?
They are indeed lighter than the corresponding 4 Cycle ... but (at least
here in St. Louis) a little hard to find.

Tom Grass
Bucket List

On Mon, Nov 16, 2020 at 12:29 PM Chris Burti <clburti at gmail.com> wrote:

> West Marina RIB
> Tohatsu 9.9
> More than enough power to plane two adults without a dolfin.
> We always tow it with the engine on and raised.
>
>
> Best Regards,
> Chris Burti
> Commitment #867
>
> > On Nov 16, 2020, at 12:22 PM, Chris Nichols <cinichols at btinternet.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > We have a Mercury 320 rib that we ordinary tow with engine on (naughty
> I know). Engine is mercury 5hp 2cyl 2 stroke and is just enough to get
> planing with 2 aboard.
> >
> > We do have Davits but rarely use them due to weight.
> >
> > Doing it over I’d find a lighter rib eg hyfield and keep the motor which
> is great (and light for the power).
> >
> > Chris
> >
> >> On 16 Nov 2020, at 17:07, 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
> >>
> >
>