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Old 06-17-2014, 08:08 PM   #1
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Newbies Buying New Dinghy

Newbie here.

We are going to buy a dinghy for our ST 44 and need some help, please.

Here are some ideas and other motivations:

The electric boom on the fly can hoist, so the dealer states, about 264 lbs.

The total length of the fly space where the dinghy goes is about 10 1/2 feet.

A 2 occupant model will work for us.

We'll be more likely tying up at marinas but would like a dinghy for those occasions where we anchor out, and other usage like traversing areas of minimal depths.

We'd like to buy quality (Hypalon?) for longevity and service. Boat buddy has suggested an aluminum floor on the RIB.

Really like the propane engine to avoid carrying gasoline.

Will we need any customized rigging for attaching to the davit and lifting? If so, does the supplier usually handle this?

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
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Old 06-17-2014, 08:33 PM   #2
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I'd go with either a hypalon RIB with a fiberglass hull on perhaps an aluminum skiff that you add a thick, soft rub rail to. I'd stick with a gas engine to get more HP.

170# isn't much of a davit. A ten foot RIB weighs around 150# with out an engine.
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Old 06-17-2014, 08:34 PM   #3
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My 9 ft. Caribe with 9.9 HP 2 cycle Merc. is just under that weight. An alum. bottom would save a bit more, but the 4 stroke engines are heavier. Hopcar, right here on the Forum can help you with the weight and cost of the Lehr propane units. My guess is that most aluminum bottom inflatable dinghies with a 9.9 Lehr would still be under 200, with a 5 HP Lehr, close to your 170 lbs.
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Old 06-17-2014, 08:39 PM   #4
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You'll need at least a three point sling, supplied by the manufacturer for a price I'm sure. Go with what they suggest or supply with the dinghy. A homemade sling is probably not worth the potential. Also a cradle to stow and secure the dinghy on, tie downs, cover, oars.....the price tag keeps growing. I've seen rod holders and a bimini top on some.
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Old 06-17-2014, 09:45 PM   #5
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Correction which I just edited to original post: Davit can handle 264 lbs.
Sorry for the error.

Any recommendations on specific makes / models will help.
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Old 06-17-2014, 10:04 PM   #6
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Larry, Thanks for the plug.

RC, I think you need to decide how fast you want to go. A 5 hp. engine might plane a 10 foot rib but it's marginal. If you want to go faster than displacement speeds, look at 10 hp. engines or bigger.

You'll find that the propane engines weigh about the same as four cycle gasoline engines.

The Lehr 5.0 weighs just under fifty pounds and the 9.9 just under 90 pounds.

I just had a customer trade in a 5.0 because it didn't plane his 12 ft. fabric bottom inflatable. He's very happy with the 9.9.

I have an 8 foot fabric bottom dinghy that I power with a Lehr 2.5 because I have to lift the engine on and off the dinghy each time I use it. Needless to say, I don't go very fast but it gets me back and forth to shore.
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Old 06-17-2014, 10:10 PM   #7
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I don't think we'll need speed. The 5 HP will probably be fine. Who's in a hurry in a dinghy?
Where should I buy the engine?
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Old 06-17-2014, 10:16 PM   #8
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How is propane a lot safer than gasoline?

I would think that one tank of gas in a small outboard would last quite a while between fillups. I have a 2.5 hp Honda that is still on its first tank. We have used it about a half dozen times.
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Old 06-17-2014, 10:33 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rclarke246 View Post
I don't think we'll need speed. The 5 HP will probably be fine. Who's in a hurry in a dinghy?

Where should I buy the engine?

http://www.hopkins-carter.com/le50prou.html


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Old 06-17-2014, 10:34 PM   #10
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RC, the forum rules prevent me from telling you where you should buy a Lehr engine.

Bligh is correct, propane needs to be stored and handled like gasoline. It is less messy to handle but you need to be just as careful with it.
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Old 06-17-2014, 10:35 PM   #11
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Thanks Oliver! When are you coming down for a visit?
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Old 06-17-2014, 11:00 PM   #12
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Thanks Oliver! When are you coming down for a visit?

Honestly don't know,
Hoping soon!
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Old 06-18-2014, 06:53 AM   #13
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Thank you all. Which shaft length will work best, assuming a 8-9' RIB?
Also, we already have propane on board so I didn't want to introduce a 3rd fuel.
Those small grill bottles look pretty safe to me.
Any argument against the Lehr 5?
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Old 06-18-2014, 07:00 AM   #14
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I'd go with either a hypalon RIB with a fiberglass hull on perhaps an aluminum skiff that you add a thick, soft rub rail to.
Please pardon me for my possible misunderstanding, but did you mean "or an aluminum skiff"?
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Old 06-18-2014, 07:01 AM   #15
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Correction which I just edited to original post: Davit can handle 264 lbs.
Sorry for the error.

Any recommendations on specific makes / models will help.
Our 10'2" RIB weighs 135-lbs dry, and the 15-hp electric-start outboard weighs 106-lbs. Consider additional weight of fuel, "stuff," and maybe a battery if you want electric-start.

Usually it's good to want considerable reserve capacity in your lift system; often 10% is the minimum recommendation (I've read).

You'll also want to take into account the effect of that much weight that high on the boat... in beam seas, for example.

Given your location, you may find the guys at Inflatable Experts/Maritime Solutions (something like that) in Eastport to be very helpful. Nic Stark helped me...

-Chris
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Old 06-18-2014, 07:10 AM   #16
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I have a 10ft rib with a 6hp 4 stroke and it is even hard to plane with one person but we are usually in no hurry. You will definitely need a short shaft motor.
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Old 06-18-2014, 07:31 AM   #17
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RC, the forum rules prevent me from telling you where you should buy a Lehr engine.
But it seems that you have friends. :-)
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Old 06-18-2014, 08:13 AM   #18
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Speed is always a nice option to have .Click image for larger version

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Old 06-18-2014, 08:26 AM   #19
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Maritime Solutions Inflatable Experts
306 Second Street
Annapolis, MD

888-230-7583
msi-1.com

Great people with whom to do business. Helpful and not pushy. Lots of inventory to choose from. Just bought aluminum hull RIB from them.
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Old 06-18-2014, 09:25 AM   #20
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Speed is really nice, it opens up a lot of uses you may not have thought of. We use ours for exploring, sometimes 10 to 20 miles from the boat. Much faster to run at 20 mph than 7knts.
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