dink motor - what?

[AusCan]

I've got the little 2.5 hp 2 stroke Merc. Simple, lightweight & dependable.
The only thing I wish it had was a neutral gear. You have to be ready to go when you start it up.

 

[ranger58sb]

And do take note that these days most all small outboard motors (15hp and less) are re-branded Tohatsu’s - Honda being the exception. This has been true for some time now.

Suzuki makes all their own small engines, and I think Yamaha does, too.


Suzuki made some engines for Johnson, at one time. We have a Johnson 5-hp 2-stroke, made by Suzuki, late '90s.

-Chris

 

[N4712]

I have a little 2.5 zuke and it's great. Pretty quiet and has neutral.

 

[Nomad Willy]

I wonder if my Yamadog is a Tohatsu too?

 

[JNandJN]

Someone mentioned short range on the propane fueled Lehr. According to their web site, it runs for 48 hrs @ 3000 rpm on a 20b tank of propane. I've been considering it because it seems safer than having gasoline on deck. Here is the link:
LEHR 2.5 hp 4-Stroke Outboard Engine | LEHR

 

[thomasonw]

Suzuki makes all their own small engines, and I think Yamaha does, too.


Suzuki made some engines for Johnson, at one time. We have a Johnson 5-hp 2-stroke, made by Suzuki, late '90s.

-Chris

You know Chris, I think you are correct - perhaps more accurate would be "..most all US small outboard motors.." + Nissan

-al-

 

[ranger58sb]

You know Chris, I think you are correct - perhaps more accurate would be "..most all US small outboard motors.." + Nissan

-al-

Maybe. Last I heard, Mercury is pretty much the only "US" brand of small outboards? Johnson is toast, Evinrude (last I heard) isn't making anything under maybe about 40-hp? Anybody I'm forgetting?

When I was shopping for our new 15-hp outboard, I found Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Tohatsu, Nissan (Tohatsu), and Mercury (Tohatsu).

And I think I've read recently that Nissan isn't going to be doing small outboard anymore (even if they were by Tohatsu)?

-Chris

 

[healhustler]

Someone mentioned short range on the propane fueled Lehr. According to their web site, it runs for 48 hrs @ 3000 rpm on a 20b tank of propane. I've been considering it because it seems safer than having gasoline on deck. Here is the link:
LEHR 2.5 hp 4-Stroke Outboard Engine | LEHR

Me too. I'm in no rush, but when we are full time cruising, I want to leave a 2 HP Lehr on the dinghy for the loop and keep the Merc 9.9 2 stroke for the islands. I never asked if the Lehr had a neutral, but it's a good question.

 

[HopCar]

The Lehr 2.5 has neutral and forward. Spin the engine around for reverse.

 

[BruceK]

My 5hp Tohatsu 2 stroke is a simple reliable little beast of burden. It can get the dinghy on the plane, but in hindsight I`d be better off one model smaller and lighter, the weight is at the edge of what I can manage fitting/removing it from the 2.7M inflatable in the water.

 

[HopCar]

Marin, all of the Lehr engines can be run on larger tanks and in fact come with the hose to connect it. I use an 11 pound tank that is about the size of a 2,5 gallon gas can. The engine will run over ten hours at wide open throttle. Pull it back some and it'll run better than twenty hours.

 

[Codger2]

My Honda 2 HP has a centrifugal clutch. The prop is stopped at idle, then rotates as you give it gas. IMO, better than a neutral lever.

I did not know this and I agree, I like the concept!

 

[Pack Mule]

I tried my Honda 2 hp out on both of the dinghies I have , a Walker Bay 8 ft and a Trinka 10 ft . Both of these are hard dinghies . Maybe it's just me but I could never find a comfortable position to steer from . On both dinghies the aft seat was to close to the throttle . I had to sit in the floor to steer .I loved the motor but I think it would work better on an inflatable where you can sit further forward on the tubes . I sold the motor last week . The Trinka rows nice . On a hard dinghy I think maybe a trolling motor or the Torqedo would work best because of shorter steering/ throttle . Or may be one of those old British Seagulls
.It was a bit of a freak show a couple of weeks ago when I put the Honda on the Walker Bay and tried it out . I won't go into detail but I took the motor off right away and decided to sell them separately .

 

[Bay Pelican]

43 posts and we have not mentioned sizing the dinghy motor for the needed use. If you are always anchoring near the marina, dinghy dock or beach then a 2-3.5 hp outboard is sufficient, cheaper and easier to handle than a larger outboard.

If, however, you want/need to anchor further out than the smaller outboards become a problem.

In the Eastern Caribbean for security reasons some/many boaters want to put as much distance as possible between their anchored boats and the local villages. Usually the boats that are broken into are anchored nearer the beach/village.

Distance is fine but when you have a 1 mile, 1-1/2 mile dinghy ride with a 2.5 hp motor it is a long trip. I have a couple of sailboat friends who have small outboards and they are not beyond hitching a ride with me whenever they can.

 

[ranger58sb]

43 posts and we have not mentioned sizing the dinghy motor for the needed use.

Given OP's first post included candidates from 2.5 to 35-hp... post 25 was the best I could do.

-Chris

 

[Ski in NC]

2-3hp: Short distance service, calm conditions, will never plane. But super easy to handle and store.

8hp up: Will plane out, but motor too heavy to easily handle. Now must use davits, hoists, etc.

3-8hp: Sort of a dead zone. Can sorta plane, but not with a load and not fast enough to be dry. Motor still too heavy to easily handle.

I went with 2hp after my 4hp died. Happier with the 2hp. But it is limited in use. But handling is super easy.

 

[Heron]

2-3hp: Short distance service, calm conditions, will never plane. But super easy to handle and store.

I went with 2hp after my 4hp died. Happier with the 2hp. But it is limited in use. But handling is super easy.

Same here...
My old 2 hp Honda is 20 years old now...One of the original watercooled units. Starts on one pull...gets me wherever I want to go!

 

[Pack Mule]

What kind of motor are most of you seeing on 8' or 10' hard ( rowing ) dinghies ?

 

[Nomad Willy]

Marty,
If it's a propper row boat it will be a FD boat and one can only use one or two hp so a 3 to 4hp engine is about it.

Some (many) think any boat under 13' is a "row boat". Straight bottom and flat stern "row boats" of this type can use more power .. say 3 to 8hp.

Re the amount of power most small outboards are quite to very noisy above 1/2 throttle. I often run 8hp on my 18' power canoe (small square stern) but most of the time at half throttle where the two stroke Yamaha is very quiet. A nice pleasant ride. But if I want to scoot it will go at least 12 and probably 14 knots. Definitely wind in the face canoeing. Two stroke outboards are very smooth and quiet below 1/2 throttle and well above idle where they 4 stroke (fire every other stroke).

 

[Pack Mule]

Maybe I should have added a tiller extension and sit in the center seat . Too late now I sold the motor .

 

[Heron]

What kind of motor are most of you seeing on 8' or 10' hard ( rowing ) dinghies ?

We used that same 2hp above on our Bauer 10 back in our sailboat days. Worked great...

 

[Heron]

Maybe I should have added a tiller extension and sit in the center seat . Too late now I sold the motor .

LOL...Back when I was a kid (a long tiime ago), I had a 10 foot flat bottomed skiff with a 3hp Elgin. I made up a tiller extension so I could sit up in the bow and could actually get that sucker to plane!