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Powering an 8' dinghy
mattroche	#1  Posted on 04/13/09 - 11:05 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 39 Comments: 1 Joined: 02/17/08	I have an older, 8' fiberglass dinghy that I need to power. The dinghy was a gift from a friend who never had power on it and there is nothing identifiable onboard indicating the correct power. I came across a sweet, older Johnson short shaft, 4HP, 2-stroke, twin cyl outboard that I'm considering purchasing. Is this too much power? Am I better off with a 2HP, 2-stroke? Price of the outboard is $375
Troy	#2  Posted on 04/13/09 - 11:49 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 96 Comments: 3 Joined: 06/23/08	I can't imagine that you would find the 4hp engine to be too much. Even moving one person on an 8 foot boat, you are only going to get so much speed out of a 4 hp engine. Troy 1985 Outrage 18
Guts	#3  Posted on 04/13/09 - 3:32 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 612 Comments: 8 Joined: 11/21/08	I would think about one of these http://www.britishseagullparts.com/
Tig	#4  Posted on 04/13/09 - 5:47 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 122 Comments: 0 Joined: 02/24/09	I have a very light 10' fiberglass fishing boat with a 6hp on it. With a 12 year old at the helm it will top out at over 25 mph. It will still plane with 2 adults in it. Often I will fish from that little boat using just a 30lb thrust electric trolling motor. In an 8' boat you might want to look for a motor with a pony tank to save space in the boat. A 3 gallon tank takes up more room than necessary and last a long long time. A five gallon tank might last all summer. What are you going to use the boat for?
mattgeiger	#5  Posted on 04/14/09 - 3:36 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 310 Comments: 2 Joined: 02/22/07	Those old 2cyl Johnsons are great motors. You won't find a modern 4-stroke in this hp range near as smooth when under a load - pushing a boat. An alternate with an integral fuel tank in that price range would be a 90's Nissan/Tohatsu 2.5/3.3. The British Seagulls are really cool, but you'll need ear plugs. Cape Dory 28 Hobie 20 Miracle A Class Catamaran
mattroche	#6  Posted on 04/14/09 - 4:28 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 39 Comments: 1 Joined: 02/17/08	Tig, I was planning on using as my tender, to and from my mooring, and leaving it at the public dinghy dock.
Tig	#7  Posted on 04/14/09 - 5:25 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 122 Comments: 0 Joined: 02/24/09	Either will do the job but if the 4hp is what is available it's a good choice. I've seen pony tanks that hang on the transom available online if that suits your need. A gallon of gas may last all summer.
HarleyFXDL	#8  Posted on 04/14/09 - 5:45 AM
Member Personal Page Project Albums Posts: 917 Comments: 30 Joined: 07/24/07	I have a 10' alum jon boat and I put a Yamaha 1 cly 4hp 2-stroke on it. The boat will plane out with 1 person and do about 15 mph. I would think a 2 hp would push it just fine. BTW, the CG plate on the 10' says 3.3 hp as max.