Ridiculous ? HP for a 10' inflatable?

I have a 10' achielles with the rollup aluminum floor I have an old 8 hp Yamaha 2 stroke it does OK but I would love to have a 15 hp motor in fact if I find a good deal on one I might pick it up. Two stroke is the way to go IMHO.
 
I had the 10'4" Achilles with the air floor myself. I had an 8 horse 2 stroke, weight was my concern as well, because I always pulled the motor off to tow it. I could barely get it to plane with the 8, but with some effort it could(leaning way forward, having someone "lighter" drive it, ect) should have had the 10 that it's rated for. A 6 would not allow you to enjoy the full potential of the boat. IMHO
 
Thanks for the update. So you've been keeping the dinghy rolled up and put away after each use, and lifted the engine everytime(mini crane was a good idea), for the last five years. Wow! I'm impressed. I've been lifting the 38# Merc 3.3 for the last ten years but we kept the dinghy mounted verticaly on the swim platform. I can't imagine rolling it up everytime. As a matter of fact I'm moving in the direction of a new dinghy mount system so I can leave the engine on it. It's getting to the point that the hassle of getting the engine on and off is limiting my use of the dinghy (especially in anything other than calm conditions). Good luck with your new engine.
 
guys, i'm really leaning toward the 9.9 Yamaha at 80 lbs

It's only 16 lbs more than the Merc - of course that's a 25% increase in weight.

But what I'm learning here is that the 9.9 will be far more "fun" than the 8, even with the 20 lbs difference - the 8 weighing in at 60 lbs.

The St Croix mini crane can handle it and I can manhandle the rest.

Sound reasoning or not?

Will I cuss the weight or would i cuss the 8 horsepower?

RWS
 
Lots of responses on this topic. Here is my 2 cents. I currently have an 1986Achillies 10'2" inflatable keel, wood floor with a NEW 9.9 merc. I miss my 9.9 2 cycle mariner. Smoked like he%#, ran like crazy. With 2 people and a dog you can tube off this thing. What I am saying is, the 9.9 is fun. A little heavy, but a lot of fun. This might sound a little nuts, I would trade my 2012 9.9 for a lighter 9.9 2 cycle. I miss my 2 cycle.
Lou R.
Avalon, New Jersey
 
quote:
Originally posted by 36mainship36

Lots of responses on this topic. Here is my 2 cents. I currently have an 1986Achillies 10'2" inflatable keel, wood floor with a NEW 9.9 merc. I miss my 9.9 2 cycle mariner. Smoked like he%#, ran like crazy. With 2 people and a dog you can tube off this thing. What I am saying is, the 9.9 is fun. A little heavy, but a lot of fun. This might sound a little nuts, I would trade my 2012 9.9 for a lighter 9.9 2 cycle. I miss my 2 cycle.
Lou R.
Avalon, New Jersey

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The other part of this issue is if something less than catastrophic went wrong with the Yamaha, it would be a no brainer to have it repaired.

With the 1976 Merc, well, lets just RIP.

Meanwhile the weighty debate continues, however I WILL BE PULLING THE TRIGGER TOMORROW - FRIDAY

Right now it looks like the 9.9 80 pound monster will be coming home with me.....

unless someoine can talk some sense into me !

Thanks

RWS
 
I think the 15 hp is the same weight at the 9.9 hp. I would check it out. I have a 15 hp honda on a mercury 340 airdeck and it is fast. We even tube with it.
Al
 
Disregard my previous reply. It is the 15 hp and the 20 hp that are the same weight.
Al
 
I have a 10' Mercury PVC with the wood floor and a 9.9 two stroke. It does 23mph solo. It's nice to have the option to get it moving if conditions allow (pretty much dead calm). We travel with a couple that have an 8' with a 4hp and it takes them FOREVER to get anywhere. That's OK to traverse a harbor, but for a little farther excursion, it's too slow for me. The weight issue IS a pain in the back side but I manage. Moving a motor of that weight in steps from platform to dinghy to transom is a process. It just depends on your need for speed and intended usage.
 
I had about an 11ft. Avon with an 8HP Honda fours stroke - loved that little boat. Maybe it's because I run bigger boats for a living, but that little inflatable was one of my favorites. Kind of wish I kept it for when I move back east. The Honda BF8 was plenty for me and the dog and my dive gear, or me and the wife and two of the kids, or two guys with dive gear - but that beast was HEAVY! Great engine, but a beast to move around.

One thing I learned with that inflatable - if you lean back on the sponson and take a short nap, it will put you into a VERY deep sleep, and if you don't have an anchor set...well, you get a surprise when and where you wake up!
 
quote:
Originally posted by November Charlie

I had about an 11ft. Avon with an 8HP Honda fours stroke - loved that little boat. Maybe it's because I run bigger boats for a living, but that little inflatable was one of my favorites. Kind of wish I kept it for when I move back east. The Honda BF8 was plenty for me and the dog and my dive gear, or me and the wife and two of the kids, or two guys with dive gear - but that beast was HEAVY! Great engine, but a beast to move around.

One thing I learned with that inflatable - if you lean back on the sponson and take a short nap, it will put you into a VERY deep sleep, and if you don't have an anchor set...well, you get a surprise when and where you wake up!

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I just looked up your Honda 8 4 stroke

it weighs in at 92 lbs !!!!!

Maybe I should stop crying about the 60 vs 80 lb issue and just MAN UP !

RWS
 
The 9.9hp and the 15hp 2 stroke motors should be pretty close to the same wt. We have a 9.6' Brigg with 2 stroke 15hp run great. We use it to explore and cover many miles at cruising speed.

Ron
 
quote:
Originally posted by JUST-IN-TIME

4 stroke
no need to carry oil

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Hell no. I had a 9.8 2-stroke Tohatsu. Thing was light and fast.

Got a 9.8 4-stroke Yamaha. That extra 10-15 pounds make a huge different in handling it.

Plus 4-strokes suck for storage. As previously stated you have to position in a certain way.

2-stokes are way, way better. The oil deal is pimple compared to the extra weigh and storage issues.
 
quote:
Originally posted by 36mainship36

Lots of responses on this topic. Here is my 2 cents. I currently have an 1986Achillies 10'2" inflatable keel, wood floor with a NEW 9.9 merc. I miss my 9.9 2 cycle mariner. Smoked like he%#, ran like crazy. With 2 people and a dog you can tube off this thing. What I am saying is, the 9.9 is fun. A little heavy, but a lot of fun. This might sound a little nuts, I would trade my 2012 9.9 for a lighter 9.9 2 cycle. I miss my 2 cycle.
Lou R.
Avalon, New Jersey

Click to expand...


Best post on the topic. Spot on.
 
quote:
Originally posted by RWS

guys, i'm really leaning toward the 9.9 Yamaha at 80 lbs

It's only 16 lbs more than the Merc - of course that's a 25% increase in weight.

But what I'm learning here is that the 9.9 will be far more "fun" than the 8, even with the 20 lbs difference - the 8 weighing in at 60 lbs.

The St Croix mini crane can handle it and I can manhandle the rest.

Sound reasoning or not?

Will I cuss the weight or would i cuss the 8 horsepower?

RWS

Click to expand...


Depends how often you take it off, and what kind of shape you are in. I have that engine. It's heavy and a pain in the ass to move. I can do it no problem, but I always dread it.
 
REPOST:

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Posted - Nov 22 2012 : 07:14:48
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We gave up on the 1976 Mercury 2 stroke 9.8 horse motor (with 12 horse jets and reed valves)

Replaced with a Yamaha 2 cylinder 2 stroke 8 horse motor in new condition.

It weighs only 60 lbs.

The Yamaha 8 takes our 10.5’ high pressure air floor dinghy to 15 kts/17.3 MPH with two adults on board.

Planes effortlessly at 10 kts.

Once we repair/replace the somewhat rough edged prop we should do a bit better.

The Yamaha starts on the first pull, uses 100:1 fuel oil mix compared to 50:1 on the Merc resulting in less smoke, is much quieter, what a difference in noise plus the nearly all the exhaust flows out through the prop.

The biggest surprise is that the published weight difference is negligible at 4 pounds, however with the large built in handle at the front it is far easier to heft on/off the dink and back to the garage where it will receive a new impeller shortly.

Maybe it’s a bit more compact than the gangly old Merc.

Thank y’all for your input on this one. I am really glad I passed on the 90 pound 9.9 Yamaha.

That 60 lb Yamaha 8 will be a breeze to stow in the lazarette and I can still use the St Croix mini crane if I need to/want to when I become an even older fart.
 
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