Advice on inflatables & outboards

[Broseidon]

I'm looking to buy an inflatable for the season, just a little something to nip my girlfriend and I along the coast and access a few reefs and headlands. I don't need to go great distances or great speed - I was just wondering if anyone could give a bit of advice?

I've been offered a decent deal on a 270 Honwave with a 5hp Honda outboard but I'm a bit worried that that its too small and underpowered for the task - I don't want to be chugging along at 2mph - should I spend more and get a 6hp with a 300 - or will there hardly be any difference?

Advice much appreciated!

 

[robdigital]

Mate I have been caught out wind against tide and glad I had a 9.9 on the back of my 3.4 - If you get the chance to try something first it might give you an idea of what you want or need, not always possible I know. However if your not going far in it and using it on calm days only I don't see why a 270 and 5hp would not be suitable

 

[Broseidon]

Cheers Rob, thanks for your input! As I live so far from the sea, I do tend to be a bit of a fair weather spearo - if won't be dealing with wind or waves, that's for sure!

Do you think a 5hp will have any speed with 2 on board or will it just chug along slowly?

 

[robdigital]

Honest answer im not sure maybe have a look on the manufacturers website and see what the 270 is rated for engine wise - you may only be able to put 5hp on it anyway. And if your only going occasionally a lighter setup will be a lot less hassle - wish mine was lighter !

 

[Bass-Debater]

Bro. Just a thought. The registration for powerboats in gwynedd is up to 10hp £20 for the year. £5 launch. Or £40 for the season. Unlimited launches anywhere in the county. Over 10hp £40 registration and £10 per launch. Or £150 for the seasonal launch.

I'd say get the biggest engine you can afford up to 10hp.

http://www.pwcgwynedd.co.uk/gwyneddfees2012.doc

Hope this helps

 

[Broseidon]

Cheers Bass, great info! I'd prefer something bigger but ease of launching is a key concern as it's not going to get used that much and I don't have a trailer - something nice and light would be best.

I've been offered a 2006 6hp Mariner for £450 which seems pretty good, just need to find the boat to go with it - not sure whether to go with that or with the 5hp Honda as a complete package, all ready to go...

 

[denian]

I was lead to beleave that under 10hp you pay 25 pounds and thats it for the season ? Thays what my plan was !

 

[norfolknovice]

I purchased myself a mariner quicksilver 240(8ft)a couple of weeks ago and intend on just rowing it to my spearing locations. It packs down in a bag and fits in the back of my car making it easy for transporting and launching. Luckily all the spearing locations here in Norfolk are no more than 100m out otherwise I would get a outboard. As already mentioned most inflatables are rated for engine size, mine takes a 5hp(I think).. If only 2 people are going on the boat I'd say a 270 is plenty big enough for you..

 

[kookiebrew]

myself and my brother both got a 2.5m inflatable at the start of the year for spearing.. have a 4hp motor on it, wont break any speed records but it suits us perfectly... id recommend getting some good pneumatic launching wheels not the plastic ones (read they cant get stuck in sand easily)... can get them on ebay for about 70 quid but we made our own... got some good wheels in the local market and made our own brackets etc...

based them on this design Launching Wheels For Inflatable Boat 3.50-8 - Buy Launching Wheels For Inflatable Boat,Launching Wheels Product on Alibaba.com

and make sure if you get out of the boat for any reason to tie it up.... dont do what we did, left it on the slip only for tide to rise and drift out with all our gear on it...took us over 2 hrs to finally get it back... funny looking back but not at the time lol

 

[dyl12321]

I have a 2.5m with a 4hp. goes well by my self. with one other its a little on the slow side 3kmh~.
On the plus side, i can lift it onto my roof rack on my landrover easy.

bro if you want to try it out let me know.

 

[Bass-Debater]

I noticed the prices were 2012 after posting. Sorry. I'll check out the prices. 5hp will push a 3m dingy fine bro. Honda over mariner but you'l pay the extra. We have a 5hp long shaft Honda on a 12' fibreglass tender. It does about 6 kts. Should easily hit 10 on dingy.

 

[Broseidon]

Cheers Dyl - much appreciated mate - not sure when I'll be down, will let you know!

I've just been offered a 2006, 15hp Mariner at a great price, almost too good to pass up... not sure if I should stick with my plans for a small, easy to move engine or go for all out power...

I've been trolling YouTube looking at vids, wow those things fly with a 15...!

What do you think?

 

[Jonny250]

I think go a little bigger and get a smartwave 3500 and that 15hp youve been offered...
super simple still, but a few more pennies...

 

[denian]

Yep wise words from a man on a island.I agree.some thing like the picture you it up last year.!.

 

[Jonny250]

 

[BristolDave]

Hi Bro,
Been looking at your dilemma and it’s not dissimilar to myself a couple of years back. Few things to consider;
A small boat (2.4m ish) becomes VERY small once out at sea and doesn’t take much for conditions of sea state to change for you to start feeling very vulnerable.
A lot of people start with the idea of inflating and deflating every time you use the boat! The novelty soon wears off and inevitably you buy either a very good electric pump or a trailer. Which, comes to the next point.
How many beaches in your area grant you easy access and firm sand to wheel the boat over? Bearing in mind that, with a usable size engine (10hp min) modern ‘4-strokes’ are disproportionately heavier than older ‘2-strokes’. So, you end up looking for slipways which, brings you back to a trailer. It's desirable to have an engine which at least stands a chance of getting the hull up on the plane.
If you really want something useable (based on experience) I’d suggest you look at 3.4/3.5m min with an Aerodeck (you can always fit a bakers tray for spear kit if you’re worried about damage)and something like a 15hp 2-stroke. Nice light boat with a light usable engine. You could also mount launch wheels to start and see how you get on. A good option would be Honwave (which I owned and was great) or if you can find one a Bombard Aerotec 380 (brilliant SiB).
Think long and hard and where you’ll be in 18months because the initial dream/idea does not always tie up with reality. I agree with ‘Jonny 250’, if you go a bit bigger you can still initially transport it in car and won’t be a pig to launch (beach or slip).
One last point, spend the money on the engine. Get a known brand well looked after. It’ll make spares so much easier to get and maintain re-sale value.
Ultimately though (bearing in mind I’ve got 3 kids) I came to the conclusion that once on a trailer may as well go bigger.........and feel a lot safer out at sea.

 

[Broseidon]

Thanks Dave, that's just the advice I was looking for - that's made up my mind!

The 15hp I've been offered is a 2006 2 stroke - fitted to a 3.2 / 3.3 air deck with launching wheels, it should be perfect for what I want.

I'm going to leave the trailer for the time being as I just don't want to deal with it - I live 100 miles from the sea so only head down when I can, I normally stay a few days at a time so I recon I can chuck the inflatable on the roof while I'm there and deflate when it's home time.

I had a HUGE double kayak the last few years so driving around the Welsh lanes with a big weapon on the roof doesn't bother me I'm sure I'll get a trailer for next year though, as you say, I'm very sure that inflate / deflate novelty will wear off!

Many thanks for your input!

 

[BristolDave]

No probs. You've def made the right decision. Their is definately a point were SiB's become unmanagable and I'd say your size choice is right on the money.
The 15hp 2 stroke should be easier to carry as well. I've got a 30hp 4 stroke and that takes two adults just to lift off transom and carry 3 foot to a trolley!!
Make sure that engine is pumping a good rate of water out of the 'tell-tell' outlet port, though replacing the impellor is pretty straight forward if it's not, and impellors are cheap. A 2006 2 stroke sounds nice, gotta feeling that must be one of the last. You'll have a good power to weight with that.
We have some great times in ours, Basking sharks, Dolphins, Seals, and coves all to ourselves not to mention the spearing!!
Enjoy.
PS bit boring but......fork out for a handheld VHF radio (£100). Could be the best £100 you ever spend.

 

[robdigital]

You will have a lot of fun with a 15 2 stroke on a 3.2 - my 9.9 with just me in at full throttle can be a bit twitchy lol - on a more sober note use your kill cord !

 

[BristolDave]

You will have a lot of fun with a 15 2 stroke on a 3.2 - my 9.9 with just me in at full throttle can be a bit twitchy lol - on a more sober note use your kill cord !

Very wise words!!