Dinghy Motor Options

D

Danmurnan

Member
Joined
Sep 7, 2019
Messages
10
Fluid Motion Model
C-28
Hi - we are new R27 OB owners. We have a 3 person inflatable dinghy (that most of the time will only have my wife and me in the dinghy)and we plan to cruise the San Juans and Gulf Islands this spring and summer. We are considering a chargeable electric motor for our dinghy.

Any thoughts on electric vs gas motors for a small dinghy? Any recommendations for dinghy motors?

Thanks - Dan and Amy
kuokoatug@gmail.com
425-750-6278
 
Is your dinghy dingy? There's help for that!

I had a Torqeedo electric outboard motor, but sold it off as fast as I could, and now run the dinghy around proudly with a Tohatsu 5hp propane unit.
 
There are a few long posts on this subject, which you can find by searching "dinghy motor" or similar. I started one about a year ago. Ultimately I settled on a 2.5 HP Suzuki. Why? Lowest weight, low cost, proven reliability, and no 'power anxiety'. It is fine for tender use, but a bit slow if you like to explore by dinghy.
 
vertigo":10j0acws said:
Is your dinghy dingy? There's help for that!

I had a Torqeedo electric outboard motor, but sold it off as fast as I could, and now run the dinghy around proudly with a Tohatsu 5hp propane unit.
Click to expand...

Could you share some details please ?
 
The Torqeedo came with my boat, and was intermittent (mostly inoperable), which is not ideal in a dinghy motor. I took it to the only "factory authorized" service center in the northwest for repair, and learned that they were not at all impressed with the reliability of these units, so after having it returned to original function I sold it and bought a more reliable replacement.

The Tohatsu 5hp propane outboard is obviously heavier than that underwhelming Torqeedo, but it has been absolutely reliable, and really gets that little dinghy moving.
 
vertigo":3tqueac0 said:
The Torqeedo came with my boat, and was intermittent (mostly inoperable), which is not ideal in a dinghy motor. I took it to the only "factory authorized" service center in the northwest for repair, and learned that they were not at all impressed with the reliability of these units, so after having it returned to original function I sold it and bought a more reliable replacement.

The Tohatsu 5hp propane outboard is obviously heavier than that underwhelming Torqeedo, but it has been absolutely reliable, and really gets that little dinghy moving.
Click to expand...

My feelings is that propane in this case is the way to go. No problems with old fuel, water getting into the fuel or fuel left in the carb that could gum up over the winter.

If you look into the engines size too HP too, the 2 to 3 hp motors use the same blocks. As do the 4 to 6 hp motors. Point is the wight of a 4 is almost the same is a 6hp motor.

My last motor was a 3.5hp and the problems we had was the power. On a calm day is was great, but a little slow. If the wind come up and the waves it was harder to control. I went with a 6hp, a little heavy in the 55lb range but easier to control. A little faster, we still can not get on plane and it goes though waves without a problem.
 
electric is fine if you can control your range. any time you need to "refill" with electric in a hurry like you are two far on an out and back trip: its a problem.

i considered propane but the reliability of these engines was known to be poor with lots of complaints and lack of service from west marine as the distributor of the Lehr units. now they dont sell them as a result.

i went with a little 2.5 hp Suzuki. it sips fuel. bought from online outboards its cheap! it only weighs 29lbs - I can lift with one hand. its water cooled so quieter than the honda 2.5. starts first pull 3 years later. it putts along at hull speed on my dinghy no problem. unless you want to plane which will require much higher and heavier horsepower than I would strongly recommend the 2.5. its easy to store a small can of gas in the propane locker. - lasts me a whole season - just get ethanol free gas and no problem.
 
After a fair amount of research, we also went with the 2.5 hp Suzuki. Very reliable, light weight, and quiet. The weight was a big factor, as lifting it back and forth from the dinghy to the swim step rail mount is easy. It's not fast, but for getting to and from shore, or setting crab pots in an anchorage, it's perfect.
 
Here in the North East, its harder to get ethanol free gas. If you do find it, its very $$$$.
 
Interesting comments, thanks to all.

I am rather fortunate in that we have an old (~1999) Mercury 3.3 made by Tohatsu. It's a 2-cycle so that means mixing but a 4l container gets me pretty much through a season. It seems bullet-proof. I have only changed the impeller once, 3 years ago when the tell-tale seemed weak, and I'm really bad on changing lower unit oil. I left it for 3 years without starting once, sitting with old gas. When it wouldn't start after a couple of pulls I cleaned the plug and away it went. No issues since. I started it this week after sitting since October and it picked right up after 3 pulls, smoking of course until it heated up. I checked it over and I was thinking that some parts like the rubber ones must be getting old though none are obvious. Nevertheless, I thought about selling this and getting something newer and lighter. Torqueedo seemed a choice, hence my request for more details. There seem to be +/- arguments. It's lighter when disassembled etc. but the dealer here on Vancouver Island certainly doesn't service. It's expensive. It's cleaner and I wouldn't have to carry gas but I would have to recharge. etc. etc. etc. I looked at the Suzuki 2.5 and it's a very attractive option. I like the twist grip and it would be new. It's still 28lb so I don't gain (or lose) anything in terms of weight.

Having just read what I've written I think I've convinced myself to stick with the Merc. until it dies. 🙂
 
We have an EP Carry electric. It's lighter, simpler, cheaper, and AFAICT more reliable than a Torqueedo. However, it is also slow (top speed est 3 or maybe 4 kts with RT 290 dinghy and 2 people) and has limited range. It's good for going from a mooring buoy to shore, or around a marina, if those are your needs.

Beyond that -- e.g. to go around an island or to cross a channel, esp. with current -- I would not feel comfortable and would go with gas or possibly propane.
 
Cutwater28GG":3n4zwd7v said:
electric is fine if you can control your range. any time you need to "refill" with electric in a hurry like you are two far on an out and back trip: its a problem.

i considered propane but the reliability of these engines was known to be poor with lots of complaints and lack of service from west marine as the distributor of the Lehr units. now they dont sell them as a result.
Click to expand...

The lamentable Lehr propane unit was not even close to quality of the Tohatsu engine. I wouldn't use the former as basis for judging the latter.
 
2.5 HP Suzuki here.
 
vertigo":2xp21y5t said:
The lamentable Lehr propane unit was not even close to quality of the Tohatsu engine. I wouldn't use the former as basis for judging the latter.
Click to expand...

good to know! my only experience is with the Lehr units.
 
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