Dinghy & Outboard options

[Wolfhound VI]

Happy Tuesday all you Tuggers! My wife and I are expecting our first Ranger Tug in late March (R25). We decided not to purchase the dinghy option so I have have been looking around for the best option aside from the factory one. Saving space while still having power to zip around on the dinghy is what we’re looking for. Takacat T260 seems to be the direction I’m headed with a 9.9hp Yamaha. Thoughts, opinions, etc

Thanks in advance! Happy Boating!

 

[fallard]

Happy Tuesday all you Tuggers! My wife and I are expecting our first Ranger Tug in late March (R25). We decided not to purchase the dinghy option so I have have been looking around for the best option aside from the factory one. Saving space while still having power to zip around on the dinghy is what we’re looking for. Takacat T260 seems to be the direction I’m headed with a 9.9hp Yamaha. Thoughts, opinions, etc

Thanks in advance! Happy Boating!

Hi Wolfhound VI:
It appears that 8 hp is the max for a Takacat T260. That would still be a heavy motor that would likely stay on the dinghy, requiring you to tow it.

I have been shopping around for a dinghy that I could haul into the cockpit, like Submariner has done with his R27 OB (same model as mine). I own 2 older inflatables, a RIB with a 9.9 Honda and a hypalon roll-up with a 4hp 2-stroke--both of which I have towed behind my R27. IMHO, towing a dinghy is a real drag--in more ways than one. A larger motor will get you up on a plane, but it would be too heavy to lift onto the mothership.

I am now considering a dinghy of the same weight and size range of the TakacatT260, but I would either use my old 4hp or buy a new single cylinder OB to keep the weight of boat and motor manageable for hauling aboard the mothership.

 

[Fishmagnet]

We have a West Marine RU-250 with an epropulsion electric outboard. Boat stores nice on the roof of the bimini (R-27OB). Motor stores under the cockpit with no extra gas to haul.

 

[SeaCabin]

My boat is an R23. I also have the West Marine RU-250…..this is the roll up model with a slat floor. On sale for $600 last year. I first tried a Saturn Kaboat….at 12 ‘ it was too long to stow on the roof…if it came in a 9’ length it would have been perfect. Also the tubes are not very large.

Next came a North Atlantic inflatable 9 footer. Great rugged boat but just too heavy…and once on the roof it sagged with cold weather, as do all, and had to be mounted upside down to keep the water out.

Finally gave up on roof mounting and went with the roll up which stows neatly in the center lazarette.
I have an old 3.5 HP Mercury 2 stroke from the classifieds that weighs in at about 30 pounds and can also go in the lazarette, or set on my rear corner hand rail, dedicated outboard mount. A small portable two gallon fuel tank goes in front anchor line locker. I also have a cheapo electric motor powered by a 50 amp hour battery…..great for small runs to and from shore. Just make sure the shaft length is long enough so that the top of the propeller can’t strike and slice open the underside of the dinghy when rotated in reverse, even if you have a reverse button.

Bottom line at age 72, I’m done wrestling alligators….so weight had to be under 50 pounds and reasonably carry two or three. I was never a fan of slat floors but it does reduce weight and they remain in place when rolled up….so there’s no messing around, just inflate and go. Rows fine too, though without a keel, slides around a bit. I am able to blow up and breakdown the dinghy while at anchor but is much easier drying it out and rolling it up on a dock.

In lieu of towing or stowing, for quick runs I also designed a dinghy carrier out of pvc and rod holders such that the dinghy straddles the main outboard motor upside down on the swim platform rails, aligned fore and aft. The bow rests on another PVC cross bar supported by PVC inserts in the two cup holders. The whole mess breaks down and can be easily stored…and costs less than $50….excluding rod holders.

Trial and error for me…..Good luck to all