Ranger RIB 9.5' - best horsepower

[Boont Boater]

Hi All,

We have a R29 with the standard issue RIB dinghy. I've been using a 3 hp, 2 stroke Suzuki outboard which works fine around a marina or a little bay. However I've been thinking about going up some of those shallow sloughs in the Delta and how a little more speed might be nice. I'm a big guy and with my wife and dog (not soo big) it would be nice if we could get up on plane. I know that the highest horsepower for this boat is a 10 but I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with a 5, 6, 8 or 10. Which of these might do the trick. Weight and cost certainly are considerations. Any thoughts?

Hope everyone is having a great Thanksgiving! I know that I am regularly thankful that we have a boat 🙂

Jeff

 

[Red Raven]

Hi Jeff,

We have a 6hp on a RT260 (8ft) It can plane with one person, not with two. I have had a 10ft inflatable with an 8 hp in the past.I would think your RT290 would plane with 2 mid sized people with 8hp. More than that and you might need a 9 or 10hp. The challenge is handling the weight of the motor. The 6hp at 60 lbs is the largest that is easily handled without some sort of lift. An 8 or 10hp pretty much needs to stay on the dink permanently which will mean some sort of mechanical or power lift.

Curt

 

[Boont Boater]

Thanks Curt,

That kind of goes along with what I was thinking. The 3 hp Suzuki sits on a railing mount by the swim step. Moving it on and off the dinghy isn't my favorite thing but it is definitely doable. Much heavier seems risky and from what your saying the sixty pound, 6 hp isn't going to plane in any case. I don't really want to get rid of the Weaver Davit system that the boat came with. I'm thinking that an 8 or a 10 horse dropped in at a boat ramp would be doable then just towing the dinghy with a bridle.

Open to suggestions!

Jeff

 

[NorCal]

We have a 31 with the factory RIB. I have used a 6hp and a 9.9 on our dinghy. The 6 will plane one person as others have said but any more weight then that and it is displacement only. The 9.9 will plane two people in the RIB. 3 people you are back to displacement only.

I put a small crane in the corner of my swimstep to lift the motor from the transom railing into the dinghy. It works really well. After having that I would never go back to wrestling the outboard onto the dinghy by hand. The risks of dropping the motor are too great. I think there is a picture of the crane in my album.

For me the decision comes down to how far you want to go with the dinghy. If you want to explore and distances the 9.9 is the way to go. If it is just going to shore or staying close then I would get a 3hp because the 6 is no faster if you can not get on plane.

This summer we did have a lot of fun in our dinghy with the 9.9. We would go exploring and be over 5 to 10 miles away and be cruising at around 15 knots.

I hope that helps.

 

[Boont Boater]

Hi NorCal,

I see you are in Walnut Creek (our boat is in Richmond CA). Did someone local fabricate that hoist for you? It looks like it's just rope and pulleys?! In any case I like it!

Jeff

 

[NorCal]

Hi Jeff, Our boat is also in Richmond! I think we are on D dock.

I bought the crane from Garhauer. I think they are down by San Diego. It is their standard Davit/crane. I just had them make the pole about 20 inches taller than the standard crane. It works really well. I just pull the boom off when we are not using it and store it under the port cockpit hatch.

John