See full version: Is 6hp outboard enough for a family dinghy
This approach is heartbreaking but sadly totally effective. Remember, once complete you will find that although your excellent new outboard engine and dinghy has all its life to give to you and is in A1 condition, it looks worthless. Thieves walk on by looking for more desirable engines for themselves or ones that can be more easily resold. here
There are the opportunist thieves who just see an easy mark and make off with it in the moment. There are the organised thieves who lift the engines for resale and are looking for valuable highly tradable items. Or, you could fall victim to a poor fisherman who doesn't have the financial ability to buy a good outboard or the money to replace one that has finally given up the ghost on him. Don't get me wrong, almost all fishermen you will meet are honest hard working people, but there is always the one that feels a desperate situation calls for a desperate answer and, as in all strata of society, there is always the occasional bad apple that thinks yachtsmen are super wealthy and would not miss it.
A homemade stainless steel outboard motor lock (version 1) [links]
A homemade stainless steel outboard motor lock (version 2)
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Have any idea on the best dinghy motors for your boat? We can only offer some general rules in regarding to choosing the best dinghy motors, and which specific model to go will essentially decide on your preferences and your real-world applications.
It is always important to purchase a dinghy outboard motor from a reliable manufacturer that understand the users’ needs and is responsive to customers’ requirements and issues.
In fact, we would advise to go for the smallest dinghy motor that suits your needs, this will make using your boat or dinghy a much nice experience.
It’s a quite commonly asked question that how much horsepower is enough for a dinghy motor.
If you want even more juice for your dinghy boat, like having it to plane, check out our 10 hp dinghy motor Navy 6.0 which could drive the bass boats, RIBs and workboats up to 6 tons. here
Gearing: The 3.5hp has only forward gear, though the motor will turn completely around to go in reverse (but man it’s hard to steer that way). The 6hp has forward/neutral/reverse. A convenience when your gunkholing or on a crowded dinghy dock. [links]
Other than speed, here are some other differences between the Tohatsu 3.5hp and the Tohatsu 6hp 4 stroke motors. more
Cost: The 3.5hp was around $800 last november. The 6hp was $1400 more
Fuel Capacity: The 3.5hp has a gas tank that holds a quart of gas. This is good for about 45 minutes run then you have to stop and refuel. Sometimes if you run out when exposed to a swell it can be interesting to refill the tank while bouncing around in your dinghy. I kept a 2.5 gallon gas can on the dinghy as it was easier to use vs a 5 gallon can and would last about 2 weeks of daily commuting. The 6hp comes with a 3.5 gallon external gas tank. This usually runs me for about 3 weeks between refills. Using the good gas (expensive) that means my monthly fuel bill is about $12 more
Propeller: The 3.5hp comes standard with a plastic propeller. I upgraded to the aluminum propeller but found that it made the engine run hard all the time, even though it did give me 0.5 mph more speed. The 6hp comes standard with an aluminum propeller which I like.
if that sportwin has good compression, put a carb kit, point, condenser, coils, wire, impeller in it for $150. and you will have a decent boat. the 6 is going to be sluggish with the bluntness of the trihull, 400lbs of boat 350lbs people, 40lbs gas, then gear and beer. you are pushing 900 lbs. more
I also have a much older 9.5 HP Evinrude Sportwin that runs good, but I like idea of having a newer maybe more reliable motor when out in the current of the river. [links]
Your on the edge with 6hp for performance. even 1hp more is noticable in these sizes on boats like that. The 9.9 will do better, especially when two people are aboard. I personally would be more concerned with reliability on the "new" merc than he "old" OMC. Older parts that are out fishing are better than newer parts sitting in a shop for repair. [links]