I have a 9 foot RIB with 15 HP Honda 4 stroke (BH15B) rigged with a console
and permanent seat that I use for my tender when in harbor, sort of like a
private launch, it planes 2-3 people at 15 kts and carries a big load at 5
kts through the wind and 3 kt eddies and can push Lioness (40ft yawl, 20,000
lbs) up river when strapped along side at better than 3 kts in a 10 kt
headwind. I have the Power prop, a 3 blade 8 in pitch. Newer Models mount a
4 blade.
The whole rig with the console, wheel, controls and outboard weighs about
350 lbs, and can be brought aboard and placed on the foredeck with the
spinnaker halyard, taking the extra long tail to a snatch block and the
anchor windlass. I have carried it aboard for overnight open water passages
but would not want to be caught in breaking seas or heavy ( 30kt) winds
with it on the foredeck. Towing it costs me about a 1/2 to 1 knot under
power and moderate winds.
This is a great rig for running back and forth the 1/2 mile to my mooring
and exploring the Great Bay and Piscataqua river and is good for less
experienced crew as it is electric start and drives like a small powerboat
with the controls and wheel steering.
I also have an inflatable with wooden inserts and a 2hp Yamaha that came
with the boat. For my recent 29 day 1600 mile cruise that included two
passages 100 miles I left the RIB home and took the inflatable. Did not
need to launch it until the 10th day and then used it sparingly. I borrowed
an 8HP two stroke Yamaha that will plane one person, and move 3 at about 3-4
kts and weighed about 65 lbs. The whole thing rolls up into a bag about 1.5
m x 1m x .5 m thick and ties on the cabin top. Dink and outboard together
maybe 150 lbs.
I found it to be totally adequate for use on the cruise, could inflate and
launch in 15 mins and felt comfortable except with one person and the
power on full.. It was a bit too lively, Have not tried the 2hp so no
comparison there.
As and outboard I am considering a small 3-4 HP 2 stroke lightweight
that is easy to lug around and a 15 to 20 HP 4 stroke for the times I
want to go serious distances and carry serious loads (Jugs of water or
fuel). Yamaha seems to be the favorite for off shore
--
Sheldon Haynie
Texas Instruments
50 Phillipe Cote
Manchester, NH 03101
603 222 8652
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