"jake waldman" wrote in message
...
i'd like to get a 8'-9' inflatable with a 3hp engine.
any suggestions would help.
do i go 2 stroke or 4.
it will be used for light duty.


To provide any decent suggestions we would need to know more about how you
intend to use it and stow it.

If you have visions of zipping around then your 3Hp is unrealistic.
On the other hand, if you need to be able to deflate the boat and stow it in
a small locker then you are probably right on.

For the ultimate in stowability you will want the "dingy" style boat, which
has tube on all four sides and no hard transom. While these boats offer a
lot of floatation in a small space, they are hard to row and will never
plane. They often come with a motor mount, either built in or as an
attachment, and are generally suitable for only the smallest of motors. The
floor is generally just fabric, often with no floorboards at all, which mean
you have to be careful when setting heavy/sharp objects (such as anchors) in
the boat.

A "sportboat" style inflatable has a hard transom on the back which will
accept a higher horsepower motor. They often have some sort of floorboards,
either inflatable, wood or plastic. The boats will generally provide some
sort of keel which improves the rowing tremendously. The hard transom keeps
them from folding up into a small space, plus you have the floorboards to
deal with. Assembling the boat, especially dealing with the floorboards, is
often a hassle.

For either style, the size and material of the tubes can make a big
difference. Bigger tubes will provide a dryer ride, especially for the
sportboats. It will also make the inflatable harder to get back into from
the water. A heavier material will better resist punctures and tears but
will make the boat heavier and take more room to stow.

As for the motor:

Many of the small gas motors have a built in gas tank, which can be both a
blessing and a curse. It is nice on a small dinghy because then the gas
tank isn't taking up room in the boat. On the other hand, the tank doesn't
hold much gas, so you may have to take an extra can for a long outing. When
you are done using the boat and need to pack it away, the external tank can
generally just have the vent closed and put away. The built in tank will be
prone to leaking unless you can stow the motor standing upright, or have a
way to empty the tank.

As others have said, the electric motor might be a good option. The
advantage is that they are quiet and generally trouble free. The down side
is that the battery is heavy, and when it goes dead it will take a while to
charge it back up. If you are a sailing cruiser and have limited battery
charging capability then electric probably isn't the best approach. If you
are going to use it for an hour or two a day and can recharge at night then
it will do nicely. I highly recommend getting a gel or AGM battery rather
than a lead-acid.

Give us some more details and we can tell you more.

Rod McInnis