On Sun, 21 May 2006 12:30:59 +0000, marierdj wrote:

I never had an outboard engine. I have always used a set of oars with my
little rigid dinghy.
Now I am looking at getting an inflatable and they do not row as well as a
rigid dinghy so I need an outboard engine.
Carrying gasoline on my sailboat does not appeal to me very much let alone
mixing oil. On the other hand a two strokes engine does not weight as much
as a 4 strokes. On a sailboat handling an outboard engine means that you
have to lift it up and secure it on the stern rail when sailing. Then when
you want to go ashore you have to get the outboard down and mounted on your
inflatable.
I have not done this before and any held would be appreciated.

Two words: GO ELECTRIC!

I have a Minn-Kota 55-lb (thrust) electric trolling motor for my Brig 9.5
inflatable. Pushes it at hull speed (5+knots by GPS) for 1.5hrs, or slower
all day, with a Group 24 battery. The motor weighs about 30 lb, as does
the battery, so you can load them separately into the dinghy. Store them
any which way and charge the battery either from an AC charger or from
the engine's alternator (or I guess from a solar panel, but it would take
a while...)

They're also substantially cheaper than an gas outboard: mine was about
$400 CDN (no, it's not the "special" sal****er version: previously I had a
30-lb Endura for almost 10 years, exclusively in salt, never rinsed, still
runs fine.)

Lloyd Sumpter
http://www.bcboatnet.org