Geoff -- You are so right. Been there and done all those things, including
getting to and from the KW mooring field. As you may have surmised, I'm
trying to avoid the added weight of a serious dink and outboard. My dink's
rated for 4HP. I think I could probably go to 5HP, but it seems that won't
do much better.
Len

Why? Well, I've had to anchor miles away from the dock and I don't want
to
take forever to get there. I've had incredibly strong currents against me
and like going forward. When I go diving I have at least 1 other person
in
the dinghy and at least 2 sets of dive gear and it can be miles to the
dives sites. I upgraded from a 9.8 Nissan to a 15 Yamaha and have been
very happy ever since. Oh, it also pulls boats off of sandbars quite
well!

I don't know if you've ever anchored or moored off of Key West, but the
city mooring field is probably 1.5 miles from the main docks. There's a
cut between Garrison bight and the main town and the water RIPS through
there. With a small motor you'd never make it against full flood.

I guess that I'm just kind of person who likes to get things done in a
timely manner. I also spend 8 months of the year using my dinghy as my
mode of transport from the boat, so this isn't just a weekend getaway
thing
where I'm trying to unwind.

-- Geoff

(Larry W4CSC) wrote in
:

I agree. Why would anyone in a "hurry" ever buy a boat in the first
place??



On 19 Oct 2003 11:22:38 GMT, (Bobsprit) wrote:

Usually takes 8hp or even 9.9 to get an inflatable up on a plane with
any real load. But then what's the hurry? The 3.5 is nice and small.
Take it slow and row once in a while.

RB