On Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:20:17 -0700, Jim wrote:

I have a 2 stroke 18 horse Nissan on my inflatable. If I didn't own
this thing it's the outboard I'd think I wanted. 18 horses, only 80 pounds.

I want to buy a new 4 stroke, but the additional weight has me concerned.

Any recommendations on what I should look at to replace my noisy 2
stroke? Weight is a concern because it gets dragged up on the beach,
and taken out of the water every night.

What's the size of the inflatable and what horsepower is it rated for?

jps wrote:
On Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:20:17 -0700, Jim wrote:

I have a 2 stroke 18 horse Nissan on my inflatable. If I didn't own
this thing it's the outboard I'd think I wanted. 18 horses, only 80 pounds.

I want to buy a new 4 stroke, but the additional weight has me concerned.

Any recommendations on what I should look at to replace my noisy 2
stroke? Weight is a concern because it gets dragged up on the beach,
and taken out of the water every night.

What's the size of the inflatable and what horsepower is it rated for?

It's a Caribe C-12 (RIB), rated for a 35 horse.

All the responses so far tell me I should be happy with what I've got.
I want a smoother, quieter engine.

On Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:55:39 -0700, Jim wrote:

jps wrote:
On Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:20:17 -0700, Jim wrote:

I have a 2 stroke 18 horse Nissan on my inflatable. If I didn't own
this thing it's the outboard I'd think I wanted. 18 horses, only 80 pounds.

I want to buy a new 4 stroke, but the additional weight has me concerned.

Any recommendations on what I should look at to replace my noisy 2
stroke? Weight is a concern because it gets dragged up on the beach,
and taken out of the water every night.

What's the size of the inflatable and what horsepower is it rated for?

It's a Caribe C-12 (RIB), rated for a 35 horse.

All the responses so far tell me I should be happy with what I've got.
I want a smoother, quieter engine.

When you say it comes out each night, do you mean you have to dismount
the motor?

If you're not having to take it on and off all the time, those Honda
20 and 25's are a good choice albeit spendy. I think the 25 is
between 135 and 150 lbs (can't recall exactly) which is substantially
more than you've got now but I think your Caribe would handle it well.

I was considering replacing the Merc 25 two-stroke with the Honda but
like you I was concerned about extra weight, even tho' it was rigged
for an electric davit. It was for an 11' whaler and the 120 lb merc
was just about right. With a 25 the thing flies.

Do you have a steering station?

jps wrote:
On Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:55:39 -0700, Jim wrote:

jps wrote:
On Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:20:17 -0700, Jim wrote:

I have a 2 stroke 18 horse Nissan on my inflatable. If I didn't own
this thing it's the outboard I'd think I wanted. 18 horses, only 80 pounds.

I want to buy a new 4 stroke, but the additional weight has me concerned.

Any recommendations on what I should look at to replace my noisy 2
stroke? Weight is a concern because it gets dragged up on the beach,
and taken out of the water every night.
What's the size of the inflatable and what horsepower is it rated for?
It's a Caribe C-12 (RIB), rated for a 35 horse.

All the responses so far tell me I should be happy with what I've got.
I want a smoother, quieter engine.

When you say it comes out each night, do you mean you have to dismount
the motor?

If you're not having to take it on and off all the time, those Honda
20 and 25's are a good choice albeit spendy. I think the 25 is
between 135 and 150 lbs (can't recall exactly) which is substantially
more than you've got now but I think your Caribe would handle it well.

I was considering replacing the Merc 25 two-stroke with the Honda but
like you I was concerned about extra weight, even tho' it was rigged
for an electric davit. It was for an 11' whaler and the 120 lb merc
was just about right. With a 25 the thing flies.

Do you have a steering station?

I do have a steering station and remote throttle. The steering is one of
those really light aluminum bar devices that straddles the boat. It
works out really well and is easily removed or installed. Most of the
time I don't use it. The boat can be a challenge with the 18 with the
tiller steering. With one person in the boat it's a bit unstable at
high speeds. If I'm traveling any real distance the remote steering
makes it much more stable.

The engine comes off several times a year. I live where it's always
boating season, so there are seldom winter issues.

I have a trawler and use the mast/boom to lift the 80 pound motor on and
off because it's very easy. I can lift it fairly easy with out the
cargo mast, but it's awkward. I'm sure the cargo mast would lift a much
heavier engine.

The problem is when I store the boat without removing the engine. I
looked at every possible davit system and the best solution is to put
the boat on my swim step and use the mast/boom to tilt the boat up,
almost vertical with the engine on it. Just sitting on pads on the swim
step, lashed to eyes on the transom. It sits nicely even with the
steering and remote throttle.

I believe that a much heavier engine would not allow me to store the
boat in such a manner.

I'm looking for something a little heavier, maybe a little over 100 pounds.

On Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:06:03 -0700, Jim wrote:

jps wrote:
On Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:55:39 -0700, Jim wrote:

jps wrote:
On Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:20:17 -0700, Jim wrote:

I have a 2 stroke 18 horse Nissan on my inflatable. If I didn't own
this thing it's the outboard I'd think I wanted. 18 horses, only 80 pounds.

I want to buy a new 4 stroke, but the additional weight has me concerned.

Any recommendations on what I should look at to replace my noisy 2
stroke? Weight is a concern because it gets dragged up on the beach,
and taken out of the water every night.
What's the size of the inflatable and what horsepower is it rated for?
It's a Caribe C-12 (RIB), rated for a 35 horse.

All the responses so far tell me I should be happy with what I've got.
I want a smoother, quieter engine.

When you say it comes out each night, do you mean you have to dismount
the motor?

If you're not having to take it on and off all the time, those Honda
20 and 25's are a good choice albeit spendy. I think the 25 is
between 135 and 150 lbs (can't recall exactly) which is substantially
more than you've got now but I think your Caribe would handle it well.

I was considering replacing the Merc 25 two-stroke with the Honda but
like you I was concerned about extra weight, even tho' it was rigged
for an electric davit. It was for an 11' whaler and the 120 lb merc
was just about right. With a 25 the thing flies.

Do you have a steering station?

I do have a steering station and remote throttle. The steering is one of
those really light aluminum bar devices that straddles the boat. It
works out really well and is easily removed or installed. Most of the
time I don't use it. The boat can be a challenge with the 18 with the
tiller steering. With one person in the boat it's a bit unstable at
high speeds. If I'm traveling any real distance the remote steering
makes it much more stable.

The engine comes off several times a year. I live where it's always
boating season, so there are seldom winter issues.

I have a trawler and use the mast/boom to lift the 80 pound motor on and
off because it's very easy. I can lift it fairly easy with out the
cargo mast, but it's awkward. I'm sure the cargo mast would lift a much
heavier engine.

The problem is when I store the boat without removing the engine. I
looked at every possible davit system and the best solution is to put
the boat on my swim step and use the mast/boom to tilt the boat up,
almost vertical with the engine on it. Just sitting on pads on the swim
step, lashed to eyes on the transom. It sits nicely even with the
steering and remote throttle.

I believe that a much heavier engine would not allow me to store the
boat in such a manner.

I'm looking for something a little heavier, maybe a little over 100 pounds.

You may have already seen it but there's a system made by a company up
in Vancouver BC called Sea Wise. They have a davit system that
rotates with the engine on a plate that, when stored, remains in a
verticle position outside the boat.

I liked it but was concerned about being able to get from one side of
the swim platform to the other. The sea wise system makes it nearly
impossible.

Did you look at Roskelley Olssen and Nick Jackson Davits?

jps wrote:
On Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:06:03 -0700, Jim wrote:

jps wrote:
On Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:55:39 -0700, Jim wrote:

jps wrote:
On Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:20:17 -0700, Jim wrote:

I have a 2 stroke 18 horse Nissan on my inflatable. If I didn't own
this thing it's the outboard I'd think I wanted. 18 horses, only 80 pounds.

I want to buy a new 4 stroke, but the additional weight has me concerned.

Any recommendations on what I should look at to replace my noisy 2
stroke? Weight is a concern because it gets dragged up on the beach,
and taken out of the water every night.
What's the size of the inflatable and what horsepower is it rated for?
It's a Caribe C-12 (RIB), rated for a 35 horse.

All the responses so far tell me I should be happy with what I've got.
I want a smoother, quieter engine.
When you say it comes out each night, do you mean you have to dismount
the motor?

If you're not having to take it on and off all the time, those Honda
20 and 25's are a good choice albeit spendy. I think the 25 is
between 135 and 150 lbs (can't recall exactly) which is substantially
more than you've got now but I think your Caribe would handle it well.

I was considering replacing the Merc 25 two-stroke with the Honda but
like you I was concerned about extra weight, even tho' it was rigged
for an electric davit. It was for an 11' whaler and the 120 lb merc
was just about right. With a 25 the thing flies.

Do you have a steering station?
I do have a steering station and remote throttle. The steering is one of
those really light aluminum bar devices that straddles the boat. It
works out really well and is easily removed or installed. Most of the
time I don't use it. The boat can be a challenge with the 18 with the
tiller steering. With one person in the boat it's a bit unstable at
high speeds. If I'm traveling any real distance the remote steering
makes it much more stable.

The engine comes off several times a year. I live where it's always
boating season, so there are seldom winter issues.

I have a trawler and use the mast/boom to lift the 80 pound motor on and
off because it's very easy. I can lift it fairly easy with out the
cargo mast, but it's awkward. I'm sure the cargo mast would lift a much
heavier engine.

The problem is when I store the boat without removing the engine. I
looked at every possible davit system and the best solution is to put
the boat on my swim step and use the mast/boom to tilt the boat up,
almost vertical with the engine on it. Just sitting on pads on the swim
step, lashed to eyes on the transom. It sits nicely even with the
steering and remote throttle.

I believe that a much heavier engine would not allow me to store the
boat in such a manner.

I'm looking for something a little heavier, maybe a little over 100 pounds.

You may have already seen it but there's a system made by a company up
in Vancouver BC called Sea Wise. They have a davit system that
rotates with the engine on a plate that, when stored, remains in a
verticle position outside the boat.

I liked it but was concerned about being able to get from one side of
the swim platform to the other. The sea wise system makes it nearly
impossible.

Did you look at Roskelley Olssen and Nick Jackson Davits?

I did, and liked them but they are expensive and leave me with an over
length boat for my slip. Putting it on the swim step works very well,
saves money, and eliminates a bunch of additional stuff that it turns
out I don't really need. But if I had a 150 pound engine that might all
change.

With the dinghy inflated, and the engine on it, it sits at a pretty good
angle. I can flush the engine and run the fuel out in that position.
An additional thing to tilt the engine isn't needed.

I thought about building an aluminum frame to support the boat, but
after all is said and done, what I'm doing now works.

When I remove the engine and deflate the boat, it pulls up tight to the
transom and with the cover on it, it looks like it belongs there.
Deflated it does not sit on the swim step, it is suspended by the lift
eyes in the dinghy.

The bow curve leaves the ladder accessible, so I can use the corner of
the swim platform. It takes 10 seconds to launch the dinghy, and a
couple of minutes to winch it back up. Any davit system I've seen looks
like more trouble than not having one.