T&T: Dinghy lesson learned

[Jeff Barfett]

Larry,

Want a report on using it on the transom as a thruster and possible aux get
home!!!! Have of late, thought that a outboard mount on the transom is a
logical place to carry ones outboard as well, close to the water and the
dinghy when you would want to remount. Thoughts?

Jeff

-----Original Message-----
From: trawlers-and-trawlering-bounces@lists.samurai.com
[mailto:trawlers-and-trawlering-bounces@lists.samurai.com] On Behalf Of
Larry
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2006 6:24 PM
To: trawlers-and-trawlering@lists.samurai.com
Subject: Re: T&T: Dinghy lesson learned

I am forever trying to beat the system and several years ago decided it 
would be a neat idea to use my dinghy motor on the transom of my 42' 
pilothouse as a thruster and possibly get to shore auxiliary in fair 
conditions. Thus I set out on a search to find a motor preferably dual 
or high thrust that would give me good thrust in reverse in thruster 
mode and reasonable speed on my 10.5' A/B Rib.
After numerous conversations with engine reps at shows and phone tech 
support I decided to go with the 15hp 4cycle Honda in that it had a mid 
gear ratio and I could simply swap props if necessary. Yamaha and 
Mercury high/dual thusts both use a higher gear ratio most likely 
unsuitable for a cruising prop. Being an avid dumpster diver I scoured 
the net searching for a good deal, not easy for Honda products, and came 
up with a good price in Texas where my son lives. Honda will not ship so 
I set the deal up so my son would pick up the motor on his annual visit 
home. When my son arrived to pick up the the plain Jane 15hp I had 
ordered, it had been sold and the store owner called asking if I would 
accept an year earlier model with electric start. I reluctantly agreed 
and when the motor arrived found it also had power tilt and trim, all 
together about 139lbs worth.

So I said what the heck I'll give it a try. This was my first A/B and I 
found it to ride exceptionally rough in even moderate (1') waves. Within 
10 hours of use the jet fell out of the carburetor and was serviced 
under warranty. The more I looked at the complexity of the power head 
the more nervous I became and ultimately decided to ditch it and switch 
a Yamaha 25 2 cycle (108lbs) No more worry about thrust or weight. I ran 
it today for the first time in varying conditions and it has totally 
changed the character of the dinghy. The ride is hugely improved and 
power is incredible. I only opened it up for a few seconds and it is 
almost scary with 400lb load. My guess is that all of the weight at the 
stern i.e. motor, fuel and battery, overwhelmed the boat and served as a 
hinge/weight that the boat rotated about longitudinally . It now planes 
quite level and is almost comfortable in 1' waves.

The Yamaha starts with about 10" of rope pull and my wife, with an 
almost frozen right shoulder, can start it with ease. Also, I found a 
pretty good deal on the Yamaha at several hundred $ less than the than 
Honda

I guess I should have anticipated the weight problem but it just kind of 
snuck up on me. All's well that ends well however, and am now one  happy 
camper (dinghyer?). YMMV


Larry Ropka
"Charis" 42' pilothouse
Ft Walton Bch Fl
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