I have an old heavy fibreglass dinghy, currently using a 3.3 hp Mercury 2 stroke that looks like it's bit the dust. The dinghy
carries me and the Missus, probably 150 kg all up. If I get a four stroke motor would I need anything bigger than a 2.5 hp
to push us along ?.

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samsturdy said..
I have an old heavy fibreglass dinghy, currently using a 3.3 hp Mercury 2 stroke that looks like it's bit the dust. The dinghy
carries me and the Missus, probably 150 kg all up. If I get a four stroke motor would I need anything bigger than a 2.5 hp
to push us along ?.

Probably not. The 3.3 merc is going to have heaps more go in it though. If it were me i would try and get the 3.3 going they are a pretty good engine.

Depending on the size of the dinghy a 2.5 should get you around at displacament speed easily although i like to have a little bit more power incase i need it but i understand you probably want to be easily able to pick it up and move it from the dinghy to boat.

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Hi Sam
I have a Walker Bay 8 with inflatable 'skirt' which weighs around 35kg. My little 4-stroke Honda 2.3 pushes it along fine with my teenager and I (I'm a hefty girl ) aboard.
It will never get up on the plane but we're in no hurry so it suits us fine

Thanks for the replies. The Mercury is not dead yet but I'm looking at worst case scenario. The mechanic rang yesterday to tell me some bad news and did I want him to go ahead to see what he could do, I said yes. I'm built like a stick and old with it, so weight is a consideration when carrying the thing around. I've got my eye on a Yamaha 2.5 hp if push comes to shove. It just has to get us from ramp to boat, about 400 metres, so i don't need to over power but, it still needs to do the job, which is why I'm asking because it's easy enough to go one bigger.

If you do end up throwing the outboard out I have one which runs but is missing the cover.

If you do end up throwing the outboard out I have one which runs but is missing the cover.

Oh, Thanks Jules, nice offer. May finish up doing a deal with you. I'll see what happens with mine.

Your post makes it sound like a 2.3 four stroke somehow has the go of a 3.3 two stroke.

Not sure that is the case.

Yes Madmouse, I think that is an assumption on my part. I guess I'm thinking a four stroke has more torque hence has more 'go'.
I'm not sure if that's the case either.

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samsturdy said..
Yes Madmouse, I think that is an assumption on my part. I guess I'm thinking a four stroke has more torque hence has more 'go'.
I'm not sure if that's the case either.

Four stroke will have less torque. Only thing you get with 4 stroke motors is more weight and complexity. The Mercury should be a Tohatsu rebadged and would be my pick for a small lightweight outboard. If you buy the Yamaha put the Mercury in your shed for safe keeping.

What about an electric?

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Madmouse said..
What about an electric?

That's a consideration I hadn't thought of. Might investigate.

Used the Honda 2.3 for years and years, light, single handed lift on-off, bombproof fuel miser. Not to motor against a tide-race thou.

I just need to get from the dinghy storage to the boat sirg. no tide to worry about. Of course I wont hear
about the Mercury until everyone's back at work.
'

I will possibly be using an electric outboard to get out to my boat next weekend, going to borrow my mates to see how it goes. Will let you know , it will be on a 8ft pram style dinghy. Looking at alternatives to having to lug an outboard, of course I have been rowing out lately, which is ok until you forget that spanner ??

Yes, thanks oldboy, it'll be interesting to hear what you think.

I have been using an electric outboard on my dinghy for many years similar to this one in the link below.

The 45lb is about the right size for me - any bigger they start to get too heavy but nowhere near as heavy as a petrol outboard!!

I have a small battery with a handle that I charge every 4 - 6 trips out to my boat which is only about 300mts from shore.

I use mine 3 - 4 time / week & they last a couple of years - same out of the battery.

I have a little Yamaha 2 on the boat for my ducky & the 45lb electric is so much lighter!!

www.ebay.com.au/itm/45LBS-Electric-Trolling-Motor-Inflatable-Boat-Outboard-Engine-Fishing-Marine/383274096499?epid=1042403678&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item593cea9773:g:Y6UAAOSwLnFe6lm8&amdata=enc%3AAQAFAAACgBaobrjLl8XobRIiIML1V4Imu%252Fn%252BzU5L90Z278x5ickkxFtV7J5P58ubuVigtBH%252Fe2WRqEvubgPxLAhQu3I5XolwRJWQXR7W4v4QinOUhNU0vliwK1W5regFng5AsMhNNYvtoFZfoOU532KBKR%252BZrPPZM6r4sU9vIiresKPg9Tt7A%252B3QKh5xV6lcpuuIl7MLM6G17DX0TYnBgnGSYEMcPrl7VEIThonR1MnzQNbWW7xV8a%252F1J%252FjyrWsx99Bqpuvz%252FE2Qe7aP0mdyjtozrcJ7RhvWtnxqWBtlx8L8PWuy0gddHj9AadCuK4yBWQXt8t2htvexQSa6l4JrMAPFUjTES4XIqta6vBuMKfnTo8UkgPjrJkshxe5z6DN0PUPzO6BMEK6aLVYuX1iXEJepwkeXg80QuoKpvwXA6OUz9p8C7mNez%252BWfA3jEGjL0Ko0iHI7uEkN1lC4hAdccNsFqsRCeAgoIoKlKbWU63%252FK0k29c2Mz3tLyj7%252FJuhZHP2%252BXV5Sos8rNyKyKG6FjQwZqSEP9b42mRhe5LdZcndfVWMHkVlaYScbx9E3QfYRa%252Fvv%252FHnGdblLkkVdgDQb5zUQpsr6BLhMlko6y7Tbs9eXBziIIKprs4lBElmUsJ%252FbojKM1gU23W27iszkMfg4Ssiv9r5TE8g3YHqwPQ0dsAEgSGUGuYYO6j5sVPebi6PuWKmlqD8EAo%252B9ctQUACkm%252FO1cWAo7XUDuhJZXvqIUPj2NiOVuM46po8PZHqEhYyhPocMHEUeQZ1A75A6n4Hzqvso54kPcYFJFQEoiU7hn1Sm5pkVHSGK3OyPM0SsSNGDTSfge9mrDSlFt8JUdY3I0sS%252BDkNp%252FMDxwc%253D%7Ccksum%3A3832740964991baec5b5b236410db0f91bc8a3513602%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2334524&frcectupt=true

BTW Sam if you are in lockdown much longer I'd be happy to take you & Mrs Sturdy out on Lake Macquarie for a day!! Not real flash weather at the moment though :(

Thanks for the offer Lazzz, but in this weather I think we'll stay home. Interesting info on the electric outboard. If there is a downside to them, what is it ?.

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samsturdy said..
If there is a downside to them, what is it ?.

The only downside for me is that I have to charge the battery every week or so, which is not really a drama - but I don't have to fill up with petrol either!!
IMO they are value for money.

i vote to repair the 2 stroke

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Lazzz said..
I have been using an electric outboard on my dinghy for many years similar to this one in the link below.

The 45lb is about the right size for me - any bigger they start to get too heavy but nowhere near as heavy as a petrol outboard!!

I have a small battery with a handle that I charge every 4 - 6 trips out to my boat which is only about 300mts from shore.

I use mine 3 - 4 time / week & they last a couple of years - same out of the battery.

I have a little Yamaha 2 on the boat for my ducky & the 45lb electric is so much lighter!!

www.ebay.com.au/itm/45LBS-Electric-Trolling-Motor-Inflatable-Boat-Outboard-Engine-Fishing-Marine/383274096499?epid=1042403678&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item593cea9773:g:Y6UAAOSwLnFe6lm8&amdata=enc%3AAQAFAAACgBaobrjLl8XobRIiIML1V4Imu%252Fn%252BzU5L90Z278x5ickkxFtV7J5P58ubuVigtBH%252Fe2WRqEvubgPxLAhQu3I5XolwRJWQXR7W4v4QinOUhNU0vliwK1W5regFng5AsMhNNYvtoFZfoOU532KBKR%252BZrPPZM6r4sU9vIiresKPg9Tt7A%252B3QKh5xV6lcpuuIl7MLM6G17DX0TYnBgnGSYEMcPrl7VEIThonR1MnzQNbWW7xV8a%252F1J%252FjyrWsx99Bqpuvz%252FE2Qe7aP0mdyjtozrcJ7RhvWtnxqWBtlx8L8PWuy0gddHj9AadCuK4yBWQXt8t2htvexQSa6l4JrMAPFUjTES4XIqta6vBuMKfnTo8UkgPjrJkshxe5z6DN0PUPzO6BMEK6aLVYuX1iXEJepwkeXg80QuoKpvwXA6OUz9p8C7mNez%252BWfA3jEGjL0Ko0iHI7uEkN1lC4hAdccNsFqsRCeAgoIoKlKbWU63%252FK0k29c2Mz3tLyj7%252FJuhZHP2%252BXV5Sos8rNyKyKG6FjQwZqSEP9b42mRhe5LdZcndfVWMHkVlaYScbx9E3QfYRa%252Fvv%252FHnGdblLkkVdgDQb5zUQpsr6BLhMlko6y7Tbs9eXBziIIKprs4lBElmUsJ%252FbojKM1gU23W27iszkMfg4Ssiv9r5TE8g3YHqwPQ0dsAEgSGUGuYYO6j5sVPebi6PuWKmlqD8EAo%252B9ctQUACkm%252FO1cWAo7XUDuhJZXvqIUPj2NiOVuM46po8PZHqEhYyhPocMHEUeQZ1A75A6n4Hzqvso54kPcYFJFQEoiU7hn1Sm5pkVHSGK3OyPM0SsSNGDTSfge9mrDSlFt8JUdY3I0sS%252BDkNp%252FMDxwc%253D%7Ccksum%3A3832740964991baec5b5b236410db0f91bc8a3513602%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2334524&frcectupt=true

BTW Sam if you are in lockdown much longer I'd be happy to take you & Mrs Sturdy out on Lake Macquarie for a day!! Not real flash weather at the moment though :(

What's the Amp Hours of the battery you're using Lazzz?

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Lazzz said..
I have been using an electric outboard on my dinghy for many years similar to this one in the link below.

The 45lb is about the right size for me - any bigger they start to get too heavy but nowhere near as heavy as a petrol outboard!!

I have a small battery with a handle that I charge every 4 - 6 trips out to my boat which is only about 300mts from shore.

I use mine 3 - 4 time / week & they last a couple of years - same out of the battery.

I have a little Yamaha 2 on the boat for my ducky & the 45lb electric is so much lighter!!

www.ebay.com.au/itm/45LBS-Electric-Trolling-Motor-Inflatable-Boat-Outboard-Engine-Fishing-Marine/383274096499?epid=1042403678&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item593cea9773:g:Y6UAAOSwLnFe6lm8&amdata=enc%3AAQAFAAACgBaobrjLl8XobRIiIML1V4Imu%252Fn%252BzU5L90Z278x5ickkxFtV7J5P58ubuVigtBH%252Fe2WRqEvubgPxLAhQu3I5XolwRJWQXR7W4v4QinOUhNU0vliwK1W5regFng5AsMhNNYvtoFZfoOU532KBKR%252BZrPPZM6r4sU9vIiresKPg9Tt7A%252B3QKh5xV6lcpuuIl7MLM6G17DX0TYnBgnGSYEMcPrl7VEIThonR1MnzQNbWW7xV8a%252F1J%252FjyrWsx99Bqpuvz%252FE2Qe7aP0mdyjtozrcJ7RhvWtnxqWBtlx8L8PWuy0gddHj9AadCuK4yBWQXt8t2htvexQSa6l4JrMAPFUjTES4XIqta6vBuMKfnTo8UkgPjrJkshxe5z6DN0PUPzO6BMEK6aLVYuX1iXEJepwkeXg80QuoKpvwXA6OUz9p8C7mNez%252BWfA3jEGjL0Ko0iHI7uEkN1lC4hAdccNsFqsRCeAgoIoKlKbWU63%252FK0k29c2Mz3tLyj7%252FJuhZHP2%252BXV5Sos8rNyKyKG6FjQwZqSEP9b42mRhe5LdZcndfVWMHkVlaYScbx9E3QfYRa%252Fvv%252FHnGdblLkkVdgDQb5zUQpsr6BLhMlko6y7Tbs9eXBziIIKprs4lBElmUsJ%252FbojKM1gU23W27iszkMfg4Ssiv9r5TE8g3YHqwPQ0dsAEgSGUGuYYO6j5sVPebi6PuWKmlqD8EAo%252B9ctQUACkm%252FO1cWAo7XUDuhJZXvqIUPj2NiOVuM46po8PZHqEhYyhPocMHEUeQZ1A75A6n4Hzqvso54kPcYFJFQEoiU7hn1Sm5pkVHSGK3OyPM0SsSNGDTSfge9mrDSlFt8JUdY3I0sS%252BDkNp%252FMDxwc%253D%7Ccksum%3A3832740964991baec5b5b236410db0f91bc8a3513602%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2334524&frcectupt=true

BTW Sam if you are in lockdown much longer I'd be happy to take you & Mrs Sturdy out on Lake Macquarie for a day!! Not real flash weather at the moment though :(

What's the Amp Hours of the battery you're using Lazzz?

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Bushdog said..
What's the Amp Hours of the battery you're using Lazzz?

This suits me





www.batteryworld.com.au/U1MF-Century-EverRide-Lawn-Garden-Battery.-Maintenance-Free

I was given one of those trolling outboards, and other than the nil noise level was mostly unimpressed as rowing speed was all that could be made, I like rowing so it was pointless. I did use it to sound out a narrow channel as I had a battery onboard for the sounder anyway. And I did motor row with it for a lark, then put it back in the box, maybe time to revisit it as the 2hp Honda I have but use sparingly is not without issues
PS in some states if you carry a battery you also need a fire extinguisher

Just to finish off the thread. Mechanic called to say he'd fixed the Mercury by removing the power head and discovering the blockage. So the repaired and serviced outboard is now back home looking like new......good outcome. Thank you all for the responses.