Long shaft outboard as dingy kicker?

[BeneteauMark]

Hello everyone --

I just upgraded the outboard on my sailboat from a 5hp to a 9.9. Was thinking of using the 5hp with my dingy (a Zodiac fastroller 310 -- about 10 feet long), but the outboard is a long shaft.

Is there any particular reason that you shouldn't use a long shaft on a dingy? I'm not planning on doing anything extreme -- just riding around.

Thanks.
Mark
One Step Closer
Lake St. Clair, MI

[Artwerke]

A long shaft shouldn't do any more than increase your draft by 5" and add extra drag by the cavitation plate being so far down, but for just pushing the dink around it beats trying to row an inflatable and it's there in your hand. Art.

[Sasha_V]

it just restricts the depth of water you can comfortably operate the dinghy in. Means you get wet to the thighs instead of the knees when you motor up to the beach.

In an extreme case the lowered centre of effort will also change the dinghy's stability and planing characteristics (sometimes in hilarious but not usefull ways)...but with a 5hp motor that is not really going to be an issue for you.

If the old 5hp had a yacht prop on it, then consider going over to a prop more suited to pushing a dinghy. It makes a huge difference.

Oh yeah, as a final possibility, it is possible to just buy a short shaft adaptor. about an hour and a half of tinkering means you can replace the internal drive shaft with the shorter unit and either unbolt or cut off (depending on make or age) the spacer on the exterior leg. Check the manufacturer's website to see if they make a coversion kit and how much it is.

Cheers

Sasha

[nolatom]

No reason why not, aside from the slightly increased draft.

And you can try an "idiot trick" I did as a kid with a square-ended pram and a longshaft 3hp Evinrude...

Turn the motor around backwards, max the throttle, and slide "back" towards the bow so the stern clears the water, and you're planing backwards! Be careful when you come back off plane so you don't ship water..

Remember, kids, don't try this at home, I was a professional idiot on a closed course....

[sailandoar]

Might not matter much with a 5HP but friend with a 10' RIB bought a 25inch shaft 10HP because it was cheaper in that particular case and the salesman told him it would be fine.
He is now resigned to carrying heavy items in the bow all the time or running with the stern buried and the bow in the air. He should have a little utility sport boat and instead has a wierd little clown boat.