[BigMoe]

Good Morning Fellow Sailors:

I am about to purchase a dingy for the first time. I am looking at a West Marine, Hypalon Rib 310 with a 9.9 Mercury engine. I want the Hypalon 310 because it has a load of handles on the top and insides and has a fiberglass floor. It weighs about 100 lbs so my wife and I can put it in the dingy rack together (hence the handles).

I am a little unsure as to the motor. Should I also look at a Honda? They are both 4 cycle as there are very few 2 cycles available new (Yamaha has one).

Thanks,

Big Moe

 

[southshoreS24]

i recently got a 5hp tohatsu 4cycle from defender for a dink. i was going to order the mercury version for a few hundred more but was persuaded by the phone rep to get the tohatsu. I was told it is the same power head and gearing. the only difference is the color and shift on the side instead of on the handle.

Its been great so far, just thought it might be something to look in to to save some money on the same product.

I have in the past had great experiences with yamaha and jonhson/evinrude engines and highly recommend them.

 

[rikhall]

We have had a small Honda four stroke for about eight seasons. Unless I forget to pull out the choke as per the starting instructions, the motor starts first pull - every single time.

When the need comes, I will certainly not hesitate to get another Honda.

Rik

 

[fullkeel7]

A 10 hp OB sounds about right, especially if you plan on some extended 'dinghy exploring' with two and a little gear aboard. I think you'll be glad to have a little extra hp the 9.9 hp will give you...until the time comes to hang the engine on the aft rail and the weight issue comes into play. Unless you have dinghy davits, you'll probably find a engine hoist helpful and a lot less stressful for moving the engine from the dinghy transom to the mother ship's rail.

Also, although you and your wife will not have too much difficulty lifting the dinghy to a storage rack on shore, you may want to consider a dinghy harness for those times when you will not want to tow the dinghy and want to store it on the foredeck (assuming no davits here) for passage making or security reasons. It's not so much the weight of the dinghy, it's the bulk and manuvering over the rail what makes the use of a dinghy lifting harness most convenient.

A look at how others store/tow their dinghies/engines can be helpful in deciding how/what will work best for your needs.

 

[Cruisingdad]

I had a very similar setup and will give some thoughts.

First, dad has the 9.9 merc. It starts fine, but I have two major complaints: one, it is extremely heavy, and 2, it is hard to pull up for shallow water or all the way up for a landing. It will require some serious umph. Just forewarning you.

The RIB is probably made by Avon. We ha the one with teh anchor locker forward. I would buy another one, but I think there might nbe others to consider like AB which has a great reputation too.

Listen, I do NOT work for Sailnet, but I would be shocked if you could not get a better deal via Sailnet than Westmarine. I would at least ask, if I were you.

Lastly, I will not buy any more Mercury's. Too many little issues that drive me crazy. Yamaha and Honda are my preferences. Be aware that Yamaha, Tohatsu, Nissan, and Mercury (IIRC) are all Tohatsu engines up to 9.9 or so. I think this is correct. It is 'everything else' that i smade by other manufacturers. But for some reason, my Yamaha's have been the engines I have ever had with no problems, but the merc's always seem to have little glitches that drive me crazy lately.

Just my opinions. I can exmapnd on them if necessary.

- CD

Last comment: depending on where you are cruising/going, you may need to hoist your dink at night or on some pasasges. Getting that rib up on davits was a total workout for us. You will be lifting well over 200 lbs. Get the purchase, davits, and possible winches necessary to make it possible of you may come to hate that dink.