Inflatable boats get more and more popular now. It’s really reasonable decision for people who don’t have a dock for ship storage in a winter period or who simply don’t want to mess around with trailer. The amount of questions related to the choice of suitable ship model and optimal outboard motor increase.
What should you ask yourself about to understand what you need?
It’s necessary to get answers for other questions except for the cost of the purchase, for example:
How many passengers will the boat contain and what is the volume of goods?
What speed do I need?
How far do I need to sail?
What should a boat floor be made of?
How long will I use one or another boat?
What is a boat deck (floor) made of?
You have a choice:
Floor can be made of wooden strips (Roll-Up).
Solid panel wooden removable floor with locks.
Inflatable floor Air Deck. It’s always possible to let out air and to roll up inflatable floor, so that it would be possible to keep the floor together with a boat.
Are boats’ inflatable floors durable enough?
The inflatable floor of the series Air Deck has sufficient durability at very small weight in comparison with any hard floors, in addition the Air Deck constructio
n is considerably more comfortable! A potential user must know that a panel floor showed itself the best at the considerable loadings. Use of the inflatable bottom Air Deck is effective while fishing and on excursion boats with length up to 3,3 metres.
How fast can a boat move?
A 2-5 horsepower motor will allow a boat to make 6-12 kilometres per hour. A 6-8 horsepower motor will lift up a small boat for gliding with 1-2 people on board, in other words an inflatable ship will make 20-24 kilometres per hour. A 10-15 horsepower motor with will lift up for gliding practically any boat with length 3-3,5 metres with 2-3 people aboard to speed up to 32 kilometres per hour. You should estimate your potential and choose a motor which you need. Pay attention that different models of the outboard motors differ in weight, although not only "dry" weight of the motor is taken into account here. Th e presence of handle is very important for carrying from place to place and so on. A motor weighing 30 kg (15 horsepower) can be carried on small distance or lifted to the board of a yacht. Anybody can manage a motor weighing 20 kg (4-6 horsepower).
What full speed can a boat move with?
Inflatable boats have a flat enough bottom, what limits their speed, but it is possible to speed up some models with a 40-60 horsepower motor even faster than 40 knots.
What motor is needed for a water-skier haulage?
For haulage of an adult water-skier you will require not less than 25-30 horsepower, a 15 horsepower motor can surely haulage a teenager, the same concerns "banana" and other toys. These are minimum limitations and they concern boats with length 3-3,5 metres, for which such a power equals maximal by technical descriptions. For future, the bigger is the boat, the more powerful motor it will need.
How long does it take to assemble a boat?
For example, two adults collect fully a boat "Phoenix" with length 3,35 m for 20 minutes, and 10 more minutes can be required to set the outboard motor.
Is it possible to put an arm-chairs on a boat?
It is possible, but arm-chairs take a lot of place on boats with the inflatable and hard floor, although there are fastenings for their setting on some inflatable boats usually.
How can I know which motor is required for me, with long or short dead-wood?
Measure transom of the boat. You need an engine with a short dead-wood if it is 38-41 cm from the transom’s top to the keel. Long dead-wood is needed on the transom up to 55 cm high. Some sailing vessels with a very high transom 64 cm may need the extended dead-wood "Ultra Long Shaft". All of motors with more than 3-4 horsepower can be both with short and long dead-wood. Short dead-wood will fit for most inflatable boats, while for most sailing vessels, fishing schooners and for yachts the long dead-wood will be required. This issue requires special attention!
Can a motor with dead-wood of unsuitable length work on my boat?
NO! A short dead-wood on a high transom can simply not reach to the water or water will not enter to the cooling system. This will disable a motor. Long dead-wood on short transom is dangerous. The point of tractive force application will be deeply in the water and even with an 8 horsepower motor can result in turnover of a small boat.
How long can a motor continuously work?
Motor can work any amount of time if an engine is selected and adjusted correctly. But don’t forget to fill tank up with a fuel.
What fuel do they work on? Is it possible to purchase diesel or electric motor?
Most motors utilize the preliminary prepared fuel mixture (you will need to mix up petrol and oil for two-cycle motors). We didn’t hear about the diesel outboard motors of small power. It is possible to find quite a bit of electric motors, to which a truck will be required for transportation of accumulators. Their power would be less than a power of a little internal-combustion engine. Electro-motors are utilized at fishponds or preserves, where nothing else can be exploited. And in other conditions - scarcely.
Is it better to purchase two-cycle or four-cycle motor?
This is a very good question! A four-cycle motor works more QUIET and more smooth. In general case, these boat motors are more expensive, notably heavier, their service will be more expensive, and they are more sensible to the oil level in a crankcase etc. Presence of an oily crankcase is a serious failing of a four-cycle motor. Majority of four-cycle motors have to be kept only in a certaine way, to prevent an oil loss. An oversight of the oil level can cause the motor breakage. However you shouldn’t do a large problem out of this, since small motors have simplified systems of greasing. Characteristics of 2-cycle motors fit the best small inflatable boats. And although four-cycle motors are heavier, it is difficult to keep and to exploit them, but these doesn’t mean that they can not be applied on small inflatable boats. The price difference between 2- and 4-cycle becomes substantial for this motor class.
Can a man carry an 8-15 horsepower motor?
Weight of motors of this power range is 28-45 kg, however don’t consider this weight excessive. Big problems with its carrying, storage or transportation do not arise usually. Motor with a long dead-wood is even more comfortable for carrying, although its weight is not more, than a motor with a short "leg". Four-cycle motors are always heavier than equal on power two-cycle motors: 15-mighty two-cycle motor weighs 31-37 kg, which is maximum possible for carrying, while four-cycle motors of analogical power are too heavy for carrying over.
Is it possible to carry a 20-40 horsepower motor?
It is possible, but strong muscles will be required!! Two adults can carry a motor with no trouble or also a child can help adult!
Do all motors of 830 horsepower group have a steering control?
NO! Motors with an electro-start often have remote control unit only, not always though. All motors of this group can have remote control, however it’s expensive. But except for actual remote control (with a price no less than $150), it would be necessary to purchase the set of adapters and sockets for connecting of steering control to the motor etc. It will make not less than $300 in general.
I want to put a motor on a yacht. Are their special motors for yachts or any will fit?
A motor with long dead-wood will fit most yachts. It can be practically any outboard motor, however specially created engine is better certainly! We will say again that this question is complex, so it’s best of all to turn to the specialists for the decision of concrete problem.
