AUX Outboard on a Rib

[davis]

Do most people on here use an Aux outboard on their rib and what hp do they use, just that there doesnt seem to be much room beside the main engine, also a lot of the time I am in the company of other boats. The weight at the back is also a concern as my Aux is four stroke.

[Biggles]

Don't have an auxiliery. Joined Sea Start instead. If your in company all the time then save your money. If not then its worth considering. However I can't imagine any Aux pushing a RIB any sort of decent distance, in anything other than calm seas.

Best of luck in your research.

[PeterR]

I,ve only just got one after three years but it was always a worry till now.They say 1 hp per metre of boat.The weight i think will effect your top speed.

[Aidan]

We dont have Rib start service or here (At least not on the west coast),its friggin whistle dixie or row!!!! (a spare set of batteries and a kind smile to RNLI helps, oh and I am a member of that for sure)....

Why in our day Boy!!! all we had was a currach and a set of lollipop sticks and we battled the atlantic WHat What! (sure you did you auld crone)
(Currach is Irish row boat of tarred canvas on wodden frame, huge bow rise for a few obvious reasons)

[Nos4r2]

I finally found one that fits on mine after changing to a wider engine(when I get it working properly ) Ancient 2hp Evinrude with a single clamp screw. On trying it out it made 3mph but should do a bit better when it's sorted out.

It's not big enough but it's enough to keep steerage way or get me to the nearest safe shore down tide in f4 or less. If it buys me some time in an emergency then it's worth having it.

What boat have you got?

[Stoo]

Originally Posted by davis

Do most people on here use an Aux outboard on their RIB...

I don't, but I've been thinking about for about 10 years! The truth is that I don't think I could really fit one in. I have some lovely paddles and a "cat-'o-nine-tails" though...

Is that "formula" of 1hp/metre generally accepted?

[BogMonster]

I have because there is no lifeboat and no sea start in this part of the world!

There isn't much room and I had to lose the A frame to fit it in a position where there was any chance of turning it (my main engine is a V4 not a straight four so quite wide)

If you are in the company of other boats then its probably not worthwhile but I'm not, the prevailing wind is West and the next stop heading east is Chile again, 13,000 miles away... if I'm lucky I might wash up in S Africa which is only about 4000

[MarkM]

I had a 5hp Honda 4-stroke. Carried around for years, sitting in the bow space. Used it once in winter time when nobody was out on the water. Reached 8km/hr. Took me hours to get to the habour over a distance of 8 kilometers, it's hard to use on a bigger boat. Now I've sold it because it's hardly any use and I don't have to carry that weight anymore.

I considred the following:
When I go out onto open sea, I'm always with another RIB.
When I stay near the coast I can call the coastguard's alarmnumber with the mobil phone.
On the inland waters are many people around.
I've an engine that has proved itself.
I carry two anchors and lots of rope.

I've to be cautious in winter time when nobody is out.

[BogMonster]

Originally Posted by MarkM

I had a 5hp Honda 4-stroke. Carried around for years, sitting in the bow space. Used it once in winter time when nobody was out on the water. Reached 8km/hr. Took me hours to get to the habour over a distance of a 8 kilometers, it's hard to use on a bigger boat. Now I've sold it because it's hardly any use and I don't have to carry that weight anymore.

I considred the following:
When I go out onto open sea, I'm always with another RIB.
When I stay near the coast I can call the coastguard's alarmnumber with the mobil phone.
On the inland waters are many people around.
I've an engine that has proved itself.
I carry two anchors and lots of rope.

I've to be cautious in winter time when nobody is out.

True but it is still much more embarrassing to have to call for help than to be able to sort your own problem out

You have to sit in an awkward position to use mine, but I quickly discovered that if you set it to a particular angle (just off centre) and tweak up the friction on the tiller, you can leave it chugging away, trim the main engine right down and steer with that, which is a lot easier, the turning circle is a bit indecent but it works.

Mine (6hp Johnson 4 stroke) does about 5 knots or so on the 5.8 Humbug but it isn't reaching anywhere near full revs so I might improve on that with a finer prop if I can get one.

[MarkM]

@BogMonster: I agree with you. But your situation in completly different from mine. Here the waters are usely crowed with boats.