Back Up Engine

[Andrew P Jarrot]

Can anyone please advise me on a suitable back up engine for a 5.5m RIB, typically loaded with 4 people with gear. The info I am looking for is minimum HP and if there are any "popular" choices amoungst fellow Ribsters.

Andrew.

[dimitris]

Hi,

Use the "search" button on top of the screen and search for the word "aux".

There are two past threads about backup engines where you will find a number of opinions that might be helpful.

Dimitris

[batfalcon]

Going with the a ratio 1 Hp / m, which is rather good for ribs you have to look for a 6 - 8 Hp max.

Michael

[geoff]

I use a Marina 4 sail. Specifically designed as an auxillary for sailing boats, it is a 4hp 2 stroke engine and therefore lightweight. It pushes my 5.85 Ribcraft alone at about 3kts. You wont go much faster with a bigger engine and mine is small enough to lie on the deck just ahead of the transom bolted onto a specially designed bracket. Highly recommended.

[gaelforce]

on a related note (and not wanting to underplay the importance of an auxy engine) has anyone come across oarlocks for ribs? A set of oars could be more useful than the paddles with which I occasionally try to impersonate Hawaii Five-O extras.