Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
 
Old 25 May 2018, 10:32   #1
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Shipley
Make: F-Rib
Length: under 3m
Engine: Mariner outboard 6hp
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 17
Some advice please

My interests are using SIB as platform for nature photography - replacing SeaKayak which is a bit perilous for all but the most waterproof cameras.

First outings will probably be Keyhaven etc as I know the area well. Probably doing more along Dorset coast - Kimmerage ledges, Chapman's Pool etc later inbsummer.

In the first instance I have a 3m SIB with solid floor - rated up to 6HP outboard.

My thoughts about engines - I would like something as quiet as possible - I would like something capable of coping with bit of a tide.

So do I go for something like 5/6 hp 4 stroke or would Torqeedo 103SC work all Brit without startling performance

Any real life experience of these engines would be appreciated. Tried listening to sound on You-tube reviews but often badly recorded or with music over dubbed.

I guess the nub of the question is will a bigger petrol engine run on part power making less noise than electric inevitably run a higher revolutions. In fullness of time will probably get both and electric and petrol engine (bit of a redundancy freak) but for this summer and some relately modest forays probably only one on cards
__________________
Rob57 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 May 2018, 11:51   #2
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Cambridgeshire
Boat name: Nimrod II
Make: Aerotec 380
Length: 3m +
Engine: Yam 15 Tohatsu 9.8
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 8,264
Modern 4 strokes are so quiet at low speeds... I've just mentioned in another thread that trolling on tickover through wildlife areas is a major 4-stroke advantage.

A Suzuki 6hp (as an example) can be had for under £1000... I think the Torqueedo is £500 more and I can't think you'd dare take it to sea without at least one spare battery which is another £500.

Then there is the speed/range. When you were transiting along the coast the 6hp Suzuki would probably plane a 3m SIB one up at 12-15kts so you could reach interesting areas with a standard 12l tank lasting all day. The Torqueedo would be lucky to exceed 5kts and at that plodding speed the £500 worth of battery only last 30mins.

If you had a 2kt current then to make a 3kt headway you'd similarly be using up a £500 battery every 30mins.

For me I really would suffer range anxiety unless keeping to river or estuary and even then it's an expensive option.
__________________
Fenlander is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 May 2018, 12:06   #3
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Shipley
Make: F-Rib
Length: under 3m
Engine: Mariner outboard 6hp
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 17
Thank so Fenlander - that was to be honest my take having thought about it- but was keen to get thoughts of people who had used these engines recents- I am afraid most of my outboard experiences were old style 2strokes
__________________
Rob57 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 May 2018, 12:33   #4
Administrator
 
John Kennett's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Brighton
Length: 3m +
Join Date: May 2000
Posts: 7,106
I briefly owned a Torqeedo outboard a few years ago. It performed OK, but was rather noisier than I expected. Range was also a major issue.

A four stroke outboard would be best for your situation. A twin cylinder engine will be smoother running than a single, and generally quieter (or at least a less intrusive noise) which is going to mean around 8hp upwards.
__________________
John Kennett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 May 2018, 13:41   #5
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Cambridgeshire
Boat name: Nimrod II
Make: Aerotec 380
Length: 3m +
Engine: Yam 15 Tohatsu 9.8
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 8,264
JK is right re the 2cyl motors but there is a sudden jump in weight/costs for this that may or may not be important to you??

For example the Honda 8hp is £700 more than the 6hp and weights 46kg rather than 27kg of the 6hp.

Mariner are slightly better with a £500 premium for the 8hp and weight of 36kg.

The quietest 6hp is supposed to be the Yamaha which often costs about 10% more than other 6hp models.
__________________
Fenlander is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 May 2018, 18:55   #6
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Lincolnshire
Boat name: Mousetrap
Make: Zodiac Cadet 310S
Length: 3m +
Engine: Mariner 4 stroke 9.9
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 480
Torqeedo: no no no. I have one for my 12 ft sailing dinghy. I put it on my 310 SIB one day and ended up rowing home after 2 hours of going slowly on the river.

I've dived the Kimmeridge ledges. You don't want to be there with a low powered electric egg whisk with a battery that only lasts any length of time if you keep below half speed.

Modern 4 stroke engines are quiet. A 6 hp will be quiet enough at chugging about speeds. 4 strokes are quieter than 2 strokes. Within sensible limits, larger engines are quieter at low speed because they rev less to achieve the same result.

A 6 hp will also give you the power you need to keep the boat moving when the wind, waves and tide make it hard work.

You can always carry extra petrol in a can. Torqeedo batteries are ridiculously expensive.

Torqeedos are good as auxiliaries for low speed, especially on hard hulls that carry a bit of momentum. They are great on reservoirs where petrol engines are forbidden. I will never use mine on my SIB again.
__________________
My novel, "Bridge of Otherwhere" 2018 by Michael Wilkinson, now available for download on Kindle.TinyURL.com/Bridge-of-Otherwhere
Mikefule is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 May 2018, 22:27   #7
Member
 
Pikey Dave's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: South Yorks
Boat name: Black Pig
Make: Ribcraft
Length: 5m +
Engine: DF140a
MMSI: 235111389
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 11,861
RIBase
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mikefule View Post
Torqeedo: no no no. I have one for my 12 ft sailing dinghy. I put it on my 310 SIB one day and ended up rowing home after 2 hours of going slowly on the river.



I've dived the Kimmeridge ledges. You don't want to be there with a low powered electric egg whisk with a battery that only lasts any length of time if you keep below half speed.



Modern 4 stroke engines are quiet. A 6 hp will be quiet enough at chugging about speeds. 4 strokes are quieter than 2 strokes. Within sensible limits, larger engines are quieter at low speed because they rev less to achieve the same result.



A 6 hp will also give you the power you need to keep the boat moving when the wind, waves and tide make it hard work.



You can always carry extra petrol in a can. Torqeedo batteries are ridiculously expensive.



Torqeedos are good as auxiliaries for low speed, especially on hard hulls that carry a bit of momentum. They are great on reservoirs where petrol engines are forbidden. I will never use mine on my SIB again.


[emoji106] as much as I like 2 strokes, my DF140 is virtually silent on tickover, the only way you know it's running is the vibration through the hull & the tacho.
It's taken 100 years to perfect the infernal combustion engine & we are now going to chuck it out in favour of a new unproven technology & start again. Give it 50 years & electric vehicles/outboards/planes will be a viable alternative to burning dinosaurs, until then, don't hold your breath, savour those PM10s[emoji6]
__________________
Rule#2: Never argue with an idiot. He'll drag you down to his level & then beat you with experience.
Rule#3: Tha' can't educate pork.
Rule#4:Don't feed the troll
Pikey Dave is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT. The time now is 05:57.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.