2.6meter inflatable 2.5hp outboard expected speed?

[Disschord]

Hi I have a 2.6m inflatable and I am looking at getting a small outboard

I use the dinghy for fishing in the creek just me on board (weight 90kg) and some fishing tackle.

What kind of speed would a 2.5hp push me along at?

I am not looking to break any speed records I just want to give my arms a rest from rowing.

[PeterM]

Originally Posted by Disschord

Hi I have a 2.6m inflatable and I am looking at getting a small outboard

I use the dinghy for fishing in the creek just me on board (weight 90kg) and some fishing tackle.

What kind of speed would a 2.5hp push me along at?

I am not looking to break any speed records I just want to give my arms a rest from rowing.

Mine with 2hp gets me to 5knots ...flat out on flat water....

[Disschord]

5 knots wow that sounds promising I was worried I would not get above 3/4 knots

[blootac]

My Avon 310 with a 2hp and 1 adult gets 5 knots, with 3 gets 4.3 knots

[kerny]

I have a 2.6 inflatable with a Tohatsu 3.5 which pushes 2 adults with kit comfortably but breaks no records so if possible I would go a little bit bigger and if you do you will be glad that you had. I wish that I had a got a 5 hp for mine but at the end of the day sibs like ours are really just designed to be tenders.

[Disschord]

Thanks for all the feedback people.
The dinghy only needs to travel fast enough to beat the tide so if I can get 5 knots I am going to be happy.

Perhaps I will look to upgrade in the future if I feel I need to but how much faster is 5hp really going to be

[blootac]

Well with a 9.9 (old so is probably more like 7 or 8) I plane and reach 15 knots.
I do feel that with the 2 it's fine for flat conditions but wouldn't want to beach launch through any significant waves.

Also most of the older 2hp I've seen don't have neutral, i.e. they're always in gear. So while I'm putting down or retrieving my launch wheels I have to stop the engine else I'd lose my hand!

Both points might well not be an issue for your intended use though.

[PeterM]

My mate runs 6 on the same length SIB - he's running it at 10-12 knts - huge fun

[Peter_C]

OP if you look on youtube for your outboard you should find plenty of videos with dingys running flat out. It is kinda amazing they can go so fast.

Originally Posted by blootac

Also most of the older 2hp I've seen don't have neutral, i.e. they're always in gear. So while I'm putting down or retrieving my launch wheels I have to stop the engine else I'd lose my hand!

I would NEVER put my launch wheels up or down with the engine running. I doubt anyone on here would encourage it either. Be safe, shut the motor down. If need be drop them further offshore. Sometimes I accidently drive pretty far with mine down DOH!

[Mikefule]

When I used to do a lot of solo sibbing, I had a boat something over 3 metres (around 3.4?) with a 3 hp 2 stroke and it went pretty briskly. On mirror smooth water it would all but plane and on the sea it would get there eventually. However, the speed of an immersed hull (rather than a planing hull) is dictated by its waterline length so even though your boat is smaller and lighter, it may not go quite so fast. If you don't have to fight strong currents, tides or head winds, then the small engine you have in mind should be adequate. Thing is, a bigger engine always has that bit in reserve for the unexpected, and it isn't always whining away at full revs. If you can afford to go bigger (say up to 6?) then it may be wise.