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Mine's inflatable and supports up to a 6 hp engine. It's mostly about the strength of the transom. Speed isn't the goal so planing isn't what I was getting at.
by mrj 3y ago
Mine's inflatable and supports up to a 6 hp engine. It's mostly about the strength of the transom.
Speed isn't the goal so planing isn't what I was getting at. If the a wind driven fire is pushing down on you so fast that evacuating on a road isn't feasible, then fighting against that wind blowing you all the way to Japan is going to take an engine.
- everforward 3y agoIt seems like a paddle and anchor would accomplish roughly the same thing with a lot fewer potential failures. The anchor might be heavier than the engine, though. I have no idea how heavy of an anchor you would need.
- pixl97 3y agoAnchor is going to be a problem quick... it can get deep very fast. Drag anchor and some kind of communications go get ahold of coast guard might be your best bet.
- _yb2s 3y agoBecause of the physics of hull speed, there is no benefit to a motor over 2hp unless you are trying to get up on a plane. Your costco dinghy is a planing boat, and is designed to take a ton of power so it can still get up on a plane with a few people aboard. The smallest 2hp outboard is equal to about four strong men rowing constantly that never get tired... any boat under about 18 feet long will be able to do hull speed upwind in any wind that wouldn't immediately sink or flip it with just 2hp (or really, even with just 0.5hp if this existed). In a small raft that isn't planing, more than 2hp won't get you anywhere faster, under any conditions. There is a lot of benefit to the smaller motor- it will use a lot less fuel, and can weigh under 20lbs. Especially if you go air cooled and/or 2-stroke... combine the two and it could be as light as ~10lbs. Less weight on the transom makes a small boat substantially more stable and controllable in rough seas.