My 2.5 hp Suzuki 4 stroke pushes my 3.5m sib along nicely.
I has managed against strong receding tides and offshore winds.
It was can be slow progress at times but it manages adequately.
It pushes my sib along nicely on the auxiliary outrigger also - does look a little odd but it gets the job done.
Do we have a definitive answer on hp/m? Realised the other day that my 4hp may be too big to mount alongside my 25hp. I either need to look for an alternative mounting method or sell it and get another 2hp. Wish I'd never sold the yam 2a! Beautiful engine!
There is no definitive answer, as it depends on the conditions, the wind, the tide, the load in the boat, if you want to get home or just to "a" shore, or just to keep off a shore whilst help arrives. The rule of thumb is 1HP/m but I can move 3.9m with an old 2HP. I certainly wouldn't want to go far with it but in reasonable conditions not fighting the tide it will get you where you want to go - eventually.
I wound up building a temporary mount from steel to run tests with. It works pretty well and locates the outboard over the port tube, then when need I can remove the port side transom wheel, pull a pin and slide the mount over with the outboard on it.
The two horse outboard pushes the Zodiac along at between 3-5mph with two of us on board. We didn't play too much with moving the load. Not as fast as I had hoped but it will get us back to shore slowly at least. It is only for emergencies so an hour or so returning to safe harbor is okay.
Always a need, other than oars, a second means of propusion is needed. For me, 55lbs thrust-electric with it's own dependant powerhouse battery (also used for trolling). Mounted on the bow..pictures soon to come (after the cold weather here in Canada clears).
