Zodiac Cadet Compact 250

[boater4lfe]

I am looking at buying a dinghy. The cadet 250 is what I think will suit my needs best. Now I need to pick out a motor. Recommended motor is a 6hp but it says maximum you can use is 8hp. The dinghy is 8 feet, I just want to make sure that I have enough power to get up on plane and cruise at a pretty good pace. Will the 6hp be good for that, or will the 8hp be what I need to really get me going? I don't have much experience with outboard motors so I don't really know what would be the best option for me.

 

[zodman]

A 6 HP may get 1 adult (person) on a plane if you stick your nose up to the bow, a 8 HP will generally get 2 adults, or about 350 lbs up on a plane. Should run around 16-18 mph.
Zodman
IBC

 

[alanfox55]

A word of warning. My first boat was an 8ft yacht tender that I put a 1972 Johnson 6hp on. By the way this was only a few years ago so that motor was pretty old but it ran great and started first time every time. A friend had a very light weight 12ft aluminum boat that we put that motor on one day to go fishing and with two of us aboard got on plane fast and zipped along at a pretty good speed. Put it on my 8ft inflatable and it would not plane at all no matter what we did. Come to find out that boat was not intended to plane at all. It's design was to get people from their big boat to shore at a slow pace. Something the manufacturer did not say in their description of the boat and something you might want to check into.

 

[Sea Rider]

A less HP engine will move, plane faster a larger sib/rib due to less hull drag. A shorter 250 sib/rib will struggle to plane with 2 up even with an 8 HP engine, too much hull drag to overcome fast with a less HP engine. Invest money wise, get yourself a larger 300-320 sib. A 250 is only good for goofing around or as a yatch, sailboat tender, will bore you very soooon...

Happy Boating

 

[boater4lfe]

Thanks sea rider, I was not aware of that. I will definitely make a wiser investment.

 

[ronaldj]

Thanks sea rider, I was not aware of that. I will definitely make a wiser investment.

What are you actually using the boat for?
You may be better off with a hard sided 8 or 10 foot boat