Thread: Inflatable pontoon catamaran set up ideas

Well there are 1 or 2 places I want to hunt that a wee lightweight boat would be ideal for access so I have quitely been keeping an eye out for a suitable project.
Last night I bought a Maxxon inflatable pontoon catamaran.
It has a transom to support a small outboard and I think it would be ideal for crossing rivers and possibly even going the odd rafting trip (nothing too serious)
So what I'm wondering is has anyone had any experience with mud motors like this https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/b...ing/2622128197
In my eyes it looks like an ideal setup for navigating shallows, but is it required or would something like this be all I need ? https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/b...ing/2620854917
Or has anyone got a mud motor/longtail collecting dust they wanna sell ?
I've still gotta sort logistics of getting the Maxxon freighted from Auckland to Christchurch so have plenty of time to look at options.
Look forward to everyone's opinions.
Here's a pic of the Maxxon

Another pic, any thoughts will I need to beef up the transom to mount an outboard?

Originally Posted by berg243

should have max weight and hp rating for transom .have you thought about a decent sized electric outboard ? a lot quieter and wont have the problem with dirty or no water cooling.

Open to all options, biggest issue is it needs to have enough grunt to cross a braided river, I think the boat is rated to 10hp, unsure how the electric motors compare power to weight ratio ?

Originally Posted by berg243

other thing to look at is how small a jet unit you can get for an outboard have seen them on 40hp and heard of 25hp ones.

Only seen 2hp or 40hp +
I think 2hp won't cut it and obviously 40hp would be way too much about 8-10hp would've been ideal.

Lol just start the cycle again and get a jetboat again

Without knowing much about the design just looking at it I would say its bot really designed to take anything much bigger than a 2-3hp outboard. It may handle the weight of something bigger but the torque will possibly run you into problems

Originally Posted by longrange308

Lol just start the cycle again and get a jetboat again

Eventually mate, this will serve a specific service to access a spot I wouldn't and couldn't take a jet boat

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

Without knowing much about the design just looking at it I would say its bot really designed to take anything much bigger than a 2-3hp outboard. It may handle the weight of something bigger but the torque will possibly run you into problems

A friend of mine has a 4hp 2 stroke short shaft he's willing to let me try, I think your right much more power would cause other issues, I'm even open to the electric motors but don't know much about them, the guy I bought it off had an electric motor onnit and reckoned it was ideal. Has anyone had much experience with them ?

I’m running a 25HP tohatsu outboard jet. I think an 18 obj would be the business on that, would be more like 15 HP prop equivalent.

Originally Posted by ishoot10s

I’m running a 25HP tohatsu outboard jet. I think an 18 obj would be the business on that, would be more like 15 HP prop equivalent.

It's only 2.7mx1.3m I think 18-15hp would be too much on the transom and I also think it would need some sort of reinforcement like a frame if I was going to run that sort of power but in reality I think that size motor would be way too heavy.
I think 4-5hp will be plenty looking to keep it light and manageable, not run the Rangitata

Wooo thats so cool.

An option? cheap enough to not be too worried about gravel rash.
I run a 2 stroke version one of the top one on my 5 metre sit on Kayak, kayak weighs about 35kg unladen, add o. n two people and fishing gear. loud as heck but...

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/boa...094ecdcbda-001

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/boa...4546f4090d-001

Originally Posted by ROKTOY

An option? cheap enough to not be too worried about gravel rash.
I run a 2 stroke version one of the top one on my 5 metre sit on Kayak, kayak weighs about 35kg unladen, add o. n two people and fishing gear. loud as heck but...

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/boa...094ecdcbda-001

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/boa...4546f4090d-001

Yup the 3.5hp 2 stroke is definitely an option

I think a little electric might struggle in fast water.
Mercury have done a range of jet outboards, and there companies in the States that make them for various size outboards. They just replace the whole gearbox/lower leg.
This ones a 25hp 2 stroke, rated at 20hp with the jet.

We’ve run this up fast braided rivers in less than 100mm of water.

That's pretty awesome, inflatable jet boats are starting to take off here in NZ my mate has just bought one.....definitely something I'll be considering for the future but not for this wee boat 5hp is about all it will handle I think.
Hopefully it'll be here late next week