Trojan Boat Forum

I'm looking at buying a new inflatable boat.

I'm looking at a West Marine RIB 350 and the Mercury Marine Oceanrunner 350.

Any comments on either?

Also, the call for a max 25 hp 15" shaft. I have a 20 hp 20" shaft.

I can't imagine that is a problem. Is it?

Thx

Tom

Problem ....You will need to add 5" to the top of the transom

It should work . it won't be as efficient as a 15" shaft but still should work .
what brand outboard ? if its a rude or Johnson you maybe able to remove the center section and convert it to a 15" .

It's a 4 stroke Mercury.

I tried a longer 20" shaft Honda I had on a small inflatable and it really didn't work too well.. It was hard t use and hit the ground. Need the shorter 15" shaft

I have the OceanRunner 350 with a 20hp 15'' shaft and am very pleased. This was my first RIB and the difference between this one and a soft bottom is day and night.
You will be fine with the 20'' engine as the top speed will just be a touch lower is all. I did try a 20'' on mine before I purchased the 15'' and the only difference I could find was about 3.5 mph.

rossjo wrote:I tried a longer 20" shaft Honda I had on a small inflatable and it really didn't work too well.. It was hard t use and hit the ground. Need the shorter 15" shaft

Good point Rossjo.
If you do a lot of boating in shallow water the 5'' could become an issue.

Thanks. I have a 2 stroke 15 hp 15" sitting in the shed. I could use that, but would like to use the bigger engine.

I'm leaning towards the West Marine boat. I might be able to find it locally, and would have to pay sales tax, but not shipping.

The West has 18" tubes vs 16" on the Mercury.

If it rains another day down here, I might need it today to get home! Then the extra 5" would be a problem.

Tom, I see you're in Lauderdale. I went to the Annapolis show last week and they probably had 200 inflatables. Isn't the show down there coming up? I'd wait and look for a show deal.

The West Marine 350, to me was like a light duty version of the Mercury when I looked at them.
It was somewhere around 40lbs lighter and when I walked around in it I could feel the hull floor flex. I could not on the Mercury and was told that was because the floor in the OceanRunner was a laminate type.
The warranty on the OceanRunner was also twice what the West Marine unit was and it was non pro rated.
I picked mine up for the same price as West Marine was asking on sale for theirs.
I also thought the tube size could be an issue but it does not even come into play the way I use it. I can put 4 large adults in without issue at all and run through some real slop.

The show here is the same weekend I have plans to be in the Keys. I need the boat that weekend.

The 2 online retailers seem to be Buster's Marine and Defender.

I just missed the Defender sale for the Annapolis show. Buster's is having a sale on the 2010 model.

I guess I should get the Hypalon model, but its 1/3 more in cost.

I did see that the West was less heavy.

The west marine Ribs are nice . I know a few folks with them and there happy with them . I know little about the Mercury .

Some times lighter is better how do plan on putting in the water and back on the boat ? I carry mine on the bow ( engine off ) It really adds to the fun when cruising .

On the engines you make find the 15hp 2 stroke will do as well as the 20hp 4 stroke and be easier to handle .

I need a very tough boat. It will be in the water (behind my house) most of the time with my son (14) as the primary user.

The very secondary use will be to tag along on any trips we take with the bigger boat.

Ok, I ordered the Oceanrunner 350 Hypalon model from Buster's Marine.

They had a special on an 2010 model for $2,545. Shipping was boat show special of $150 (which is about what I would have paid in sales tax had I bought it here.)

I may look into a jack plate if the 20" shaft is a problem.

good choice on the Hypalon boat. We screwed up and bought one of the West Marine PVC ones for about $900..... it made it two years before the first leak. Its in our back yard flat as a pancake right now, waiting to be patched yet again. Granted - we are in Alaska, and ours has had considerable abuse, but my parent's Hypalon inflatable is 20 years old and still doing fine.