Diving from an inflatable boat

[paulpost]

Hi, this is a question regarding diving on your one from a small inflatable dingy here in south Florida where the reefs are not far out most of the times 0,5 to 2 miles. My question is what size the boat has to be for a group of 2 to 4 divers the most and also what size outboard engine have to have considering the tides.
From my research I'm considering a 11' to 13' boat with a 2 stroke engine no bigger than 15HP .
I consider a 2stroke against a 4 stroke do to the weight diference (approx 20# )
THANKS
Paul

 

[Rhone Man]

Is this in the right forum?

 

[paulpost]

Is this in the right forum?

Please guide me to the right forum
Thanks
Paul

 

[dpbishop]

Go to the Boating Equipment Forum http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/boating-equipment/
and do a search for inflatable. There are several threads with good info, at least one deals with Florida. FWIW I think your assumptions are correct.

 

[Nemrod]

You will need a 13 to 15 footer, a 14 footer should be fine. I would think at least a 25 horse motor, preferably a Yamaha 25 two stroke since they weigh only 100 pounds or so. If diving only two people then maybe a 12 to 13 footer with a 15 horse. We dived from a 14 (4.20 meter) Novurania for years, four is a crowd, two is fine, we ran engines from 25 to 35 horsepower.

N

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I had an Achilles 12.5 with a Suzuki 25HP that was great for two divers and four tanks. It barely moved with three divers and gear.

 

[paulpost]

I had an Achilles 12.5 with a Suzuki 25HP that was great for two divers and four tanks. It barely moved with three divers and gear.

How bad was the speed, like half or 1/3 of the 2 diver speed?
Thanks

 

[MaxBottomtime]

With two divers and gear I made about 20 mph. With three divers it was down to about 5 mph.