Below are the recommendations we have for our boats. In general we recommend ANY main brand Short Shaft (15-17") outboard, as they have all worked great with our inflatables: Honda, Mercury, Tohatsu, Yamaha, or Evinrude. Determining the horsepower rating will depend on the weight you plan to have inside your boat, the environment, how you plan to use the boat and your expectations.
Air Floors
Hard Floor
Air Floors
7ft 7in - Carmel
- Maximum Performance: 4HP
- Best for customers looking to get on plane and getting from point A to Point B as quickly as possible. Also best for customers that plan to fully load their boat close to max capacity.
- Moderate Performance: 2-4HP
- Anything between this range will meet your needs. Ideal for customers that aren't trying to zip around everywhere, but looking for something quicker than a crawl.
- Leisure Performance: Trolling Motor: ≥2HP
- Perfect for customers that aren't in any rush and maybe looking for an electric/ greener option for operating their vessel. Perfect for short distances in calm conditions.
9ft - Seascape
- Maximum Performance: 10HP
- Best for customers looking to get on plane and getting from point A to Point B as quickly as possible. Also best for customers that plan to fully load their boat close to max capacity.
- Moderate Performance: 6-10HP
- Anything between this range will meet your needs. Ideal for customers that aren't trying to zip around everywhere, but still able to get up on plane with moderate load. 8HP is the safest best for still being able to achieve plane.
- Leisure Performance: Trolling Motor: ≥6HP
- Perfect for customers that aren't in any rush and maybe looking for an electric/ greener option for operating their vessel. Perfect for short distances in calm conditions.
10ft - Santa Cruz
- Maximum Performance: 10HP
- Best for customers looking to get on plane and getting from point A to Point B as quickly as possible. Also best for customers that plan to fully load their boat close to max capacity.
- Moderate Performance: 6-10HP
- Anything between this range will meet your needs. Ideal for customers that aren't trying to zip around everywhere, but still able to get up on plane with moderate load. 8HP is the safest best for still being able to achieve plane.
- Leisure Performance: Trolling Motor: ≥6HP
- Perfect for customers that aren't in any rush and maybe looking for an electric/ greener option for operating their vessel. Perfect for short distances in calm conditions.
Hard Floors
8ft 10in - Dana
- Maximum Performance: 10HP
- Best for customers looking to get on plane and getting from point A to Point B as quickly as possible. Also best for customers that plan to fully load their boat close to max capacity.
- Moderate Performance: 6-10HP
- Anything between this range will meet your needs. Ideal for customers that aren't trying to zip around everywhere, but still able to get up on plane with moderate load. 8HP is the safest best for still being able to achieve plane.
- Leisure Performance: Trolling Motor: ≥6HP
- Perfect for customers that aren't in any rush and maybe looking for an electric/ greener option for operating their vessel. Perfect for short distances in calm conditions.
9ft 6in - Del Mar
- Maximum Performance: 10HP
- Best for customers looking to get on plane and getting from point A to Point B as quickly as possible. Also best for customers that plan to fully load their boat close to max capacity.
- Moderate Performance: 6-10HP
- Anything between this range will meet your needs. Ideal for customers that aren't trying to zip around everywhere, but still able to get up on plane with moderate load. 8HP is the safest best for still being able to achieve plane.
- Leisure Performance: Trolling Motor: ≥6HP
- Perfect for customers that aren't in any rush and maybe looking for an electric/ greener option for operating their vessel. Perfect for short distances in calm conditions
10ft 6in - Newport
- Maximum Performance: 15HP
- Best for customers looking to get on plane and getting from point A to Point B as quickly as possible. Also best for customers that plan to fully load their boat close to max capacity.
- Moderate Performance: 8-12HP
- Anything between this range will meet your needs. Ideal for customers that aren't trying to zip around everywhere, but still able to get up on plane with moderate load. 10HP is the safest best for still being able to achieve plane.
- Leisure Performance: Trolling Motor: ≥8HP
- Perfect for customers that aren't in any rush and maybe looking for an electric/ greener option for operating their vessel. Perfect for short distances in calm conditions
11ft 9in - Baja
- Maximum Performance: 20HP
- Best for customers looking to get on plane and getting from point A to Point B as quickly as possible. Also best for customers that plan to fully load their boat close to max capacity.
- Moderate Performance: 12-20HP
- Anything between this range will meet your needs. Ideal for customers that aren't trying to zip around everywhere, but still able to get up on plane with moderate load. 12HP is the safest best for still being able to achieve plane.
- Leisure Performance: Trolling Motor: ≥12HP
- Perfect for customers that aren't in any rush and maybe looking for an electric/ greener option for operating their vessel. Perfect for short distances in calm conditions
12ft 6in - Catalina
- Maximum Performance: 20HP
- Best for customers looking to get on plane and getting from point A to Point B as quickly as possible. Also best for customers that plan to fully load their boat close to max capacity.
- Moderate Performance: 12-20HP
- Anything between this range will meet your needs. Ideal for customers that aren't trying to zip around everywhere, but still able to get up on plane with moderate load. 15HP is the safest best for still being able to achieve plane.
- Leisure Performance: Trolling Motor: ≥12HP
- Perfect for customers that aren't in any rush and maybe looking for an electric/ greener option for operating their vessel. Perfect for short distances in calm conditions
