I am in the market for an outboard for our inflatable which is rated to 8HP. My experince has been that a 5HP is the very smallest and that the 8HP is heavy especially if we don't want to drag it everywhere and opt to hang it on the stern rail. The 6HP seems the best solution in speed (for the teenager) and weight (for the sailor in me. Any recommendations between the 2 and 4 stroke models as well as between the different mfr's would be appreciated. T/T Ambition!!
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
K
Kenny Wilson
8hp - hmm - bit big?
In response to your question about size of outboard I think your selling them a bit short. I have an outboard on my 23ft sail boat for negotiating in and out of the harbour and occasional 'no wind - must get over there' situation. Its a Yamaha 4hp four stroke. It develops plenty of power and depending on how far you have to go with it, the difference in noise level between the 2 and four strokes is well worth it. Just ask anyone that has sat beside a two stroke for any length of time, but you'll have to shout! The other thing is with the four stroke you don't have to muck about with fuel/oil mixtures; a mistake could be costly.
In response to your question about size of outboard I think your selling them a bit short. I have an outboard on my 23ft sail boat for negotiating in and out of the harbour and occasional 'no wind - must get over there' situation. Its a Yamaha 4hp four stroke. It develops plenty of power and depending on how far you have to go with it, the difference in noise level between the 2 and four strokes is well worth it. Just ask anyone that has sat beside a two stroke for any length of time, but you'll have to shout! The other thing is with the four stroke you don't have to muck about with fuel/oil mixtures; a mistake could be costly.
P
Pete
OUTBOARDS
I have a Honda 7.5 hp 4 cycle and think it is the best small outboard on the market. would recommend it without any hesitation! If you don't like honda would recommend getting a 4 cycle yamaha or mercury hope this helps
I have a Honda 7.5 hp 4 cycle and think it is the best small outboard on the market. would recommend it without any hesitation! If you don't like honda would recommend getting a 4 cycle yamaha or mercury hope this helps
C
Colin Campbell
Think of the environment
2 cycle engines are one of the worlds worst causes of polution, no matter what size engine you purchase, please choose a 4 cycle as they are so much kinder to the environment.
2 cycle engines are one of the worlds worst causes of polution, no matter what size engine you purchase, please choose a 4 cycle as they are so much kinder to the environment.
D
David Krozier
outboards
I have a Mercury Mariner 5HP and a 8'6" inflatable from Quicksilver. Its a model with wooden floorboards and stern. I had the same influence when purchasing. My teenage son wanted a big outboard. The 5HP with external tank weighs the same as the 4HP with internal tank. So at the time the extra power seemed OK. The 5HP outboard is about all I would want to have to lift up to hang on the rail and I spend three days a week at the gym pumping iron. I have a carrymate handle installed and when I lift it to the rail I tie the outboard to the boat with a safety line in case I slip - don't want the outboard to go in the drink. Actually, I lift it from the dinghy up to the rail and my wife takes it from there. With anything heavier I think you would have to install a lifting davit. Its a lot harder to lift up the outboard from a bouncing dinghy than to pick it up on the showroom floor. How often are you going to use the dinghy and transfer the engine? I see a lot of pretty roughed up inflatables due to being stored outdoors. I store my dinghy below uninflated in its storage case - to prevent UV damage. After 5 years it still looks like new. Likewise I never leave my outboard stored on deck for any extended period, or heaven forbid, on the dinghy. Its just too easy for it to be damaged or stolen. Even in a quiet anchorage if I am aboard and leave the dinghy in the water I still lift off the outboard overnight. So I guess my point is - I lift that outboard a lot. I know I'm a little more fastidious than most - you can easily find my dinghy at the dinghy dock, its the only one locked to a dock cleat with a steel cable. But look around, I think most people tire real quick of hauling an outboard around because they buy one that's really too big. As far as performance the above combination will plane with one adult or two light kids aboard. What more do you need? Epilogue: My son used the dinghy about four times in the last five years. As a teenager he had better things to do than hang around with dad. Right now I would be interested in exchanging my inflatable dinghy and outboard for a hard dinghy that can take some abuse and be left out in the weather and a real small gas or even electric motor. The dog comes out with me more than my kids now and I'm always concerned about the dog holing the inflatable.
I have a Mercury Mariner 5HP and a 8'6" inflatable from Quicksilver. Its a model with wooden floorboards and stern. I had the same influence when purchasing. My teenage son wanted a big outboard. The 5HP with external tank weighs the same as the 4HP with internal tank. So at the time the extra power seemed OK. The 5HP outboard is about all I would want to have to lift up to hang on the rail and I spend three days a week at the gym pumping iron. I have a carrymate handle installed and when I lift it to the rail I tie the outboard to the boat with a safety line in case I slip - don't want the outboard to go in the drink. Actually, I lift it from the dinghy up to the rail and my wife takes it from there. With anything heavier I think you would have to install a lifting davit. Its a lot harder to lift up the outboard from a bouncing dinghy than to pick it up on the showroom floor. How often are you going to use the dinghy and transfer the engine? I see a lot of pretty roughed up inflatables due to being stored outdoors. I store my dinghy below uninflated in its storage case - to prevent UV damage. After 5 years it still looks like new. Likewise I never leave my outboard stored on deck for any extended period, or heaven forbid, on the dinghy. Its just too easy for it to be damaged or stolen. Even in a quiet anchorage if I am aboard and leave the dinghy in the water I still lift off the outboard overnight. So I guess my point is - I lift that outboard a lot. I know I'm a little more fastidious than most - you can easily find my dinghy at the dinghy dock, its the only one locked to a dock cleat with a steel cable. But look around, I think most people tire real quick of hauling an outboard around because they buy one that's really too big. As far as performance the above combination will plane with one adult or two light kids aboard. What more do you need? Epilogue: My son used the dinghy about four times in the last five years. As a teenager he had better things to do than hang around with dad. Right now I would be interested in exchanging my inflatable dinghy and outboard for a hard dinghy that can take some abuse and be left out in the weather and a real small gas or even electric motor. The dog comes out with me more than my kids now and I'm always concerned about the dog holing the inflatable.
M
Mark Johnson
Outboard opinions/info
The four stroke motors are quite, they weight more, they cost more, you don't have as many HP choices. Yamaha for example has a 4hp then goes up to 9.9hp in their 4 stroke line. BTW the 9.9 4 stroke weight 91 lbs. The 4 hp weighs 49 lbs. But as the prior post mentions, they are better for the enviroment. You mentioned that you were considering a 6 hp. I think you will find that a 6 hp will weigh as much as a 8 hp. The 6 and 8 hp are basically the same motor with different carboration and compression. Weight wise you are probably better off staying with your 5 hp. If memory serves me correctly the Yamaha 6 and 8 hp weigh about 60 lbs. Hope this helps. Mark Johnson
The four stroke motors are quite, they weight more, they cost more, you don't have as many HP choices. Yamaha for example has a 4hp then goes up to 9.9hp in their 4 stroke line. BTW the 9.9 4 stroke weight 91 lbs. The 4 hp weighs 49 lbs. But as the prior post mentions, they are better for the enviroment. You mentioned that you were considering a 6 hp. I think you will find that a 6 hp will weigh as much as a 8 hp. The 6 and 8 hp are basically the same motor with different carboration and compression. Weight wise you are probably better off staying with your 5 hp. If memory serves me correctly the Yamaha 6 and 8 hp weigh about 60 lbs. Hope this helps. Mark Johnson
M
Merrill Mant
- Status
- Not open for further replies.