Hunter 170 - 4 stroke outboard motor

[Jatinder Pannu]

I am thinking of getting a 4 cycle outboard motor for the Hunter 170 and am looking at the Briggs and Stratton 5 hp. engine. This weighs approx. 58 lbs. and has an external gas container.I am concerned that the weight and hp. may be too much for the H170 motor mount. Would this cause a problem ? Is there any re-informcement that can be provided ?Any insight or suggestions greatly appreciated.thanks for your helpJatinder

 

[Chuck F.]

5hp seems a bit much

I find my 2hp Honda is more than enough on my 170. And at 28 lbs, is half the weight of the B&S you are looking at. Don't forget about lifting it on and off the mount. If you plan to trailer the boat, like I do, this occurs every time you sail.

 

[Craig]

4-stroke Motor

I have a Honda 2HP 4-stroke and it's more than enough to move the boat. Everything I've read says that's enough unless you frequently motor in high winds or rough water. I really only use it to motor into and out of the dock, although I've motored about a mile when the wind died. The nice thing about the 170 is it sails in almost no air, so you won't use it much.

 

[BC]

Too heavy, too powerful, too short...

Don't do it! There are previous discussions in the archives, but I just bought a new motor last spring, and here's my humble opinion:The 170 is only rated for 2.5 HP - I use a Tohatsu 2-stroke 3.5 HP (Nissan and Merc 3.5 are same motor in fancier dress). I use 3.5 HP because 1)motor only weighs around 30 pounds, 2)at 5,000 - 8,000 ft. above sea level, I only get about 2.5 HP output, 3)never need more than 2/3 throttle (more throttle makes more noise / uses more fuel, and doesn't go any faster), 4)2.5 HP would work, but does not have a gearshift. The motor has plenty of power even when motoring into stiff winds and nasty chop.Other considerations:Weight: 30 lbs vs. 58 lbsShaft Length: Long shaft (20") vs. standard (15")- even with long shaft on a smaller lake, motorboat wakes and large waves can partially lift the prop out of the water. I don't think the B&S is available in long-shaft.Fuel tank: Built-in vs. an external tank (do you really want to have a fuel tank sitting in your boat?)Cost: about even, especially via internet (onlineoutboards.com has treated me fair).Transmission: F-N vs. F-N-R. Reverse is nice, but swinging the motor around works fine.If you are determined to go with a heavy motor, call the factory (HCT) and talk to Lind about the optional brace that ties forward into the seat. Or, if you want to use a standard 15" shaft, call about the optional low engine mount.The Honda 2 HP 4-stroke seems reasonable also - more expensive, though.

 

[David Johnson]

H170 Outboard Motor

I had checked with Hunter service when I was looking for an outboard. They recommended not going over 3.5 hp or about 30 lbs. Also, they did not recommend leaving the motor on the motor mount when trailering as the road vibration, bumps etc would be more than the motor mount and deck material can handle. Weight is a factor in that regard, as you will have to remove and reinstall the motor each time you take the boat out.I selected a Nissan 3.5B 2 stroke and am very happy with it. It works every time and provides plenty of power to get around. Mercury and Tohasu also have similar models. If you are looking for a 4 stroke you may want to consider a Honda 2hp or Yamaha 2.5. At a minimum the outboard should have a forward/neutral gearshift. Some of the smaller hp outboards have direct drive, which are unsafe in my opinion.Also, the centerboard needs to be lowered a few inches when using the motor. The 170 hull form has no keel so the boat tends to sideslip in a cross breeze without the centerboard lowered.

 

[Jatinder Pannu]

H170 Outboard Motor

Based on all the responses I think I am going to look into the Tohatsu 3.5 hp long shaft..I am a bit concerned about the two stroke emissions..however I think in a couple of years (when the EPA regs. come into effect) we will have more choice in four stroke engines.Thanks everyone for the valuable insight.