Any Recommendations For A New 4 Hp Outboard. I'm Looking For Dependability And Ease Of Starting. All Opinions Are Welcome.
New 4 Hp Outboard
- Thread starter gjaffess
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We bought a new 3 1/2 HP Tohatsu last year that we are very happy with. We wanted a long shaft so that we could use it as a backup for the Mac and that was the smallest I could find in a long shaft. It is 40# so enough lighter that it makes a big difference compared to the 60# Nissan 5 HP (4 HP and 6 HP are same weight) that it replaced.
Starts right up and so far no problems. I started it a couple weeks ago in a barrel after it had sat since last June and It started 1st or 2nd pull. On the gas issue that is being talked about on the other thread so far we have only run non-ethanol gas which we were able to find in marinas in Florida without too much problem.
We bought the 3 1/2 HP and our 9.8 HP Tohatsu from onlineoutboards...
http://www.onlineoutboards.com/
.... with no problems and would use them again. It is really quiet and we have noticed people on docks mentioning that as we went in past them.
I don't think you would notice much difference between a 3 1/2 HP and 4 HP and the 3 1/2 comes in a short shaft also. Tohatsu has the 4 HP, but it is 60 lbs. Our Nissan 5 HP is a Tohatsu and is also a good outboard, but it was just getting too heavy to put in and out of the dinghy. The 9.8 extra-long shaft has also been a great outboard to this point,
Sum
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I've had small Tohatsu, Honda, and Yamaha outboards and liked the Tohatsu the least of the group. If you ever need to store the outboard on it's side, make sure it doesn't have an integral fuel tank.
Regardless, the key to outboard "dependability and starting" in Massachusetts (and most of the East Coast) is knowing that your gas will have ethanol. I'm on the way north on the ICW. As I get to the last non-ethanol state (North Carolina), I will fill several jerry jugs of with non-ethanol gas for the dinghy.
With ethanol fuel, I use the following rules -
I always put one of the "preservers" in.
I installed an external fuel filter/water separator in the fuel hose
After 30 days I dump any left over gas into my car and buy fresh. To make this easy, I have several one gallon (e.g. small) jerry jugs. I try to never put more than a few weeks of fuel in the outboard tank and have spare fuel in the jerry jugs that can go in the car.
Note that running the engine out of gas at the end of the day doesn't really work since almost all of these engines leave some gas in the lines and bowls.
Carl
Regardless, the key to outboard "dependability and starting" in Massachusetts (and most of the East Coast) is knowing that your gas will have ethanol. I'm on the way north on the ICW. As I get to the last non-ethanol state (North Carolina), I will fill several jerry jugs of with non-ethanol gas for the dinghy.
With ethanol fuel, I use the following rules -
I always put one of the "preservers" in.
I installed an external fuel filter/water separator in the fuel hose
After 30 days I dump any left over gas into my car and buy fresh. To make this easy, I have several one gallon (e.g. small) jerry jugs. I try to never put more than a few weeks of fuel in the outboard tank and have spare fuel in the jerry jugs that can go in the car.
Note that running the engine out of gas at the end of the day doesn't really work since almost all of these engines leave some gas in the lines and bowls.
Carl
I know some will mock this, but if you are looking for dependability and ease of use in an outboard that size; search around for a nice used British Seagull. Simplicity at it's finest, will last a lifetime and powerful enough to push a barge.
Cheers,
Brad
Cheers,
Brad
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I'm not laughing, that is cool
,Sum
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Brad, I have an owners manual for a Seagull around here somewhere. Want it?
If you have a Seagull that is.
I have a Briggs and Stratton O.B. which retails for half the price of the Tohatsu engine.
http://www.marine-outboards.com/Briggs_Stratton_Outboards/Briggs_Stratton_5HP_Outboard.htm
They are 4-stroke so there is no oil/gas mixing, and they are air cooled instead of water cooled. There are pros and cons to the air cooled option. First, they are louder than other 4-stroke engines (that is the con) but there is no impeller to go bad on you, no worries about sucking up muck in shallow water etc (the pros). They are also very efficient on gas. I have motored for 7 hours at 3/4 throttle at a boat speed of 6 mph and only burned 2 gallons of gas.
They are not rated for salt water but... I use mine in salt water all of the time. Mine is three seasons old and shows no ill effects from the salt. I'm very careful to rinse it off with fresh water as soon as I pull my boat from the water and I touch up any spots with black rustoleum that get scratched. So far so good....
I'll pull the chord once with the choke then she starts on the second pull every time.
If you want too, you can read reviews on Duck Works and on the Bass Pro site. Both sites give the motor great reviews.
http://www.marine-outboards.com/Briggs_Stratton_Outboards/Briggs_Stratton_5HP_Outboard.htm
They are 4-stroke so there is no oil/gas mixing, and they are air cooled instead of water cooled. There are pros and cons to the air cooled option. First, they are louder than other 4-stroke engines (that is the con) but there is no impeller to go bad on you, no worries about sucking up muck in shallow water etc (the pros). They are also very efficient on gas. I have motored for 7 hours at 3/4 throttle at a boat speed of 6 mph and only burned 2 gallons of gas.
They are not rated for salt water but... I use mine in salt water all of the time. Mine is three seasons old and shows no ill effects from the salt. I'm very careful to rinse it off with fresh water as soon as I pull my boat from the water and I touch up any spots with black rustoleum that get scratched. So far so good....
I'll pull the chord once with the choke then she starts on the second pull every time.
If you want too, you can read reviews on Duck Works and on the Bass Pro site. Both sites give the motor great reviews.
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Mercury, Nissan and now it looks like Evinrude also ..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tohatsu
...for the small outboards,
Sum
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Tohatsu is the next to the oldest manuafacturer of small engines behind Britsh Seagull if they are still in buisness. The biggest problem with Britsih Seagull is finding dealers (if still in buisness) and parts.
Tohatsu also makes the small Nissan and Mercury engines as well as many parts for other manufacturers.
Gas is an oil by product and will coagualte over a period of time if left for example in the carburetor. It will clogg the fine jets/ports making it hard to start small outboards. I have always told everyone to let the fuel run out of the carburetor everytime you use the engine. I have seen engines last up to 8-9 years without being serviced.
Now with ethanol or corn byproduct, it really affects the gas. You can get the additives for this which will resolve that but do check what works well. Again run the gas out of the carb everytime and the suggestion to get rid of the gas in a car on a reguarlay basis is good. I would buy the gas from a gas station vs. marine gas as it is more costly but if it is straight gas, then buy that.
Tohatsu also makes the small Nissan and Mercury engines as well as many parts for other manufacturers.
Gas is an oil by product and will coagualte over a period of time if left for example in the carburetor. It will clogg the fine jets/ports making it hard to start small outboards. I have always told everyone to let the fuel run out of the carburetor everytime you use the engine. I have seen engines last up to 8-9 years without being serviced.
Now with ethanol or corn byproduct, it really affects the gas. You can get the additives for this which will resolve that but do check what works well. Again run the gas out of the carb everytime and the suggestion to get rid of the gas in a car on a reguarlay basis is good. I would buy the gas from a gas station vs. marine gas as it is more costly but if it is straight gas, then buy that.
I agree and think that is a waste of time if you are using the outboard daily or close to it. I will do that at the end of a trip though.
Also most carbs have a drain screw at the base of the bowl that is easy to remove and it will then empty the carb completely. I run the engine until it quits and then remove the screw to get the last remaining gas out,
Sum
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