Thieves, outboards, tears, questions propane 5Hp

[SteveHughessails]

Last week our uninsured shop was broken into. We lost our Mercury 5Hp 4 stroke and our Honda 8 Hp 4 stroke. Sad part, I am very confident I know who did it but I cannot prove it. We even have video of the vehicle exiting the property but we can’t prove they were at/in the shop. I am now at the point where I am blaming myself for not doing a better job of locking the building better or having an alarm. I just didn’t think anyone would do this. Crazy. They actually ripped the locked engines off of their built in wooden stands. Anyways.......

A new engine is needed. I am thinking other than warranty, buying now may prove cheaper than in the spring. I have researched and read a lot about the propane Tohatsu/Mercury 5Hp. There is one for sale locally. I love the idea of it but remain unsure about reliability/fuel issues and parts supply.

There are a few sailors here with them. I’m hoping you will share some of this years experiences with me? We don’t have a lot. This is a very large purchase for us. Thanks

PS our new engine will be mounted in our bedroom chained to my ankle. Grrrrrrr

 

[dlochner]

I am very confident I know who did it but I cannot prove it.

Sorry to hear about the loss. This isn't your job, it's the police department's job to solve the crime.

 

[SteveHughessails]

Appreciate that, I have been told there is nothing they can do. I even found one of the engines on Facebook marketplace. I brought it to their attention; I was told it is no longer listed. I said no it’s listed as sold now. This has not been a good experience. I asked them for a police file number, there isn’t one.

 

[dlochner]

Appreciate that, I have been told there is nothing they can do. I even found one of the engines on Facebook marketplace. I brought it to their attention; I was told it is no longer listed. I said no it’s listed as sold now. This has not been a good experience. I asked them for a police file number, there isn’t one.

I guess it is good to be a crook in BC.

 

[rgranger]

Offer to buy something else being sold by that same FB account holder. Then go meet them to pick it up (invite the cops to come with you).

I had a Tohatsu 6 stollen off of the back of my Hunter 26. I had it chained and locked to the transom and they came in the night and cut it off. Statefarm took almost 8 months to settle the claim. Lost an entire summer of sailing for that one.

 

[SteveHughessails]

I’m really hoping to get some feedback on the propane outboard @patbratton how was your season with it? There is a good deal on a 2020 that’s looks new. I’m a bit mechanically inclined. Adopting a starting process or being patient I’m good with. Any feedback on the propane outboards would be great.

 

[Clutch Cargo]

FYI, from what I know from people in the business, just about any <25Hp outboard, regardless of brand, is made by Tohatsu.

 

[SteveHughessails]

Appreciate that. That is information I too have learned. I guess if they were that bad, there would be a lot of comments.

 

[SteveHughessails]

After a lot of searching and reading, I’m really no better off lol. The general thought is still, “why”. Coupled with hard initial starting. Seems there is a process for starting that the majority accepts as the problem for hard starting. Not bleeding the fuel lines on initial setup. Apparently when you first screw in your propane tank you want to engage a valve on the regulator that removes the air and assists with initial fuel delivery, purge the line.

I would like to move away from gasoline engines. I can not afford to get into an electric one (yet). The propane is very attractive. Perhaps, the propane just came out too soon. During a time when gasoline was plentiful and the use of ethanol was more limited.

I have never had an issue with my gasoline outboards. I use Seafoam and fuel stabilizer ALWAYS. Once we had a fouled plug. We would save a few dollars but not much. We would still need to buy Seafoam and stabilizer for our other engines. We don’t have a slip in a marina. Fuelling the engine is done on the hard. The smell of fuel or exhaust gases have never bothered any of us.

So why, initial lower cost of a used propane Mercury 5Hp that looks new available in my town........... engine would run cleaner, maybe it won’t get stolen.