I want a small o/b for our little inflatable-- just to taxi between anchored boat and the dock or beach. I'm looking at the Honda BF2D 2hp, mostly because of its light weight. I'm looking for pro & con comments from owners of this motor. Also, the literature says it's an air-cooled motor, but a local Honda guy said he thought this motor has a water pump-- he said something about the pump being for exhaust cooling(?). Anybody know if the Honda 2hp really has a water pump? Thanks.
Which outboard for dinghy?
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depends on several things
If you plan on doing some serious cruising... there are places where you may anchor that will leave you out a ways and with a little weather - a too small hp motor may not what you want... not knowing the size or type of inflatable - there are limits there... but usually the more the better... with the tradeoff of weight of the motor... I use my halyard to place the engine on the dingy and rail.... takes two to do it... one to handle the halyard while the other is positioning the motor. Just my thoughts.
If you plan on doing some serious cruising... there are places where you may anchor that will leave you out a ways and with a little weather - a too small hp motor may not what you want... not knowing the size or type of inflatable - there are limits there... but usually the more the better... with the tradeoff of weight of the motor... I use my halyard to place the engine on the dingy and rail.... takes two to do it... one to handle the halyard while the other is positioning the motor. Just my thoughts.
Dinghy Motor
Just purchased the small Mercury inflatable and will be in the market for a outboard. It is my understanding that 2 or 2.5 hp works fine on the small inflatables. Anything else would be a waste of money and weight for my purposes... protected anchor to dock, etc. One recent poster said the Honda 2 hp did not perform as well as the Suzuki 2.5. My experience with Honda products, has been they are pretty much bullet proof. But have not had experience with their new small 4 strokes. Both motors are light, with the Honda being a couple pounds lighter than the Suzuki. Maybe someone else can provide some insight on the Honda/Suzuki performance?
Just purchased the small Mercury inflatable and will be in the market for a outboard. It is my understanding that 2 or 2.5 hp works fine on the small inflatables. Anything else would be a waste of money and weight for my purposes... protected anchor to dock, etc. One recent poster said the Honda 2 hp did not perform as well as the Suzuki 2.5. My experience with Honda products, has been they are pretty much bullet proof. But have not had experience with their new small 4 strokes. Both motors are light, with the Honda being a couple pounds lighter than the Suzuki. Maybe someone else can provide some insight on the Honda/Suzuki performance?
Had one about a year and am happy with it,
use it on an 8.5 ft. roll-up. Not especially fast but enough power to go where you need in a dinghy anyway. Little more engine noise cause it's air cooled. One trick on starting is to pull cord slowly 'till you feel resistance, it's staring compression stroke.Then let the starter rope recoil,and start. This way you start your pull at power stroke & it'll start first time without danger of flooding.
use it on an 8.5 ft. roll-up. Not especially fast but enough power to go where you need in a dinghy anyway. Little more engine noise cause it's air cooled. One trick on starting is to pull cord slowly 'till you feel resistance, it's staring compression stroke.Then let the starter rope recoil,and start. This way you start your pull at power stroke & it'll start first time without danger of flooding.
Honda
the 2-hp Honda does have a water pump, but it's only for the exhaust. I used to have one, but if I were you, I'd go for a two-stroke. No oil to change, no worries about laying it on it side, lighter weight. Modern two-strokes are much better than they used to be and if you don't plan to take it onto an inland lake, you shouldn't have any problems.
the 2-hp Honda does have a water pump, but it's only for the exhaust. I used to have one, but if I were you, I'd go for a two-stroke. No oil to change, no worries about laying it on it side, lighter weight. Modern two-strokes are much better than they used to be and if you don't plan to take it onto an inland lake, you shouldn't have any problems.
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