Anybody have experience with small outboard motors for small boats?

[Sulaco]

So I have a 10 foot, 2 person fishing "pontoon" I take out with my brother and occasionally the gf for fishing locally.

Over the past several years, we've just used a 55lb thrust MinnKota trolling motor for getting around. It works well enough, but you're not getting anywhere in a hurry. And on windy/choppy days...forget about it, it's a struggle to get upriver at all. Not to mention the deep cycle marine battery required is upwards of 60lbs. Just a hassle, and more weight in an already encumbered boat. My brother is a big guy (260+lbs), I'm about 150, ~60lbs for the battery, 25 for the trolling motor, and another 10 or so for our fishing stuff.

So we're looking at a small outboard. Something in the 3.5-5hp range, or around $1,000 tops. Anything bigger is too much for the boat. Only problem is, I have little to no experience with them.

I'm in central Ohio, so not much in the way of boat/motor dealers around here, unless I go all the way up to Cleveland (Lake Erie), and I'd rather avoid that.

Currently, the front runner is this 3.5hp Tohatsu for just under $1,000.

I'm leaning towards the Tohatsu over a Coleman in the same price range (since Coleman's apparently rebadged Chinese motors), and a Mercury, which is about $150 more, with a number of bad reviews.

But does anybody have any experience with smaller outboards, brands, and what to expect/general advice?

Thanks!

 

[DrPizza]

Picture of your 2 man pontoon? If I had to guess, I would have guessed that something of a 2-man size would require more like a 9.9hp motor.

 

[Sulaco]

*NOT MY PICTURE*

...but it's this:

Boat itself weighs about 150 pounds, and lists a 3.5hp max it supports.

We're not looking to do any wake boarding, but something more capable and efficient than the poor trolling motor.

 

[BoomerD]

No personal experience with this outboard, but if the Merc is as bad as you say, (they used to be one of the best on the market...but times change) then this is what I'd be looking at:

http://marine.honda.com/outboards/motor-detail/BF2.3

http://www.defender.com/pdf/honda-23-sellsheet.pdf

http://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?path=-1|215570|1794283|1794305&id=2582905

http://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?path=-1|215570|1794283|1794305&id=2582879

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|215570|1794283|1794305&id=2343006

As much as I dislike Honda cars...and drivers, their small engines are usually top notch.

 

[EliteRetard]

I'm confused, you can buy a 5hp blender for a few hundred...but cant get boat motor over 4hp for a thousand?

 

[feralkid]

I've never owned a Tohatsu, but see plenty of them on the locals skiffs, Pangas and dinghys, so they must have their following.

As for personal experience, I've never had an issue with anything that says Nissan or Honda on it. Ultra smooth and refined, but most importantly, Reliable.

 

[feralkid]

I'm confused, you can buy a 5hp blender for a few hundred...but cant get boat motor over 4hp for a thousand?

Try buying the 5 actual Horses...why should they cost more than a blender or an outboard motor?

 

[RGUN]

Tohatsu has been coming on strong for the past decade around where we are. You will find with research that they produce many other manufacturers small outboards (Mercury, Evinrude) and in fact to the above poster produce ALL Nissan outboards.

Not much to do on a modern 4 stroke outboard. Will you have to winterize it?

 

[Blackjack200]

Try buying the 5 actual Horses...why should they cost more than a blender or an outboard motor?

No, I think he's on the right track, just need to rig a prop onto the blender motor and figure out how to wire an electrical outlet into the boat.

 

[Sulaco]

No personal experience with this outboard, but if the Merc is as bad as you say, (they used to be one of the best on the market...but times change) then this is what I'd be looking at:

http://marine.honda.com/outboards/motor-detail/BF2.3

http://www.defender.com/pdf/honda-23-sellsheet.pdf

http://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?path=-1|215570|1794283|1794305&id=2582905

http://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?path=-1|215570|1794283|1794305&id=2582879

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|215570|1794283|1794305&id=2343006

As much as I dislike Honda cars...and drivers, their small engines are usually top notch.

Good links and thanks for the info.

That Honda does indeed look nice, and I'm looking for reliability above all else, so I know Honda would be perfect for that. But it's a touch down on HP for the same price as the Tohatsu.

So I decided to go with the Tohatsu, seems to be the best of all worlds from a reliability, power, and weight standpoint.

Thanks again for the input though.

 

[Scarpozzi]

The boat itself probably has a label on it telling you the max hp and weight. That will narrow down what you can get. Coleman sells a line of small outboards at a lot of retailers...but there are many other companies that do too like Honda and some more Chinese/Korean sounding names. (I've seen some weird ones)

Coleman outboards are probably about the cheapest and there are 4 stroke outboards for $750-1000 on the market if you look around.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cole...tAds&WT.z_mc_id1=03148041&rid=20#productChart

 

[EliteRetard]

No, I think he's on the right track, just need to rig a prop onto the blender motor and figure out how to wire an electrical outlet into the boat.

If it can be done with an 18v drill then why not a 120v 5hp commercial blender?

Obviously there's a transformer and such inside to run the DC motor...once you take it apart you should be able to figure out how to power it cordless. :twisted:

 

[ControlD]

I use a 9.9HP motor on our 14 foot aluminum rowboat and I would not want to go any smaller. For something lighter you can probably get away with less, but I wouldn't go too small. I think 3.5HP is going to leave you wanting more.

 

[EliteRetard]

Seriously though, you can get 5hp blade/string trimmer mowers less than $500 new. Why wouldn't one of those work on a small boat?

You can even buy some of just the motors for cheap, like this one:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_575032-1790...496-1479-4bd5-8255-cd3034a58442&kpid=50119725 190cc 28lbs ~7ft/lbs (~4.5hp) 170$

Or

http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay...gId=10051&cmRelshp=req&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1 250cc 42lbs ~12ft/lbs (6.5-8 hp) $290

Or

http://sleequipment.com/briggs-20s2...FUZffgodBmkArA#product_tabs_additional_tabbed 305cc ~15ft/lbs (8-10 hp) $450

 

[Scarpozzi]

Seriously though, you can get 5hp blade/string trimmer mowers less than $500 new. Why wouldn't one of those work on a small boat?

You can even buy some of just the motors for cheap, like this one:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_575032-1790...496-1479-4bd5-8255-cd3034a58442&kpid=50119725 190cc 28lbs ~7ft/lbs

Or

http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay...gId=10051&cmRelshp=req&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1 250cc 42lbs ~12ft/lbs

Longevity and resale is the answer. A good outboard will give you years or use and have a resale value when you're ready to get something else. Outboards are water cooled and rated to be in or around water constantly. The metals used for bolts and washers are usually aluminum instead of steel....thus no rust. If you use yard equipment for marine use, you'll likely go through a lot of motors.

 

[EliteRetard]

Longevity and resale is the answer. A good outboard will give you years or use and have a resale value when you're ready to get something else. Outboards are water cooled and rated to be in or around water constantly. The metals used for bolts and washers are usually aluminum instead of steel....thus no rust. If you use yard equipment for marine use, you'll likely go through a lot of motors.

Will a $1k 3.5hp boat motor last 5 times longer than a $200 4.5hp lawn motor? Couldn't some of the saving go towards additional protection (like a cover) and/or maintenance? Or just simply replacement, when it is that cheap.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I dont know boats/motors much, at my grandmas house we have a 14 foot deep v aluminacraft (about 300 pounds or so) with an 8 horse 80s model evinrude. The engine weighs well over 100 pounds, (much much heavier than the deep cycle marine battery my uncle uses for his trolling motor) . My grandpas old 50s era evinrude is in the garage and hasnt been in the water as long back as I can remember.

Anyhow, the 8 horse will get the boat moving around 5-9 knots depending on waves, wind, and current.

In a kayak or canoe, when I was in better shape, my brother and I could almost match the speed in a sprint...

 

[Sulaco]

Will a $1k 3.5hp boat motor last 5 times longer than a $200 4.5hp lawn motor? Couldn't some of the saving go towards additional protection (like a cover) and/or maintenance? Or just simply replacement, when it is that cheap.

Please stop posting drivel. This was a serious thread seeking serious advice from whoever may have actual experience regarding outboard motors, not a childish sounding board for ignoramuses to ask why not just rig up something else from an entirely different application ala Tim Taylor on Tool Time.

Tohatsu has been coming on strong for the past decade around where we are. You will find with research that they produce many other manufacturers small outboards (Mercury, Evinrude) and in fact to the above poster produce ALL Nissan outboards.

Not much to do on a modern 4 stroke outboard. Will you have to winterize it?

Well the motor will be pulled off the boat come fall and placed in my (heated/air conditioned, temperature controlled) basement.
I plan to purchase a cover for it while it's attached to the boat.

 

[RGUN]

Please stop posting drivel. This was a serious thread seeking serious advice from whoever may have actual experience regarding outboard motors, not a childish sounding board for ignoramuses to ask why not just rig up something else from an entirely different application ala Tim Taylor on Tool Time.



Well the motor will be pulled off the boat come fall and placed in my (heated/air conditioned, temperature controlled) basement.
I plan to purchase a cover for it while it's attached to the boat.

Sounds like an ideal scenario. Stick to one of the name brands and have fun! I'm going to assume many of the other posters didn't actually read your posts but I would tend to conform to the capacity plate in terms of max HP. It doesn't look like a planing hull anyway so more power won't really help.

 

[deadken]

A co-worker just bought a Propane outboard motor for his sailboat dinghy. He said that he didn't want to have to deal with carrying gasoline around (his sailboat has a diesel engine).
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Lehr...=GoogleProductAds&WT.z_mc_id1=03649016&rid=20

 

[BrokenVisage]

Yes I'm familiar with motor-boating.

 

[Sulaco]

A co-worker just bought a Propane outboard motor for his sailboat dinghy. He said that he didn't want to have to deal with carrying gasoline around (his sailboat has a diesel engine).
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Lehr...=GoogleProductAds&WT.z_mc_id1=03649016&rid=20

Very interesting.

I've heard of Lehr, but know little of propane motors. Sadly though, it looks like the $1,000 model is sold out everywhere, and the next model up (5hp) is around $1700 everywhere.

 

[Meghan54]

First, nice puddle jumper, Sulaco. I had something exactly the same back in the early 1990's, was a Bass Hunter brand. Did the same thing you're going to do, trolling motor on front, gas motor on back. I went with a Merc. 3.5hp, but 2 stroke. I'd think you may be better off looking for a good used "something" in a 2 stroke. Lighter, more power off idle, and cheaper. You just have to look around. A good choice might be an older Evinrude 4hp twin. Almost cannot kill those.

If you decide to go used, let me know. There are just a couple of things you need to check before buying, but you'd be looking at the equivalent of an anvil with an older low hp 2 stroke.

Also Sulaco, understand that Tohatsu builds all of Mercury's small outboards and has done that for maybe 35 years now. Tohatsu builds for Mercury, Evinrude, Nissan and themselves....and they're all pretty much identical no matter the brand name on the engine cover.

As an FYI, Tohatsu Corporation began building outboards in 1956, when it introduced its 1.5-horsepower OB-2 model. In 1987, Mercury Marine and Tohatsu Corporation created a joint venture called Tohatsu Marine Corporation (TMC) to manufacture smaller outboards. Right now all Mercury models 30 horsepower and less are manufactured by TMC in Japan.

 

[jagec]

For things with engines, I usually go with Japanese brands, which I buy used on craigslist. You usually want to change the fluids, but then they run perfect for years.