Who here uses a small outboard on their boat?

[bikerider]

I'm in the market for an outboard for my 12ft tin and am wanting something around 2 or 3 hp. I'm thinking I'd like something air cooled if possible and with the ability to hook up to an auxiliary fuel tank. For those of you who use a small outboard, how do you like it and what do you have?

 

[DaleH]

I'm thinking I'd like something air cooled if possible ...

How's your hearing? Wear ear muffs ... you'll need it ... I find them UNcomfortably :shock: LOUD!

 

[Shaugh]

Yep, those cheap air cooled motors on ebay are like fishing with a chainsaw in the boat.... Find a vintage 3 or 5.5 horse Johnson or Evinrude. They last forever.
https://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/bpo/d/westmont-1958-evinrude-lightwin-3-hp/7142708320.html

 

[Kismet]

Agree completely with 3 hp Evinrude/johnson. Only issue is the possibility of becoming addicted to them.











The three blue are 2 1956's and one 1954. Dunno about the Johnson.

Have fun.

 

[Pappy]

Truly one of the finest small engines ever built in my opinion!
When they are tuned up properly you can put a finger on the flywheel hub near the center and let it rotate with the engine they will idle down so slow!
They are a two cylinder water cooled engine, quiet, dependable, last long enough to hand down to your grand kids.
Most of them do need to be run on a 24:1 mixture but when tuned put out very little smoke.
As has been said, the only problem with them is that you are likely to start collecting them!

Here is a sample of how one should run. Ben does a good no frills job at his videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FFpqjwNEoA

And a 5 1/2?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30SuOmF0gsk

 

[CedarRiverScooter]

You might also consider a trolling motor. Some of them have quite a bit of thrust.

 

[bikerider]

I'm thinking I'd like something air cooled if possible ...

How's your hearing? Wear ear muffs ... you'll need it ... I find them UNcomfortably :shock: LOUD!

Lol. I'm glad I asked about them because I did not consider the noise :mrgreen:

 

[bikerider]

Those vintage outboards are awesome. I will watch the videos when I have a moment.

 

[bikerider]

You might also consider a trolling motor. Some of them have quite a bit of thrust.

I actually have a 27 lb minn kota on the boat now but really would like something that relies on gasoline rather than battery as my other motor. The lakes I fish aren't all that big but it's still nice to get across the lake faster than my current trolling motor when needed.

 

[nytebyte]

If you can run across a little 4 to 6 hp water cooled Johnson or Evinrude You will be happy. Just make sure you use the right oil-gas mix and pas it down to the grandkids.

 

[bikerider]

If you can run across a little 4 to 6 hp water cooled Johnson or Evinrude You will be happy. Just make sure you use the right oil-gas mix and pas it down to the grandkids.

I'd prefer a 4 cycle

 

[ktoelke54]

I’ve had one of the 3.5 Tohatsu 4-strokes. It was excellent. Had a little built in tank, maybe just a little over a quart. It took a long time to run through that much gas, basically a long wide open run. I just put a gallon of spare gas in the boat. You couldn’t burn a gallon in a day if you tried. I was using it on a large square stern canoe. I’ve gone on to larger boats and motors. But if you didn’t need to go faster than 6-8 mph and wanted to keep it simple, that motor was a great choice. It offered reasonable get there speed and was an a wonderful trolling motor. At idle it is very quiet.


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[bikerider]

I’ve had one of the 3.5 Tohatsu 4-strokes. It was excellent. Had a little built in tank, maybe just a little over a quart. It took a long time to run through that much gas, basically a long wide open run. I just put a gallon of spare gas in the boat. You couldn’t burn a gallon in a day if you tried. I was using it on a large square stern canoe. I’ve gone on to larger boats and motors. But if you didn’t need to go faster than 6-8 mph and wanted to keep it simple, that motor was a great choice. It offered reasonable get there speed and was an a wonderful trolling motor. At idle it is very quiet.


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That sounds like exactly what I'm looking for. I'm glad to hear that it was able to troll as well. Is your motor air-cooled or water cooled? I'm just curious.

 

[ktoelke54]

I’ve had one of the 3.5 Tohatsu 4-strokes. It was excellent. Had a little built in tank, maybe just a little over a quart. It took a long time to run through that much gas, basically a long wide open run. I just put a gallon of spare gas in the boat. You couldn’t burn a gallon in a day if you tried. I was using it on a large square stern canoe. I’ve gone on to larger boats and motors. But if you didn’t need to go faster than 6-8 mph and wanted to keep it simple, that motor was a great choice. It offered reasonable get there speed and was an a wonderful trolling motor. At idle it is very quiet.


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That sounds like exactly what I'm looking for. I'm glad to hear that it was able to troll as well. Is your motor air-cooled or water cooled? I'm just curious.

Water cooled


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[bikerider]

I'm looking at a Honda 5hp outboard that is in good shape with low hours on it. It's a long shaft motor. Am I asking for trouble if I get it? The boat it would be going on is a 12 starcraft with seats and other things for fishing.

 

[ktoelke54]

I'm looking at a Honda 5hp outboard that is in good shape with low hours on it. It's a long shaft motor. Am I asking for trouble if I get it? The boat it would be going on is a 12 starcraft with seats and other things for fishing.

Looking for trouble—not if your not exceeding the coast guard recommended max hp. Not if your boat has a long-shaft transom, 20” give or take. You can adapt a long shaft to a 15” transom, but it takes some work and modifications to your boat to get it to work properly.


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[bikerider]

I'm looking at a Honda 5hp outboard that is in good shape with low hours on it. It's a long shaft motor. Am I asking for trouble if I get it? The boat it would be going on is a 12 starcraft with seats and other things for fishing.

Looking for trouble—not if your not exceeding the coast guard recommended max hp. Not if your boat has a long-shaft transom, 20” give or take. You can adapt a long shaft to a 15” transom, but it takes some work and modifications to your boat to get it to work properly.


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I had a feeling that was the case. It's under the max hp rating for the boat (10hp) but I think I will keep my eyes open for a different one.

 

[jethro]

I use a small 6 horse Mercury 4 stroke as a kicker motor on my trolling boat. The only thing I will tell you is this.. if i were to do it again I would get an 8hp minimum since all the 4 strokes smaller than that will be one lungers. Single cylinder motors create far more vibration than a twin. The 6hp shakes my 21' boat pretty good.

 

[bikerider]

I use a small 6 horse Mercury 4 stroke as a kicker motor on my trolling boat. The only thing I will tell you is this.. if i were to do it again I would get an 8hp minimum since all the 4 strokes smaller than that will be one lungers. Single cylinder motors create far more vibration than a twin. The 6hp shakes my 21' boat pretty good.

I did not know that. Thanks for the tip. How do you like the Mercury other than that?

 

[Sinkingfast]

I'd much rather use my 1950"s Martin 40 2 stroke twin over my yamaha 2.5 four stroke. The wifey used to get a wet fanny with the yamaha...vibration was much. Both motors weigh about the same. I have worn out the yamaha 4 stroke in 12 years of use. Should have not sold the Martin and bought the Yami... 18' canoe with left side outrigger. Used the crap outa the Martin since I was a kid. Still is in use.