Considering SMALLER motor

boatrboy

boatrboy

Well-Known Member
Oct 3, 2006
1,861
Orange, CT
Boat Info
2006 340 Sundancer
Engines
Twin 8.1 Horizons with V-Drives
I have a 240 air deck with Weaver davits. I have a 2 stroke 4 hp mercury (around 1988) with a 3 gallon external tank. I never put gas in the motor mounted gas tank. I keep the motor half under the stern seat and the gas tank in the transom locker. The motor weighs something like 44 lbs. Its a bit of a pain in the a$$ to mount, especially for short trips/stays. I love using the dingy, but would use it more with a easier/smaller motor.

I am looking at a 3.5 hp nissan which is 27 lbs and much skinnier than my motor and may even fit completely under the stern seat (10.5" high clearance). This motor looks like the mercury 3.3 hp motor, which is another possibility. The 4 strokes are out of consideration in my book.

So.. any opinions on the smaller hp? will I really notice the much difference?

Thanks,

Mark
 
Stick with the merc, Keep your money from going to japan.
 
Beer Thirty said:
Stick with the merc, Keep your money from going to japan.
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I don't want to burst your patriotic bubble, but, I believe the Newer Smaller Mercs, Tohatsus and Nissans are all the same motor, but with different badging.

4-stroke-out-board-motor-4-hp-46596.jpg

4-stroke-out-board-motor-4-hp-135692.jpg

nissan_4hp_four-stroke_outboard_motor.jpg
 
I have a 255 hp engine in my dink. Power is adequate. Made in Canada. Canada is OK.
 
sfergson727 said:
I used to use a 2.5 hp 2 stroke on my 310 Airdeck when I traveled. The bonus of easy storage for the engine was certainly worth the lack of performance. Most of the putting around in the dingy is in no wake zones anyway.

The only time it nearly bit me in the butt, was when I went out to explore a ship wreck on South Manitou Island. It took so long to get there, I assumed that I must have gone halfway around the island, so rather than turn back, I continued on around. Some six hours later I made it back to my boat, with about 6 ounces of gas remaining from the 3 gallons I started with.

I found a six horsepower engine that fits in my transom locker, and sold the 2.5 hp several years ago.
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So did the 2.5 hp have the capabilities to have an external tank? I was cautioned by someone that some of the smaller engines don't have a fuel pump so to speak and can't pull the gas from remote tanks. I have not checked this out yet so I don't know if it's a fact....

BTW - Gas only - no electric motors for me:)

A website I checked said that Nissan and Tohastu are the same. I only assumed that since the merc looked identical, that they are also made by the same people.
 
Nehalennia said:
I don't want to burst your patriotic bubble, but, I believe the Newer Smaller Mercs, Tohatsus and Nissans are all the same motor, but with different badging.
Click to expand...

**sticking fingers over ears** "LALALALALALALALALALA" I can't hear you! :grin:
 
Beer Thirty said:
**sticking fingers over ears** "LALALALALALALALALALA" I can't hear you! :grin:
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I understand. After I learned that I looked at all of them closely. It's true they look identical except for the cover on the Merc.
 
Small Merc's and Nissans are made by Tohatsu. They are all great outboards. I too am looking for a smaller outboard for easier storage and to make it easier to remove/install from the dink. I've been considering the 2hp honda since its very light and air cooled, = no maint. It looks like most of the smaller outboards don't have twist throttle though, many have a lever on the engine itself which could be aggravating. Also, some smaller outboards don't have a neutral. IMO, thats not very safe, especially when my 10yr old will be using it.

Scott, what kind of 6hp fits in the 340's transom locker? Whats it weigh?

Anyone have any thoughts on Johnson's? I found a nearly new 3.5 Johnson at only 30lbs for $350 but I've never like Bombardier products. Sorry Frank, but your 255 horse dink is the same junk as my 255 horse Sea Doo'nt. Piece of crap.
SB
 
There are French people in Canada. Worse than Japanese ;-)
Johnson is Canadian too (Bombadier bought Evinrude/Johnson several years back).

Is anything made here anymore?

Oh yeah, my Subaru was made in Indiana!

I think Nikon and Canon cameras and lenses are made in Korea.
 
Newbie said:
I too am looking for a smaller outboard for easier storage and to make it easier to remove/install from the dink. I've been considering the 2hp honda since its very light and air cooled, = no maint. It looks like most of the smaller outboards don't have twist throttle though, many have a lever on the engine itself which could be aggravating. Also, some smaller outboards don't have a neutral. IMO, thats not very safe, especially when my 10yr old will be using it.
Click to expand...

I have the 2HP Honda and its works very well. I don't use the tiller and instead steer with the small handle on the back and the throttle is then very convenient to use.

Mine doesn't have a clutch (2006 model) and that is definitely a bit treacherous. All the newer 2HP Hondas have the centrifugal clutch.
 
Newbie said:
Sorry Frank, but your 255 horse dink is the same junk as my 255 horse Sea Doo'nt. Piece of crap.
SB
Click to expand...

The Sea Doo seems to be working OK for me. Now Polaris, there was a piece of crap.

Best regards,
Frank C
 
I have the 2.5hp merc 4 stroke. Still kind of a PITA to put anywhere cause the tank is in the housing so it's still pretty big. If you are using it to putt around, it's fine, but don't expect to go anywhere fast. For what I have been using it for, it's been good. But I bet a 6hp would make my little dink go.
 
I just bought a new Tohatsu 4HP over the weekend from Defender. Anything smaller than HP would not allow for an external tank. Weight for the 4HP is 56 Lbs. And yes I was told that the Mercs and Tohatso are exactly the same internally and built at the same factory.
 
Boatrboy
I sold my 2003 Achilles/2006 Nissan 3.5hp 2 stroke combo last year. The 3.5hp is super-light-weight. I think it was published 37lbs but don't hold me to that. Very easy to maneuver around and lug. Was not enough power for my hypalon achilles 9'6" with aluminum roll-up floor, though. I could plane in it when I was alone but even with my 11yo daughter it couldnt cut it. If you dont mind chugging along it's fine. I WISHED I had a 6-8hp but I didn't want to deal with that kind of weight so I sold the whole package on ebay.
 
rondds said:
Was not enough power for my hypalon achilles 9'6" with aluminum roll-up floor, though. I could plane in it when I was alone but even with my 11yo daughter it couldnt cut it. If you dont mind chugging along it's fine. I WISHED I had a 6-8hp but I didn't want to deal with that kind of weight so I sold the whole package on ebay.
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Rondds,
Thanks for the feedback. I have a 240 pvc with an airfloor. I plane with my 4 hp alone, which is alot of fun. But, currently with my wife, we don't even come close to planing. We can motor thru wakes, etc but never on plane. So I was thinking, if I can't plane anyway, why not just get the lighter 3.5 hp (28 lbs per their spec) and use it more. I have weaver davits and it is really easy to drop it down and get it ready, but mounting the current 4 hp motor in a small chop can be a chore. After reading your reply, I am very hopeful that my smaller, air floor model will produce slightly better results than what you experienced.

BTW - Was the Nissan dependable?
 
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Boatr
With a PVC airfloor 240 you should fly pretty good. I put my engine on a busted up old west marine 9' pvc and we planed with me and near adult sized 14 year old. You should be fine. Another reason for selling my hypalon was weight. That thing was a beast compared to my buddies' 270 Quicksilver and another's West Marine (not the busted up one). One person can carry their dink, mine required two. I bought hypalon for durability but the weight was KILLER.

I only used the Nissan for two seasons but I had no problems with it. Maybe I put 8 hours on it. Very nice motor and having neutral was a nice feature - not having reverse was fine. I'd just spin the motor 180 degrees around. I also liked the two stroke not just b/c of light weight but also b/c you could store it any which way and not worry about motor oil getting into parts it ain't supposed to go. Since two strokes are no longer made, you'll have to find a used one or maybe a leftover.
 
Thanks Rondds - I have been looking at used motors. I bought my merc for around 200 bucks a few years ago and had to replace the shifter, brgs and water pump, so used doesn't bother me. I am hoping I could fit this unit underneath my stern seat which is 10.5 inches tall. My merc took up most of the deck in front of the seat.

I hope I can find one cheap :)

Another question - did you just carry a standard small gas tank on the dink? How did you keep it from spilling when filling the motor on the water?
 
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