Small outboards

[Pirate Lady]

I swear these small outboards will be death of me. Had a Coleman 2.6 in 2020-2021. At first it was great, then decided to start when it felt like it. Got tired of twice rowing home when it quit on me.
So in 2022 in sold it, bought new Suzuki 2.5. It was fabulous all of 2022. I didn’t have much time to use it this summer but it ran fine. 2 weeks ago, spent a couple hours on the river.
Bring it home for winter, yesterday i put it in a trash can of water to flush before it comes in the house for the winter.
Absolutely refuses to start, has fresh gas, spark plug clean. This morning I took to the outboard shop at my marina.
This will be a $100+ bill.

 

[carterchapman]

Small outboards are like small lawnmowers - PITA!

 

[bobeast]

Ive not had luck with small outboards these last 4 years, got half a mind to sell both the Zodiac and Suzuki. But I dont make quick decisions so will wait til spring. My life motto has always been ‘when in doubt do nothing’.
Besides, the wife is retiring in December, and I might need this as my escape pod next summer.

Do you run all the gas out of the carb before you put it away?

 

[KevinC]

Small outboards are like small lawnmowers - PITA!

That's exactly why I am looking at the small electric outboard motors. A friend has one and for an inflatable dingy works great. Just turns on an goes - plus quite as can be. Still a bit pricey in comparison though.

-Kevin

 

[techmitch]

I thought about that this morning. Problem for me is, i ain’t hauling a 60 pound battery onto my soft bottom zodiac to run down the river for a morning of fishing or tiki bar drinking.
When they make a self contained battery like self contained fuel tanks, maybe.

Here ya go.

Travel – Electric outboard up to 3 HP – Torqeedo

Travel - For tenders, dinghies and daysailers up to 1.5 tons. At 3 HP, the clean alternative to a small petrol outboard.

www.torqeedo.com

 

[bobeast]

Funny you mention that! Always. Every single time. Except…. After i ran it down the river 2 weeks ago. But I always use no-ethanol gas so it shouldn’t be a problem after 2 weeks.

well, you know....Occam's razor Besides, I recall hearing the 'run-it-out' advice long before ethanol was in the picture. Damn, I'm getting old.

 

[Scott215]

Just hang a jet ski on the back and call it done

 

[KevinC]

I thought about that this morning. Problem for me is, i ain’t hauling a 60 pound battery onto my soft bottom zodiac to run down the river for a morning of fishing or tiki bar drinking.
When they make a self contained battery like self contained fuel tanks, maybe.

I think this was the model my friend had. Super light, battery separates (can have a spare) and will float if dropped in water. Price is the only consideration or I would have one. Personally for my use I would probably get a cheaper dinghy and get the electric.

For me another big plus is not handling and carrying fuel. This unit is clean and with a wash down on the swim platform I can store it in my cabin without worries of spills or vapor smells.

Spirit 1.0 Evo Electric Outboard Motor

The industry-first hydrogeneration capability Spirit 1.0 Evo 3HP 1kW Electric Outboard Motor 1276 Wh Direct-Drive Hydrogeneration Spirit 1.0 Evo Made for Sailing Spirit 1.0 Evo

www.epropulsion.com

-Kevin

 

[carterchapman]

I often hear about Ocam. I prefer Gillette. Who this Ocam guy?

I'll sucker for your question...

Ockham's razor

Occam's razor - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

The razor's statement that "other things being equal, simpler explanations are generally better than more complex ones"

 

[b_arrington]

I know you said you're using enthanol-free gas, but you might also want to be sure you're using at least mid-grade (89 or up) octane. I got that advice when I was getting my outboard repair certification. Gas looses octane over time and a higher start point will help with performance.

Carburators are real finicky in those small engines. I got tired of rebuilding the carb in my 15 hp Evinrude and traded for a Mercury EFI outboard. There are certain things I miss about the Evinrude, but not the finicky starting and idle issues.

 

[b_arrington]

I just got a nice kick in the balls from my marina. They are replacing the lift racks with floating dinghy storages. $600.
In the 4 years I've had mine, it went up insane. $75, $150, $250, $600.
Yet the boat slips have remained the same. Looks like I will be selling it come spring. Gonna think it over, but dam, $600 for a dinghy. The boat slip is only $1800. $250 to $600 increase is absurd.

You think that’s a kick in the balls? That’s nothing.

New ownership at my marina raised my slip rates 156% from about $110/foot to $250 foot. Same slip. Last year my slip was $4000. This year it will be over $10,000 with sales tax. This is for a slip that sits in the mud at low tide.

The new owners basically said, we know there’s a 10-15 year wait for town slips so pay up or fuck off.

 

[techmitch]

Hoooly fark Batman!!! I can’t imagine. Holy farkin wow. Id have to find a new hobby.
Wife told me its only $350 more than last year and be easier to get on/off than the crank rack, so i will probably just pay it.

What are they going to do with the crank rack?

 

[Pirate Lady]

I don’t know, about half way through last summer it would not go down. Got stuck, cable went slack. I couldn’t launch. Then wife had car wreck which kaboshed our boating season.
If you want i can see what he intends to do with it and if he gonna scrap i can try to hold for you.
Im sure it can be fixed, i honestly think this is his way of jacking up the price.
Probably be a couple months before i can get an answer. Will let you know as soon as i can.
Couple years ago when price went from $150 to $250, i questioned the increase. He said oh i can $600 for these. So now he moves 2 floating docks from behind his house that he already had to the marina, says racks are broke, pay $600. He already had these MFs. Not like they cost him a dime. Its not so much the money as the bs.
As said in Josey Wales, dont piss on my head and tell me it’s raining.

 

[Blueone]

I just got a nice kick in the balls from my marina. They are replacing the lift racks with floating dinghy storages. $600.
In the 4 years I've had mine, it went up insane. $75, $150, $250, $600.
Yet the boat slips have remained the same. Looks like I will be selling it come spring. Gonna think it over, but dam, $600 for a dinghy. The boat slip is only $1800. $250 to $600 increase is absurd.

If they are using jet ski floating docks they suck.... there is not enough room between you and the next guy....you are all rubbing together.... I pay $600 to rent a jet ski dock.... my slip is below average for my size boat....if you add the two together you can kinda get your head around it