What make of outboard would you recommend?

B

Bob M

New Member
Jan 21, 2006
90
North Attleboro, MA
Boat Info
320 Sundancer
Engines
350/300 HP Horizons V-Drives
I'm planning on purchasing a new outboard for my inflatable. I'm considering Yamaha, Mercury, and Suzuki. I want a lighter outboard so I will probably buy a 4-6 HP outboard. The Suzuki 4 and 6 HP weighs 55 lbs. The Yamaha 4 HP weighs 48 lbs. I believe a Merc 5 HP is around 59 lbs. I'm tired of lugging my 9.9 Merc around at 78 lbs. It would be nice to have a lighter motor.

What do you think I should purchase?
 
I would roll with the Yamaha. They seem to be the quietest and most reliable outboard on the market right now in my opinion.

Doug
 
I have a 3.5 HP Tohatsu. 41 LBS. So far so good (year number three).
 
I use the inflatable to just get around an anchorage or to get from the boat to the beach or dock......not for pulling water toys etc.

I chose the 2hp Honda for many of the reasons you cite.......weight =26 lbs, its air cooled so there is no flushing required, it is a 4 stroke so there is no need to mix oil and gas. It is simple, rudimentary, no bells and whistles........and bullet proof.
 
I have a tohotsu 6 hp 4 stroke. It weighs about 55 lbs and is still a PITA. The 6 HP on my 9'6" achilles will get her up on plane with myself and child at about 20 mph, but where am i going? It was fun for the 1st day but will never use the dink like that again. With that said, if it is a ship to shore boat, go with franks suggestions of a 2 HP, smallest motor. I will be there soon as well.

Frank - What size dink do you have with the 2 HP?
 
I have a suzuki 6hp - I belive its an '06 - It works great and is for sale - PM me if interested - I live in western MA and keep boat in RI
 
I just got a Yamaha 40 HP, it is definitely quiet. So far no problems, but its not even broken in yet. When searching, it seemed to get good reviews.
 
I do know that a lot of the smaller outboards are made by tohatsu and then re-labled as a merc or yamaha. I would check to see if the merc 5 and yamaha 4 you're looking at are made by tohatsu, i'm not sure. If so, go with whichever is cheaper.

I recently bought a new in box 3.5 4s merc for $600 including a 3 yr warranty. It has been a great little motor and at only 41lbs, easy to move around. I think the dealer I bought it from has one left if your interested...
 
Newbie said:
I do know that a lot of the smaller outboards are made by tohatsu and then re-labled as a merc or yamaha. ...
Click to expand...

When I bought my 2 stroke Merc 5HP a few years back, I was told that the smaller Tohatsu, Nissan and Mercs are all manufactured by Tohatsu......don't know the definition of smaller.....but surely in the size that a typical dink would use.
 
Time was getting short. I purchased a Yamaha 4HP 4-stroke. It was mainly the weight (45 lbs) that convinced me to buy it. My 9.9 weighs 78 pounds so lugging a 45 pounder around will seem like nothing. Hopefully, it will fit in the stern compartment (trunk). I will fetch it next week when it arrives. Three year warranty and the dealer I bought it from is only 15 minutes from my home, in case I need service.

I'm bringing my dinghy down to the boat today to check the alighment re Weaver Davits. If things look good, I will install them today.
 
I tried to put my son's 5HP Merc in the "trunk" yesterday. It wouldn't fit. The shift lever was hitting. I'm hoping the Yamaha is only an inch or so less wide and I should be good to go.

Those of you who store their small outboards in the "trunk", do you drain the gas from the built in tank before putting it in the trunk? If I make sure the gas vent is closed and the gas cap is tight, will that make it leak-proof?
 
Bob M said:
Time was getting short. I purchased a Yamaha 4HP 4-stroke. It was mainly the weight (45 lbs) that convinced me to buy it. My 9.9 weighs 78 pounds so lugging a 45 pounder around will seem like nothing. Hopefully, it will fit in the stern compartment (trunk). I will fetch it next week when it arrives. Three year warranty and the dealer I bought it from is only 15 minutes from my home, in case I need service.

I'm bringing my dinghy down to the boat today to check the alighment re Weaver Davits. If things look good, I will install them today.
Click to expand...


Is this correct or not? from what I have read you should not lay a 4-stroke down. So how does one put it into the transom locker, unless one has a very large transom, where the motor may be mounted upright.
 
You can lay a 4 stroke down on only one side.
 
skolbe said:
You can lay a 4 stroke down on only one side.
Click to expand...

Tiller side down? Shift lever side down? I've never owned a 4-stroke OB. I had no idea about how it should be placed parallel to the deck. I hope I'm not making a mistake buying a 4-stroke. You have to lay it down sooner or later, wouldn't you think?
 
skolbe said:
You can lay a 4 stroke down on only one side.
Click to expand...

Bob M said:
Tiller side down? Shift lever side down? I've never owned a 4-stroke OB. I had no idea about how it should be placed parallel to the deck. I hope I'm not making a mistake buying a 4-stroke. You have to lay it down sooner or later, wouldn't you think?
Click to expand...


I have been looking and there is not much information about laying a 4-stroke down.. You would think the manufactures would have some information... I can find comments on different user's boards, But they mostly mention laying down to avoid leaking. I am more concerned with what may happen internally yo the motor.
 
I have a 4stroke 6hp Merc (made by Tohatsu ), and you should always run the engine dry of gas before you store it. Once I disconnect the fuel line, before I bring the dinghy up on the davits, I start her up and let her run dry. You'd be amazed how long the engine will sit there and run before it stops. There is a sticker on one side and it says this side up..so you can store tiller side down... No problem..
 
I called my dealer about laying down a 4-stroke Yamaha. He called the District Rep who advised you can lay it down on the tiller side but not the shifter side. He also advised you can lay it down with the prop facing the ground. Makes sense to me...
 
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