Dinghy Outboard

[737sail]

....try this:

InternetOutboards.com - Nissan outboard engines available in four-stroke models

or onlineoutboards.com

[Valiente]

I have a Honda 9.9 HP 4 stroke long-shaft from 1985 (BF100) and a Mercury 9.9 two-stroke short shaft from 1999 (came with the boat). I would say although the Mercury is lighter by 15 lbs. or so and arguably gets a heavy 10' 2" RIB on the plane a tad faster, it runs noticeably hotter and certainly louder than the Honda. The Honda, even this 22 year old one, is about the quietest outboard I've heard in this range. It's also very torque-y, which means I can and have used it to push 10,000 lbs. of motor-sick sailboat at 4 knots or better...when on a RIB lashed to the side.

That being said, I have to rebuild the carb because I neglected to run it dry one year and cacked it up. I bought the Clymer shop manual and will have it running again shortly, but you can't abuse it in terms of layup. If you maintain it, however, my experience is that you can run it full-bore all day if you want.

This old model is why I'm considering getting the Honda 2 HP 4-stroke air-cooled, because I think they are built well.

[johnbarry]

Any chance we can get an update on what you bought and if you are happy with it? I am in a similar situation and am curious what happened.

[wescarroll]

Question...Can any of the current 4 stroke outboards be stored on their sides for a bit of time, without the lube oil going places you don't want it to? Just wondering, as a friend of mine recently bought a used 2 stroke to store in his cockpit locker for that reason.

[sailingdog]

Yes, but they have to be stored on a specific side. Usually one side has a marking or indicator that it goes up.

[labatt]

I ended up buying the Mercury 6HP. It doesn't get our Avon 280HP up on a plane (I don't think anything will since 6HP is the highest HP "allowable"), but the throttle is easy to use, and it's fairly light (one of us gets in the dinghy and lifts the motor to someone standing at the stern of our boat to put it on the engine mount). I'm still in the break-in period though - 10 hours - so I can't really tell you much about fuel efficiency, speed, etc., but it's looking good so far. With regards to storing a 4 stroke on its side - as sailingdog stated, just make sure you put it on its correct side (one side is always marked "this side up") and you'll be fine. I'm sure that also goes for lifting it up when on the stern of your dinghy and turning it to its side - make sure you put it the right way. Unfortunataly, through experience, I can tell you what happens when you store it the wrong way even for a short time (on our old Tohatsu 9.8HP long shaft). Those long shafts store a lot of oil...

[SanderO]

I have a 4 stroke Honda 8. When it is working properly it stats with on easy pull. But ethanol screwed up the carb and I have replaced it. It's quiet and it's heavy, but it's a good motor. I love not having to mix oil with the gas.. and you can set it on it's starboard side, port side facing up.

jef
sv shiva