best outboard motor?

[Kiltmadoc]

I have a 10 foot walker bay and a 7.5 foot mercury inflatable. I am looking for a motor that is easy to carry, reliable, and and get me from an anchor to a dock or beach with either boat.

I have no idea if i need a 2hp, 2.5 hp, 3 hp or 3.5 hp. I HAD a 3.5 hp that was stolen (see related thread). Since i now need a new one, I was hoping someone might have some suggestions.

[dabnis]

Kilt,

I have a 2HP Honda, made before the centrifugal clutch models.
Have used it on an 8 foot inflatable and a 10 foot pram. Many, many
hours of full throttle use, absolutely bullet proof. Not real fast but it
gets the job done against wind and chop. Best part, it is light at 27 lbs.

Dabnis

[poopdeckpappy]

3.5 - 6 hp

[chef2sail]

4 hp tahatsu

[MARC2012]

DO NOT GET a yamaha unless you like working on motors.marc

[capecodda]

I just bought a 2.5 Suzuki. 30 lbs. Choose vs. the Honda since the new Honda has a centrifugal clutch. This one pivots to go reverse, but does have a neutral. The goal with this motor is weight, not power. Won't plane my hard bottom 10' inflatable, but moves it along nicely.

[jfdubu]

Originally Posted by MARC2012

DO NOT GET a yamaha unless you like working on motors.marc

I have a yammy 3hp 2 stroke that was gifted to me 8 years ago and it was 6 years old then. The only thing thats ever been done is replace the prop. This thing starts with three pulls in the spring and one pull for the rest of the year. I'd buy another one in a heartbeat (execpt I can't get a new 2 stroke)

My friend has a 5hp honda, 4 stroke thats a bitch to start, heavy and won't run smooth until its warmed up.

[MARC2012]

Mine is a 2009 4 stoke and does not want to start sping,winter,summer or fall,complete POS.marc

[capttb]

I've got the 2 hp Honda with centrifugal clutch, bullet proof but noisy, like the clutch after I got used to it.
Friend got the 2.5 Suzuki, very impressive, just as light, quieter, probably my currrent personal favorite, oh did I mention it's cheaper too?

[eherlihy]

I have a 3.3 HP Mercury 2 stroke. It is the Tohatsu 3.5 HP with a different paint job.

I wanted a 2 stroke because I will never have to change the engine oil. I only have to change the lower unit oil annually. It weighs less than 30 lbs, and has few moving parts. Also the performance of a 2 stroke is about 1.5x the performance of a 4 stroke for a given displacement.

You'll have to buy used, but you can find them on eBay for ~$600, plus shipping.