2stroke 3.3hp v 4stroke 4hp

[Happy1]

I am looking at getting a small safety boat for my trip to Poole. I have been looking at the new quicksilver foldaway rubber boats, they do 2.3mtr and 2.7mtr, as weight is a concern I think I will go for the 2.3mtr.

I have been looking at engines, I have seen the 3.3hp Mercury with the neutral gear, but also been looking at the Mercury 4hp 4 stroke which has an inbuilt tank and feeder capability. The weight & size of the 3.3 is far less than the 4 but if I have to use the rubber boat rafted to my boat in an emergency which engine would be better for the job. I would also use it as a tender for going ashore in secluded beaches and coves.

I have contacted Glastron to see if they do a bracket for my bathing platform as at the moment I could not fit one on, if they do, I could also use the engine as a spare on the boat. I looked at Johnson engines, but people said I should ensure it is a bombard one. Any other engines you would suggest to look at?

Cheers,

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[Gtdog]

The four stroke would be my choice, the main advantage other than longer life at lower revs, is that it could be run on petrol syphoned from your main tank.

Anything that requires a seperate mix is a hassle!

All the best,
Dog

<hr width=100% size=1>Work? You call this Work?

 

[longjohnsilver]

I would suggest you steeer clear of the smaller Mercury engines, 4hp 4 stroke may be ok but the smaller 2 strokes regularly suffer from blocked waterways which is a real pain.

Yamahas would be top of my list, closely followed by Mariners. I have a 2hp Yamaha which is a super little engine, as is the 4hp Mariner I also use. The Yam is feather light, starts easily and has never let me down, whereas the 2.3 Merc I used to own was a pig of an engine, lots of vibration, unreliable and constantly blocked waterways.

Another one to look at is Tohatsu, just as well built as the others but cheaper to buy. If looking for a dinghy I would definitely recommend a high pressure inflatable floor, almost as good as a RIB and extremely light and very easy to assemble. I've always stuck to Avons and Zodiacs and have never regretted it.

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[DepSol]

You should have called your boat 'The Tardis'.

<hr width=100% size=1>Dom

2003 is going to be a good year for me

 

[rich]

I had a small four stroke merc, it was a pain in the ####, you had to carry it upright, and lay it down on one side only, or the oil came out of the sump.all over my teak deck..yammy 2stroke much better.

<hr width=100% size=1>rich ) <P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by rich on 09/04/2003 23:50 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[gonfishing]

OH ! come on Happy 1 tell us, what instrument did you play in the Marines??
coz, if i remember rightly Marines do this boating stuff in their sleep!!!!!!!

<hr width=100% size=1>oooh, i'll be fishing soon.

 

[Happy1]

The Triangle /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif I think there is a big difference between rigid raiders with their powerful engines and a 2.3mtr blow up boat with a slatted floor!! Never used these piddly little engines before, but believe it or not I am limited for space on my boat now. I have already lost the capacity for at least 2 passengers re the safety gear weight, if I loaded the generator, spare engine, rubber boat e.t.c. that's another passenger gone!! Looks like I will soon be spending the season on my own !!!!!!!!! If I put the spare engine in the boot it will stop the ploughing effect from the weight in the cuddy /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

It may sound really stupid but I was thinking of sticking tubes around the outside to make it a cabin rib, what do you think, could get more gear in then /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[DavidJ]

In the small engine range look at Tomatsu. When you look at other brands like Mariner, the small ones are badged up Tomatsu's so thats a recomendation in itself. They must make thousands!
I would go for the largest engine you can with an integral tank which is probably about 4hp.
David

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[Dave_Snelson]

Yam for me also

I have a Yam 3.5 as an aux to my Suzi. OK its a 2-stroke but it starts real easy (first pull every time) and runs well. Tohatsu mentioned on here have received heavy investment from Yamaha and are good.

<hr width=100% size=1>Madoc Yacht Club
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.madocyachtclub.co.uk>http://www.madocyachtclub.co.uk</A>

 

[DavidJ]

Re: Yam for me also

Ah yes Tohatsu, I think Tomatsu make escavators which although useful may not completly meet the requirements.
David

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[Happy1]

Re: Yam for me also

Well I think the Yammy is looking good, I got a price of about £620 for the 4hp 4stroke, I also checked out Tohatsu, they are about £100 cheaper. The Yammy dealer said the engineers did not like the yammy 4hp as when they came in for a service there was never anything wrong with them! The Suzuki 4hp is in between. I looked at http://www.seamarknunn.co.uk/catalog/subcat36.htm which is nearly £80 less than list, I also had a quote for a similar size bombard for £400 from the yammy dealer if I got the package with the yammy 4hp. The yammy dealers price for their quicksilver is £510, so perhaps better to get the boat from seamark with free delivery and the yammy from the yammy!

Any other observations (apart from where the hell am I going to store it!). If I filled the blow up boat with helium, would it be lighter to carry on board? I await SENSIBLE replies please.

<font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[terryw]

Re: Yam for me also

I bought the Yamaha 2.5HP at the London Boat Show this year, and the Yam inflatable tender. Got a good price on the pair.
The 4HP is 13kg heavier than the 2.5HP which could make handling difficult whilst afloat. Also beware with inflatables around the 2.3m to 2.4m mark as they may not be rated for 4HP (mine's only rated 3HP)

<hr width=100% size=1>If your nose is running, and your feet smell, you are upside down.

 

[Happy1]

Re: Yam for me also

Terry, thanks for that, I have been looking into them, but would hope to be able to use the engine as both spare for the main boat and the tender, so need to ensure I get enough power! I have not found a bracket yet that will fit the back of my boat, due to it's shape without being a long shaft, this would make dual use no good. Still waiting to hear from Glastron re this.

Re little engines, I saw the Honda 2hp 4 stroke on Seamark Nunn for £340 ish with a 5yr guarantee, it is very light as well.

Cheers,

<font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[duncan]

Re: let\'s get real....

4hp / 4 stroke Merc is bulky, heavy and slightly awquard to handle, doesn't have an integral tank it's seperate, has to be stored in 1 of 2 positions, however it would give you stearage way on your main boat if you can rig it efficently - just over 3 knots I expect.
2hp Yam or Toma light, easy to handle, chuck it anywhere, integral fuel tank (top up before each trip and forget) and a hell of a lot cheaper than the Merc.
Neither will enable you to progress much against wind and tide, especially if any sort of sea is running - both will drive a well designed inflatable though in quite bad conditions (but you will get wet!)
You would be mad to get the Merc given your boat and stated needs other than as a dedicated back up engine on a proper bracket - in which case you should be looking a 7-8hp.

Please note that I have a 4hp / 4st Merc on a 2.65pi inflatable which I purchased for my 21ft cuddy boat...........once on the dingy it is lovely but getting it on, storing etc even with Phaeton is a real pain and I ended up rowing more times last year than 'bothering' to get the engine out - and I often ended up sticking someone elses 2 or 2.5 2 stroke on the back.

Can I suggest that your 'safety boats' over easter will not be an issue and you can compare (and even try out) various rigs as I believe Barry has a small inflateable and 2 stroke (?)

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[DavidJ]

Re: Yam for me also

Happy
Any bracket is going to look crap, as well as you having to drill holes in your nice new boat.
Suggest in the unlikely event of an engine breakdown and not being able to get assistance from a passing boater that you tow it with the inflatable.
Not advised single handed of course.
David

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[longjohnsilver]

Re: Yam for me also

David have you ever tried towing a large boat with a small inflatable? I have and would say it's just about impossible, steering is impossible. Best you can do is to nudge the mothership on way or the other.

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[duncan]

Re: towing.....

use the well documented (elsewhere) technique of tying it alongside toward the stern - inflat. bow ring to boats stern cleat taking most of the tow strain. Gives good drive and even some manoeverability.
Well worth practicing rigging in perfect conditions though.


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[terryw]

Re: Yam for me also

I went for the Honda first but the salesman was honest enough to say that he thought it would be a bit underpowered on the South Coast rivers and harbours with 2-3 people aboard.
Yamaha confirmed that their 2.5 was good enough in these locations (they are based on the Beaulieu river), but if I found it lacking they would gladly let me upgrade without financial loss.

<hr width=100% size=1>If your nose is running, and your feet smell, you are upside down.

 

[hlb]

Re: Yam for me also

It works best if you go backwards in the dinghy. Would not like to cross the chanel though!!

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Haydn

 

[duncan]

Re: backwards?

OK I realise that this is a Happy thread and that contents have a greater than 50% probability of being a wind up but............maybe a little explanation?

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