Aux Engine for Merry Fisher 625

[SnaxMuppet]

I have searched the forum and read all the relevent posts but I still do not have any clear idea of the size of aux engine to fit to my MF625.

Has any one fitted an aux engine to a small Merry Fisher?

What size do you have and what performance do you get?

It is a light boat and so I was thinking that a 6hp might be enough to chuck along as a "get you home" engine.

 

[Major Catastrophe]

Well I've said enough times on here that my Antares 650 (Same as MF 625) carries a Suzuki DF6L, which is the long leg 6hp.

Drives me at 5 knots and you can steer it using the wheel and main engine as tiller. I have even explained previously how to assemble an emergency fuel line kit, so you can effect a direct feed from the main tank when in dire straights.

 

[jhr]

The Antares 650 moored upriver from me has 8hp aux, iirc. Can't remember make/model I'm afraid but it sounds about right for a boat of that size.

 

[SnaxMuppet]

Thanks.

I did many searches all involving aux or auxilliary so I am surprised I didn't see that... sorry.

 

[Blackfeather]

We used to have a M F 580 with a 70hp Yamaha on it.

We had a 4hp Yam on a cantilevered OB bracket. It would move the boat in an emergency but I'd suggest at least 8hp if you are really likely to need it and particularly given your upcoming jaunt.

Good luck by the way.

 

[SnaxMuppet]

Thanks for the kind wishes...

I seem to be settling on the Honda 8hp with electric start. I think it is the smallest electric start engine (4-stroke) I have found... anyone know any different please holla! Ta

 

[ChrisE]

I have such a Honda as the aux on my 23' fishing boat and it does the job nicely. Be aware, however, that it takes a time (about 1-2 mins) to warm up before it will take load without stalling. This caught me out a few times when I had an intermittent prob on the main engine. I've spoken to a other Honda owners who have the same prob.

 

[SnaxMuppet]

Thanks for that...

This sounds similar to the problems owners were having with the small Suzukis... stalled as soon as throttle opened until very warm. I Spoke to my local Suzuki dealer and they said that i tis a common fault and they have retrofitted a mod to the fuel pump which fixes the prblem. I wonder if Honda will do a similar thing eventually for their small engines...

 

[Haven't-a-Clue]

Hi, Major, does it have to be a long shaft, 'cos I've got a standard shaft 8hp Honda which if I can't sell it, will try to fit it to me Merryfisher. Would surely appreciate a pointer to the post re emergency fuel line fix. Thank you kindly, sir.

The 8hp fits a 3.2m Honwave inflatable that might be open to offers too. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Major Catastrophe]

I think so, as the short shaft may not fully reach the water.

Mind you, it will surely impress everyone in the marina with your rooster tail.

 

[ontheplane]

Try and get a Sailpower engine.

It will have a larger lower pitch prop that will drive the boat far better than the standard prop - also they normally have a charging circuit on them, so you could use it to get a little charge into your battery if it's totally flat and can't start the main engine.

Saying that - if you can't get one of those - you can often fit a charging circuit to a normal outboard and get a high thrust prop fitted

 

[RogerRat]

Don't worry about selling it as I'm sure someone will snap it up if the price is right, me for example.

First step is to talk to your Honda dealer about an extension kit, usually they can be retro fitted by inserting the section into the leg to make it long reach. (it's only about 4-5inches)

Arny,
I think the Major's right about a 6 Hp 2 stroke. There's a Mercury powered MF625 in our Marina at the moment with about 70 Hp and a little 6-8 Hp aux too. I will check it tomorrow when I'm there and let you know if you like.

I'm pretty sure that they're both 4 strokes and modern. Looks a good set up, nice little fisher. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Major Catastrophe]

[ QUOTE ]
I think the Major's right about a 6 Hp 2 stroke.

[/ QUOTE ] 4 stroke, actually.

Following on from ontheplane's 'larger lower pitch prop', is it feasible to do this to my Suzuki 6HP to give it more oomph?

 

[SnaxMuppet]

Thanks RR.

I would like to have put on a Suzuki but the small Suzuki's don't have electric start.

Havent_a_clue, how is your Honda? Are you happy with it?

 

[RogerRat]

Hi Arny,

Strangly enough, I was in Portsmouth yesterday making a run round from Swanwick with AdrianB, Timbad and Fenfer girl in Adrian's Targa 52. Sh!th that boat goes! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Anyway, the first boat on the walk round was a MF 625, it had a two Suzis' on the transom one 115Hp and a 6Hp aux. When I made it back to Sparkes later the resident MF625 had exactly the same, (not Mercs' as I thought) so someone seems to think this is a good pairing, you may have to go larger for the elec start but a 6Hp is very easy to pull and less to go wrong if needed quickly.

Btw. The 6Hps' didn't appear to be long shafted either but both were mounted on canter lever lowering bracket.

Hope that helps even if a bit late. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[SnaxMuppet]

Thanks RR. I too have see 6hp Suzukis as aux engines. I agree about less to go wrong and less weight too not to mention cheaper!

Perhaps that is the way to go. Fortunately I have a bit of time to decide /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Take care.

 

[Major Catastrophe]

[ QUOTE ]

Btw. The 6Hps' didn't appear to be long shafted either but both were mounted on canter lever lowering bracket.


[/ QUOTE ]
Ah! Not sure but the Antares will take the aux engine directly onto the transom, so it has to be long shaft, not sure, but does the MF allow mounting on the transom?

If it does, I would do that rather than have a sea rip it off a bracket.

Since I now know your reason, I would def go for an 8HP. The six will get you home, but it will take a long time.

The other point is to have the aux hard fuelled into the main tank rather than rely on an emergency splice.

 

[SnaxMuppet]

Yes the MF625 does allow for direct trannsom mounting but unfortunately the transom is too think for most small engines and so to get it to fit you have to modify the trannsom. I was not happy with that and so I have gone for a drop-down mount.

 

[Major Catastrophe]

[ QUOTE ]
Yes the MF625 does allow for direct trannsom mounting but unfortunately the transom is too think for most small engines and so to get it to fit you have to modify the trannsom. I was not happy with that and so I have gone for a drop-down mount.

[/ QUOTE ]

When I think about it, that was one of the reasons I went for the Antares, rather than the MF.

Oh well, screw it on tight!

 

[whisper]

"I would definitely go for an 8" - so would I as they are often the same engine as the 6 but with carburettor tweaks. They are therefore the same weight as the smaller powered version.