Best 2.5hp out board?

[ST840]

Can anybody advise on the best 2.5hp outboard for my tender ??
I have a Suzuki at the mo but, it runs like a bag of s*** and my engineer can't find out the problem!

 

[Firefly625]

Yamaha, not the cheapest...but you did ask for the best.

 

[Tam Lin]

Four stroke Suzuki? You could do what I have done and buy a two stroke from ebay!

 

[stuartwineberg]

Four stroke Suzuki? You could do what I have done and buy a two stroke from ebay!

+1 my Tohatsu/mariner 2 stroke is pretty bomb proof

 

[TQA]

Another vote for the Tohatsu 2.5 2st. If you can raise the extra scratch get the version with the neutral / forward gearbox. Life is a little less fraught.

N.B. It is also sold as a Nissan Mercury and other brands.

 

[LadyJ]

2 stroke all the way for a tender, no storage issue, light as a feather and reliable in the extreme. For me the Mariner 3.3 is the the best, same as the 2.5 but with a clutch but I also have 2.5 and you get used to going when you pull the cord......

 

[Solitaire]

Can anybody advise on the best 2.5hp outboard for my tender ??
I have a Suzuki at the mo but, it runs like a bag of s*** and my engineer can't find out the problem!

Get another engineer!

 

[wipe_out]

Aren't all the 2.5/3.5 hp engines basically the same engine in different colours with different stickers on the cover? In which case it doesn't really matter which you get..

 

[C08]

Tohatsu 3.5 2 stroke-weighs the same as the 2.5 but has the safety feature of neutral and forward. You can then start the engine and let it warm up before you set off (into wind, current etc) much safer and once you have started an outboard accidentely in gear at full throttle you would never have one that was permanently in gear. I avoided injury but only just. Boating can be dangerous and you have to eliminate whatever possibilities for mishap you can IMNSHO! Only thing about 2 stroke engines is that you need to clean out the float bowl from time to time.

 

[LadyJ]

Aren't all the 2.5/3.5 hp engines basically the same engine in different colours with different stickers on the cover? In which case it doesn't really matter which you get..

Agreed albeit the larger has a clutch that I believe is a need to option in most cases imo.

 

[Firefly625]

I do find it interesting when the OP is asking for the best replacement for a 2.5 Suzuki outboard which is not running right folks are recommending getting an old second hand 2 stroke. Yes 2 strokes are light, but lets face it they are at best around 8 years old (AFAIK, ) and the weight difference between a small 2.5hp 4 stroke & a 2 stroke isn't that great, what circa 9kg compared to 12kg..? The OP isn't tinkering with his current OB himself, he's got an engineer to do that for him, so surely the best advise is to buy a brand new OB, with a 5 year warranty and get the best made product for that size of OB which would IMO be a Yamaha. And it has gears..

I am a reliable engine fan. I hate things going wrong & I also know I'm a bit nuts as on our little boat we carry around 2 outboards, a 3.5hp Mercury 2 stroke and a new Yamaha 6hp...so I'm not against 2 strokes, but when someone is asking for reliability recommending buying second hand you have no idea if what you are buying has been submerged, is a couple of engines cobbled together to make one, is going to be less reliable that what he has.....

 

[ctva]

At the moment I have a 16yo Honda 2.0hp 4 stroke. Goes ok but can sometimes be dificuklt to start and I've had to strip the carb a few times and the bolts are rusty and I don't like the colour. When I'm allowed to replace it I will get the Yamaha 2.5hp as it appears to be the best alround from reliability and features, proper gear and throttle controls.

 

[aquapower]

I do find it interesting when the OP is asking for the best replacement for a 2.5 Suzuki outboard which is not running right folks are recommending getting an old second hand 2 stroke. Yes 2 strokes are light, but lets face it they are at best around 8 years old (AFAIK, ) and the weight difference between a small 2.5hp 4 stroke & a 2 stroke isn't that great, what circa 9kg compared to 12kg..? The OP isn't tinkering with his current OB himself, he's got an engineer to do that for him, so surely the best advise is to buy a brand new OB, with a 5 year warranty and get the best made product for that size of OB which would IMO be a Yamaha. And it has gears..

I am a reliable engine fan. I hate things going wrong & I also know I'm a bit nuts as on our little boat we carry around 2 outboards, a 3.5hp Mercury 2 stroke and a new Yamaha 6hp...so I'm not against 2 strokes, but when someone is asking for reliability recommending buying second hand you have no idea if what you are buying has been submerged, is a couple of engines cobbled together to make one, is going to be less reliable that what he has.....

That's the best bit of advise given on this so far as well as finding a different engineer,

I'm looking at getting a Suzuki 2.5 four stroke as its the lightest in its class at 13kg, after having a couple of four stroke engines now I have no desire to go back to a two stroke, to me it seems silly messing about with old unreliable outboards when a new one is around £500 with a 5 year warranty, you can soon spend that on repair bills if you are paying someone to do the work.

 

[Firefly625]

That's the best bit of advise given on this so far as well as finding a different engineer,

I'm looking at getting a Suzuki 2.5 four stroke as its the lightest in its class at 13kg, after having a couple of four stroke engines now I have no desire to go back to a two stroke, to me it seems silly messing about with old unreliable outboards when a new one is around £500 with a 5 year warranty, you can soon spend that on repair bills if you are paying someone to do the work.

Thanks, glad it not just me.. The other factor is that because of this sudden desire for getting old 2 strokes the prices they are fetching are ludicrous, there's a forumite who bought a circa 1985 Suzuki 2hp and paid £350 recently...

 

[aquapower]

Thanks, glad it not just me.. The other factor is that because of this sudden desire for getting old 2 strokes the prices they are fetching are ludicrous, there's a forumite who bought a circa 1985 Suzuki 2hp and paid £350 recently...

Wish I'd kept all my old 2 strokes that I owned since I started boating, I could afford to retire now

I'm the same with anything like this, I really hate things that become unreliable, I usually buy new and look after it, then when it goes wrong I weigh up repair against replacement cost.

 

[MarieK]

I have a 2.5 yam pretty bombproof as long as you store it correctly and dont run it with old fuel.

 

[wonky]

Looking at your signature, shouldn't you be recommending Honda?!

 

[Firefly625]

Well then you can see this is a recommendation unbiased of loyalty. I would add Small 2.3hp air cooled honda is a horrid little engine, old 2hp was nice, had one of those for years and just sold it with my last boat. but again an old unit which would be pointless to recommend. Then it jumps to a honda 5hp, same weight at Yamaha 6hp, a good unit but down on power & I just grew up with Yamaha outboards (once the seagul took a trip to the bottom of the Hamble). Beyond 10hp indeed honda units good.

 

[wonky]

Well rescued�� I wonder just how many outboards are at the bottom of the Hamble?!

 

[NoviceRod]

Coming from way-off left field, I am thinking about getting an electric Torqeedo 1003 for my tender. Seems to have a few positives, but pricey.

I would welcome any thoughts/experiences.