Cheap outboard?

[PhillM]

Has anyone used one of these cheap outboard, or similar? Any use?

Outboard Engine Motor 2HP 38cc/53cc 4 Stroke Engine Fishing Boat Dinghy | eBay

 

[fredrussell]

They’re ok, but I found the holding better with a new gen anchor. I suppose it depends how much chain you use with it.

 

[V1701]

No idea but they're uk based & give a years money back guarantee & 30 day returns, you could infer from that that they are not complete junk or they wouldn't bother importing them? If you keep it clean & lubricated it should at least last a few seasons I'd have thought. Alternatively keep an eye out for a good old Yamaha Malta? Might be worth seeing if anyone's reviewed them on Youtube ("cheap ebay outboard motor")...

 

[V1701]

They’re ok, but I found the holding better with a new gen anchor. I suppose it depends how much chain you use with it.

If you go up a size and dive on it to make sure the prop and shaft are well dug in the holding power increases exponentially...

 

[Alan S]

Looks like a converted strimmer!

 

[thinwater]

Air cooled, loud, and freshwater only. I wouldn't leave it out in the rain either.

Yes, I have seen them, but not used one.

 

[pvb]

You just know it's going to be a disappointing experience!

 

[lw395]

It's going to be anti-socially noisy.
But those Chinese strimmer engines seem to be no more temperamental than many outboards.
If it's got the strimmer type carb, it will likely leak a little fuel from time to time? I wouldn't want my strimmer in my car or a boat cabin, it always smells of petrol.

 

[steve66]

I have loads of experience with these..the engine block is Honda based....the leg and gearbox are Yamaha 2hp based. Materials and build quality are poor. Gearbox wise they need to be shimmed correctly and spur and pinion gears swapped for preferably with genuine yamaha spares....moving up the clutch shoes are too heavy.....you have to really rev it to engage drive..
Then the oil throws inside the crankcase are brittle...they are prone for breaking taking the big end with them. Cranks are soft
Camshaft profiles are low lift giving poor performance.
Plastic air boxes and choke are poor. No breather on the fuel cap and the tiller arms are weak.
No oil drain on the gearbox
Because you have to rev them hard they vibrate lots and are noisy.
Apart from that they are great!

 

[vyv_cox]

My Chinese strimmer is pretty good. No more noisy than the European one that preceded it and it has lasted longer. Much noisier than my outboard though.

 

[steve66]

Air cooled, loud, and freshwater only. I wouldn't leave it out in the rain either.

Yes, I have seen them, but not used one.

Actually the only positive thing I can say is the clone engine blocks are better equipped at saltwater corrosion than their original cousins . They have stainless fittings throughout (Honda marine take note)

 

[steve66]

Actually the only positive thing I can say is the clone engine blocks are better equipped at saltwater corrosion than their original cousins . They have stainless fittings throughout (Honda marine take note)

Sorry to hijack the thread. Here is a genuine Honda variation of the cheap Chinese engine I built myself using genuine Honda parts. This was long before China cloned them

 

[duncan99210]

There was one of these things in use in Greece last summer. You could hear it coming from about half a mile away and was a conversation stopper by the time it had closed to a hundred metres.... horrible.

 

[jiris]

I have loads of experience with these..the engine block is Honda based....the leg and gearbox are Yamaha 2hp based. Materials and build quality are poor. Gearbox wise they need to be shimmed correctly and spur and pinion gears swapped for preferably with genuine yamaha spares....moving up the clutch shoes are too heavy.....you have to really rev it to engage drive..
Then the oil throws inside the crankcase are brittle...they are prone for breaking taking the big end with them. Cranks are soft
Camshaft profiles are low lift giving poor performance.
Plastic air boxes and choke are poor. No breather on the fuel cap and the tiller arms are weak.
No oil drain on the gearbox
Because you have to rev them hard they vibrate lots and are noisy.
Apart from that they are great!

Agree with every word. I used to have one. Shocking experience. Avoid!

 

[PhillM]

Thanks all. Pretty clear message here!

 

[coopec]

My Chinese strimmer is pretty good. No more noisy than the European one that preceded it and it has lasted longer. Much noisier than my outboard though.

Thanks for that. I'll certainly be looking at one although I'd prefer something a bit more powerful.

 

[coopec]

I'm wondering what you guys mean by " strimmer"? If they are for trimming grass in the garden we call them "line trimmers" or " whipper snippers".

I've just been doing some checking and some of these small outboard motors and portable generators develop their rated HP at 7500rpm which is a worry.

Would these tiny 38cc outboards push a Zodiac (with two people on board) against a gentle breeze of (say) 12 mph (20 kph)?

 

[lw395]

I'm wondering what you guys mean by " strimmer"? If they are for trimming grass in the garden we call them "line trimmers" or " whipper snippers".

I've just been doing some checking and some of these small outboard motors and portable generators develop their rated HP at 7500rpm which is a worry.

Would these tiny 38cc outboards push a Zodiac (with two people on board) against a gentle breeze of (say) 12 mph (20 kph)?

Yes a strimmer is a 'line trimmer'.
Whether 38cc will push a boat against the wind will depend to a great extent on the gear ratio and propeller.

At the price, they might have some merit as a get you home reserve if the main outboard engine fails?

 

[coopec]

Yes a strimmer is a 'line trimmer'.
Whether 38cc will push a boat against the wind will depend to a great extent on the gear ratio and propeller.

At the price, they might have some merit as a get you home reserve if the main outboard engine fails?

Thanks for that! I now know what people are talking about.

I think you definitely need back-up in the event of a breakdown of the main o/b. That is why I was asking about anchors but I have just come across an excellent article on dinghies, anchors and outboards.

Last year a Mum and Dad sailed to Rottnest Island to visit their daughter who was holidaying on the island. After wining and dining Mum and Dad boarded their dinghy at the floodlit jetty to return to the yacht. They weren't seen alive again. The upturned dinghy was washed up on the mainland 20 km away and several days later the woman's body was found by fishermen 120 km up the coast.

They had reasonably strong tailwind (15-18 mph?) so maybe the motor cut out and he couldn't row against the wind? Did they use an anchor? Who knows??

 

[dartmoor]

Yes a strimmer is a 'line trimmer'.
Whether 38cc will push a boat against the wind will depend to a great extent on the gear ratio and propeller.

At the price, they might have some merit as a get you home reserve if the main outboard engine fails?

I have had one and sold it on v quickly. You can't rely on them as the components are fragile to say the least - for the same price look for a second hand Yamaha /Mariner 2hp. Just as light, very repairable, parts still available - brilliant little motors.