Honda 2.3 enough?

minus points

centrificial clutch
noisy
at times would "snatch" when cord pulled if on wrong stroke /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
small power band /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

+points

reliable
no impellor
economicial
no mixing fuel
 
Hi - see also Honda v Yamaha small 4 stroke outboards about six pages back. A lot spoke highly of the Honda, and although noise was high it was not a problem; reliability was good. having considered it all we went and bought the Yamaha 2.5hp 4 stroke. Yes it does weigh far more than the Honda, but not much different than the uselessly unreliable 3hp Evenrude twin 2 stroke it replaced which had been SO disapointing. I thought the Yamaha was probably better made than the Honda and the gear selection is done manually not centrifugally automatic, which clinched it. It seemed to go well on its first outing, better than expected. Also someone - Steve6367 - tried both on his dingy before also going for the Yamaha. Having said all that - I bet I would have been very pleased with the Honda also! I also didn't want a 2 stroke on environmental and reliabilty & ease of starting grounds.
 
Thanks for that - I missed the previous post.

I wasn't even aware of the Yamaha. The gear selector does appeal and while the wieght is more, its not a great issue. And a quick search brings one up at £380.

Darn - now I'm not sure at all!!

Thanks to all who replied - very helpfull.
 
SWMBO ran the tender back tonight - including starting the outboard - first time with this OB ... (Honda incase you'd forgotten!) ... a little trouble starting - until she applied 1/2 choke (doh ... I forgot to tell her!). Yes, the noise level was quite high, compared to the 2stroke merc 2.2 we used to have, and the interesting point was comming into the slip - where you'd naturally drop the throttle off - but with the Honda - you loose any directional thrust as well - so have to remember to open the throttle in short bursts - not too bad when you get the hang of it ... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Guess Wot
its a TOHATSU 3.3 in an expensive coat

[/ QUOTE ] Not at the price I paid for the Mercury O/Bs /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
I presume from your comments that you speak from experience with a 4 stroke? Did you actually buy one then - even though the 2 stroke advantage was so clear? Surely this opinion of yours didn't just switch allegience from 4 to 2 stroke overnight? I guess I must be confused again.

[/ QUOTE ] Yes, I had two 4t 4hp yamahas and found them more trouble than they were worth. I regretted getting rid of the original mercury 2.5 but persevered for over one year with the yamahas until I had had enough and replaced them with a couple of Mercury 3.3's. Between being difficult to start, heavy and prone to hydraulic locking if laid down incorrectly the yamahas were more trouble than they were worth. I think the larger hp motors are better (usually fixed to the transom in the upright position) but my needs are for pushing the tenders along so 3.3 is more than adequate under normal circumstances and the "extra" hp or so is a distinct advantage. In a few years the grandchildren will be past the "playing in the tender" stage so I can loose one tender and have a spare OB which hopefully will see my sailing days out.

At the present time the 4t low hp O/B's are not refined enough and the designs appear to have been rushed through into production to satisfy some bureaucratic edict regarding the use of 2t motors and the tree hugging fraternity.
For those that have 4t O/B's and are happy with them, good luck. I have been rown that road andfrom my experience I reverted to 2t motors for teh time being or until the manufacturers produce a decent motor that does not need treated with so much care.

As for the waterways in the motor becoming furred up, I flush out each motor with fresh water after each use to prevent salt build up.
 
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