Lightest 4, 5 or 6 HP Outboard

[langstonelayabout]

I'm looking to buy a new outboard; a 4, 5 or 6HP motor with long shaft. Better still, it might be a sail power type but that isn't essential.

To save hassle I need it to be light so it is easy to lift on/out every time I go out. What is the best and lightest outboard on the market these days?

If it were a few years ago I'd have bought a 2-stroke but unless I can get a lightweight 2-stroke single outboard today (And I could get it bought as a ltd. company) I guess I have to get a 4-stroke...

Your advice/recommendations please.

Many thanks in advance

 

[arawa]

After researching weight etc I bought the longshaft Suzuki 6hp and it was an excellent motor (very easy to start) but the supplier could not obtain the promised saildrive prop for it and so I swapped it for a Tohatsu 6hp. One thing I liked about the Suzuki was that it had internal and external tanks. The model of Tohatsu I now have only has an external tank; good quiet engine though.

 

[Piers]

I'm looking to buy a new outboard; a 4, 5 or 6HP motor with long shaft. Better still, it might be a sail power type but that isn't essential.

To save hassle I need it to be light so it is easy to lift on/out every time I go out. What is the best and lightest outboard on the market these days?

If it were a few years ago I'd have bought a 2-stroke but unless I can get a lightweight 2-stroke single outboard today (And I could get it bought as a ltd. company) I guess I have to get a 4-stroke...

Your advice/recommendations please.

Many thanks in advance

Torqeedo? (http://torqeedo.com/uk/electric-outboards-uk)

 

[FWB]

Another vote for Torqeedo. The battery lasts much longer than you might imagine, making the motor just as useful as a petrol model.
video

 

[VicS]

I'm looking to buy a new outboard; a 4, 5 or 6HP motor with long shaft. Better still, it might be a sail power type but that isn't essential.

To save hassle I need it to be light so it is easy to lift on/out every time I go out. What is the best and lightest outboard on the market these days?

If it were a few years ago I'd have bought a 2-stroke but unless I can get a lightweight 2-stroke single outboard today (And I could get it bought as a ltd. company) I guess I have to get a 4-stroke...

Your advice/recommendations please.

Many thanks in advance

The requirements you list are, I think you will find, exactly the requirements that led Dylan Winter to buy the Tohatsu.

See his video on the subject and, for full info, the PBO article on the tests carried out on Dylan's boat.

But decide what power you really need. There can be some big differences in weight in the power range you mention.

In theory 2 strokes can be bought for non-recreational use. Whether or not any, other that cheap Chinese models, are actually available to buy may be another matter

 

[jerrytug]

Tohatsu 2 strokes new from Mainbrayce in Alderney,no connection etc,although I have one and it's light!

 

[charles_reed]

The requirements you list are, I think you will find, exactly the requirements that led Dylan Winter to buy the Tohatsu.

See his video on the subject and, for full info, the PBO article on the tests carried out on Dylan's boat.

But decide what power you really need. There can be some big differences in weight in the power range you mention.

In theory 2 strokes can be bought for non-recreational use. Whether or not any, other that cheap Chinese models, are actually available to buy may be another matter

Vic,

One can still get grey (originally sourced outside the EC) 2 stroke Tohatsus all round the Med.
As an annex engine there is nothing to beat the 3.5 for reliability and thrust combined with light weight, about 60% of a comparable 4 stroke.

Suggest, also, before you start giving gratuitous advice that you check the legal position of a personal user bringing a 2-stroke outboard into the EC.

 

[VicS]

Vic,

One can still get grey (originally sourced outside the EC) 2 stroke Tohatsus all round the Med.
As an annex engine there is nothing to beat the 3.5 for reliability and thrust combined with light weight, about 60% of a comparable 4 stroke.

Suggest, also, before you start giving gratuitous advice that you check the legal position of a personal user bringing a 2-stroke outboard into the EC.

So what is the legal position?
You seem to be suggesting that there would be no problem for a private individual importing an engine, that does not comply with the current RCD emissions regulations.

The RCd does not apply to private individuals ??


I dont know whyyou considered the post to which you refer cotains gratuitous advice. I thought it was purely answering the Op question

 

[Seajet]

Good examples of Mariner or Yamaha ( same thing ) 2 stroke 4 & 5 hp's are still available if one is careful about checking before buying, I have a Mariner 5 & Yam 4 and am not planning on parting with either; 4 strokes are stupidly heavy, and if one is worried on ecological grounds these 2 strokes are modern lean running jobs, not Seagulls !

That extra weight can easily make the difference between ones' girlfriend / wife being able or not to handle the engine if the bloke is incapacitated, or a bad back for anyone...

 

[VicS]

Good examples of Mariner or Yamaha ( same thing ) 2 stroke 4 & 5 hp's are still available if one is careful about checking before buying, I have a Mariner 5 & Yam 4 and am not planning on parting with either; 4 strokes are stupidly heavy, and if one is worried on ecological grounds these 2 strokes are modern lean running jobs, not Seagulls !

That extra weight can easily make the difference between ones' girlfriend / wife being able or not to handle the engine if the bloke is incapacitated, or a bad back for anyone...

Not always heavier than the old 2 strokes they might be replacing.

My 2 stroke Evinrude is in fact heavier than the 4 stroke Tohatsu that might replace it. Not by much but it is heavier.

Difficult to check now but I dont think the Evinrude was even the heaviest of the 2 strokes when I bought it.

 

[charles_reed]

So what is the legal position?
You seem to be suggesting that there would be no problem for a private individual importing an engine, that does not comply with the current RCD emissions regulations.

The RCd does not apply to private individuals ??


I dont know whyyou considered the post to which you refer cotains gratuitous advice. I thought it was purely answering the Op question

That is correct - the offer for sale of a non-RCD compliant engine is forbidden.

If you as a private person bring a 2 stroke, for your own use, into the EC you are committing no crime - hence your attempt to answer the OPs post was, in fact misleading.

 

[Seajet]

Not always heavier than the old 2 strokes they might be replacing.

My 2 stroke Evinrude is in fact heavier than the 4 stroke Tohatsu that might replace it. Not by much but it is heavier.

Difficult to check now but I dont think the Evinrude was even the heaviest of the 2 strokes when I bought it.

Alright, '4 strokes are stupidly heavy in 99.9 % of like for like comparisons' !

I presume the Evinrude was a twin, even so I'm surprised; having tried modern 4 & 6 hp 4 strokes I get the impression they're cast in depleted uranium or have the anti-gravity device fitted upside down...

 

[VicS]

That is correct - the offer for sale of a non-RCD compliant engine is forbidden.

If you as a private person bring a 2 stroke, for your own use, into the EC you are committing no crime - hence your attempt to answer the OPs post was, in fact misleading.

My reply to the Op reads :

The requirements you list are, I think you will find, exactly the requirements that led Dylan Winter to buy the Tohatsu.

See his video on the subject and, for full info, the PBO article on the tests carried out on Dylan's boat.

But decide what power you really need. There can be some big differences in weight in the power range you mention.

In theory 2 strokes can be bought for non-recreational use. Whether or not any, other that cheap Chinese models, are actually available to buy may be another matter

The first paragraph is correct as far as i remember... but I did qualify it with "I think". On reflection he may have been looking at 8Hp engines

The second is just a suggestion.

The third is a recommendation followed by what i believe to be a correct statement

The first sentence of the final paragraph is correct as far as i am aware. The second is speculation.

What in that is misleading.


You dont seem to have made any useful contribution in any way to answering the OP questions.
Nothing better to do than come here to pick fights ????

 

[Seajet]

VicS,

I think you may have a point; I happen to know 'Langstonelayabout' and I'm sure he would rather have well intentioned advice on the subject asked; if he suddenly goes into export/ import I'd hope he'd base his business on more than what anyone says here !

 

[VicS]

Alright, '4 strokes are stupidly heavy in 99.9 % of like for like comparisons' !

I presume the Evinrude was a twin, even so I'm surprised; having tried modern 4 & 6 hp 4 strokes I get the impression they're cast in depleted uranium or have the anti-gravity device fitted upside down...

It was a twin...still is a twin ....and will hopefully last me out.
It's heavy because its the same basic engine as the 8hp. (There was also a 5hp that weighed the same, being based on the same engine)
The 4 hp Evinrudes from the same era were also twins but smaller capacity engines. Depending on the specs they were nearly as heavy as the 5 and 6 hp or appreciably lighter.

The 8 Hp 4stroke Tohatsu is heavy beast, it has to be said. Unlike the 6Hp it's a twin.

 

[langstonelayabout]

VicS,

I think you may have a point; I happen to know 'Langstonelayabout' and I'm sure he would rather have well intentioned advice on the subject asked; if he suddenly goes into export/ import I'd hope he'd base his business on more than what anyone says here !

And it was your Mariner 5 that made me want a 2-stroke again - its just so smooth, responsive and LIGHT!!! The Mercury 4-stroke sailpower I had with the last boat was good but far, far heavier and less smooth!

I didn't realise we could still get 2 stroke O/Bs from somewhere so close. Buying through a legitimate UK business or personally won't be a problem, if I can find the right engine at a reasonable price.

 

[Cloona]

i had a very light mariner 4hp 2 stroke long shaft - perfect -

it was stolen off the boat in portsmouth harbour the week afterb i had spent 440 quid on repairing it after smashing it up on a sewage pipe at 5kts .....

 

[Seajet]

Cloona,

that's rotten; have you informed 'Project Kraken' and all that, plus the Stolen Equipment forum here ?

Langstonelayabout,

I don't know the formalities ( ! ) but an A22 owner in Southern Ireland recently bought a new Mariner 5hp 2 stroke, it seems the dealer could see the demand coming so got in quite a stock, I can contact him if you find it's viable.

 

[VicS]

i had a very light mariner 4hp 2 stroke long shaft - perfect -

it was stolen off the boat in portsmouth harbour the week afterb i had spent 440 quid on repairing it after smashing it up on a sewage pipe at 5kts .....

perhaps the Op should visit boat jumbles in the Portsmouth area then.

 

[William_H]

Light weight outboard

I can understand the OP concern re weight. Indeed I have the same Johnson 6HP twin as Vic and yes it is heavy and yes I would go to a lot of trouble to avoid hauling it out of the cabin to use. ie I would sail.
However long ago I did have a single cylinder 7HP Suzuki. What a horrible noisy thing that was.
I am saying that in the compromises for light weight don't disregard the value of twin cylinders for smoothness and less noise. (especially if you do long stints under motor.) but yes I am sometimes tempted to buy a new light weight single. olewill