Looking for advice on outboards up to 4HP

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goldeneye243

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I am looking to buy an outboard to go on a 12 foot boat for fishing on the rivers and drains. The outboard needs to be a short shaft.

It needs to be fairly light, and under 4HP so that it is in the lower price bracket for use on the Ouse.

So far the parsun 2.6HP and the honda 2.3HP seem to be amongst the cheaper options.

I assume that I am better off with a 4 stroke?

I would ideally prefer a 3.5HP, but the prices are quite a bit more.....

Any other options?

Are the two that I have suggested likely to be good?

Thanks in advance!
 
I think almost any modern engine will give good service.

The main thing to consider is how you will store the engine - 4 strokes don't like being stored on their sides. Also a 4 stroke will be heavier.

If you can find one, a Mariner or Tohatsu 3.3hp 2 stroke is a good, light little engine.

MVP
 
ditto,, not availbale new, but I d look for the 2 stroke Tohatsu.
Its a bit agricultural in sound compared to 4 st, but unless you are in a wildlife reserve, I guess you' d manage!
 
I agree that the Tohatsu= Mercury=Mariner 2 stroke is a nice engine. I've had 3 or 4, still have a couple, never any probs. Comes in many sizes like 3.5, 4, 5hp but if you're buying secondhand buy the nicest and (if needed) tweak the throttlestop down and re-decal it cos there's hardly any diff between them

Beware Parsun. There have been threads on here (search maybe) saying things like the ownership of the parsun brand is disputed/fragmented and there might be more than one company making them or copying them, or something. You'd need to be careful (quality wise) of what you're buying if there are "genuines" and "fakes" around. They had small stand at LIBS I noticed.
 
Neither of those, the Parsun is made out of cheese and the Honda 2.3 is air cooled and perhaps the nosiest outboard currently on sale. As others have said go for a Tohatsu/Mariner as big as you can then re-sticker it.
 
[ QUOTE ]
If you can find one, a Mariner or Tohatsu 3.3hp 2 stroke is a good, light little engine.
MVP

[/ QUOTE ]
Agree!
I've had a Marina (badged up Tohatsu 3.3hp) for 10 years now and it starts second pull every season and I've never got around to servicing it. They will only be available secondhand now and just be careful about oil mixture ratios. They changed at some point (from 50:1 to 100:1) so you will need to establish if you have a pre or a post change model. It's not good even to run a 100:1 model at 50:1
best of luck.
 
Another vote for the Mercury/Mariner/Tohatsu 3.3/3.5 hp 2 stroke.
I just bought a brand new one (I am not in EU so could do so)
The reason why I bought a new one, was that I could not find a second hand one, people just keep them as they are so good.
 
Another vote for the two-stroke Tohatsu 3.3/3.5 and clones. Make sure though that it has F-N gears.
I've got a Honda 2.3 and Mariner 3.5 four-strokes - both are light but not as "chuckable" as the 2 strokes. Agree with earlier comment re the Honda's noise.
Once you get into the 4hp+ ranges the 4 strokes are significantly heavier than the comparable 2 strokes.
 
I have a 2007 Mercury 5 4st, and a 2006 Yam 4 4st, and I much prefer the Mercury to the Yam, seems to start a bit quicker when cold, and fuel tank connector is better.

Get one with a separate tank, as you'll get about 45min or so running out of the 1L tank. Filling the yam from jerry cans got irritating very quickly. The mariner has no inbuilt tank, so its smaller, and easier to carry.

At around 23kg each, you're not going to be able to carry it more than 50m or so.
 
Hi,

We have a Yamaha F4AMHS 4HP 4 Stroke on our Tender.

We haven't used it for 7 months, but when I tried to fire her up in the garage last week, she started on the first pull. This was also the case after our "Comedy of Errors Dinghy Chase" last June with a few of the guys from the forum (that was the last time it was started).

Basically our tender came lose (not only ours I hasten to add) and even after getting washed up on shore and left to be water logged for god knows how long. The engine still fired up with ease.

Worth considering for reliability if nothing else, in my humble opinion.

Good Luck.
 
I have a Mariner/Mercury/Tohatsu 3.3

Two years ago it needed a new impeller but I didn't have a new gasket. It still runs sweetly with its Kelloggs cornflakes cardboard gasket.

Noisy but bullet proof.
 
Thanks for all the info, looks like I will be on the lookout for a 3.3/3.5HP two stroke tohatsu/Mariner then!

I would prefer a new one as I am little wary of getting a secondhand motor, so might struggle to find one

I should be getting the boat in the next couple of weeks, so not in a huge rush at the moment.

Incidentally it is coming with a Minn Kota 55lb thrust motor and battery - How long is is it likely to last (I realise it will be dependant on the capacity of the battery, just looking for a rough idea - ie an hour, 2, 3 etc)

Thanks to all for the input!
 
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