Mariner 4HP

[m1taylor]

A familiar story - a wretched outboard overheating - no water flow, probably salt caked and clogged despite regular flushings. Does anyone out there have a 3.5-4HP outboard to recommend that doesn't so easily clog? As I am no mechanic, I guess my choices are 1) Pay for expensive repair or 2) Sell with label "attention needed".

Like I say, what I really want is an outboard which is better than most at resisting salt clogging in the cooling system.

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[Talbot]

the only air cooled engine that I know off is the Honda 4 stroke 2.3 hp, but because it is air cooled it is noisy, and you have to be carefull handling it as lay it on the wrong side and you get a pool of oil.

I bought the 3.5 Tohatsu as I prefer it, and accept that every so often I will have to clean out the water passages.

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[yottitotti]

AS IT HAPPENS THERE IS ANOTHER PUBLICATION ON THE NEWSAGENTS SHELF THIS MONTH THAT DEALS WITH THIS PROBLEM AND ACTUALLY USES A MARINER 4 AS ITS EXAMPLE. IT IS VERY DESCRIPTIVE AND HAS GOOD PHOTOS OF THE PROCEDURE.
HAVE A GO ANYWAY, IT REALLY ISN'T THAT DIFFICULT, AND YOU CERTAINLY GET A GREAT SENSE OF SATISFACTION HAVING SORTED THE PROBLEM YOURSELF

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[m1taylor]

Thanks for that - I shall look for that in the newsagents and perhaps (?) have a go. Better than spending a three figure £ number with a service agent!

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[m1taylor]

Yes, I have heard good things about the Tohatsu 3.5hp. It would need to push along a 17ft yacht, but if it's good for that (?) it might be worth considering, especially as it doesn't weigh as much as the Mariner, and hence more incentive to take it home off the mooring for a flushing.

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[Talbot]

should push the boat ok, but wind/waves are going tyo give it a real problem - but expect you already suffer from that with the 4.

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[whisper]

No need to shout /forums/images/icons/smile.gif. Yes I subscribe to S' Today as well./forums/images/icons/wink.gif

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[MIKE_MCKIE]

Don't know about "a 3 figure £" for an overhaul!!
I have just bought a 4hp Mariner, seldom used but several years old. On first try it had no cooling water, so I replaced the impellor(cleaned out what I thought was all the disintegrated bits) then tried in the dustbin again & got excellent water flow for ages. Installed on the Avon on Saturday, it ran very well for half hour & then started blowing steam!! Immediate shutdown, then commenced rowing back to Fleetlands Jetty. My enormous thanks to the nice catamaran that was motoring seawards & gave us a tow, very much appreciated indeed!
Anyway, took the engine to the Outboard Centre in Fareham & you get a full service for £45 + parts, and done in a week! Considering that it would probably take me at least 2 hours to strip the engine down, then at least an hour to clean out all the water passages (if I could ever find them all!) plus several hours to put back together & I reckon the OBM Centre wins hands down. The added bonus is of course that someone who knows what they are doing gets to do the job, rather than someone very good on BMC "A" series car engines, (think Morris 1000/Mini) but with no noticeable experience on OBM's!
Will report further when I get it back.
Mike

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[squidge]

If you decide to sell let me know as i could do with one for parts.

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[m1taylor]

Yep, it's on Boats and Outboards if you are interested! I actually need a long shaft as my tansom to water line is almost 17inches, so the mariner is on the short side. Perhaps that's why it overheated??

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