Motorbike engine

[PabloPicasso]

Probably the biggest single electrical killer of bikes made in the last 30 years or so (i.e. since Joe Lucas, the legendary Prince of Darkness, stopped making electrical systems for them) is a short in the side-stand cut-out switch, which obviously lived in one of the most cruddy and exposed parts of the bike. Wet, salty roads and a couple of adjacent blade connectors don't mix well.

No doubt we can expect the OP to come along next and suggest reasons for fitting a motorcycle side-stand to an outboard. How about it, Pablo?

Yes a kick stand with wheels would certainly help carry heavier outboards up the slipway

 

[rustybarge]

Been many attempts over the years at diesel outboards, including made by Yanmar. All suffer from the same problems, weight, noise and lack of refinement, even when they look like petrol ones! As you can see by the website the target market is for semi-permanent installation on work boats where the downsides are less of a problem and outweighed (possibly) by the savings in fuel costs and increased safety of the fuel. If you have ever been on a boat fitted with one you will know why they have never made any impact in the pleasure boat market. That particular brand you have to buy direct from China, so no effective warranty or backup, so hardly a consumer product.

As far as remember there was also a diesel outboard made in Italy called the Rugini. A local self-build steel boat used to use one for propulsion here on the Shannon.......thunk thunk thunk ( v.loud) ....but surprisingly the boat did have have quite a fast cruise speed.

Weird experience hearing a slow revving diesel outboard.......