windlipper
Well-Known Member
Had a cruising yacht for ..... years, I have recently bought a 14 foot sailing dinghy to play around in. Now, as a very modern sailor and having been used to an inboard engine to get me out of trouble and back home urgently if the need arises, I have realised that in the dinghy I could find myself becalmed with only a set of oars to get me ashore before the pub closes. So I have decided - the dinghy needs an engine!
Now I haven't bought an outboard for many years, certainly not since the "ban the 2 stroke" rules were forced upon us. My old (and hitherto very reliable) Tohatsu 3.5 two stroke is staying on my tender, consequently I have been researching modern four stroke ones between 2.5 and 3.5 hp. At first I was told to buy a Honda 2.3 then told it was awful, noisy and with "that horrid clutch". Then someone said the Suzuki 2.5 is brilliant, lightest in it's class, then I was told there are more warranty returns than enough so avoid like the plague. Next recommendation was the Yamaha 2.5 - fantastic, best built small outboard, then came the advice - steer clear major starting problems, and so on and so on.......
Now I don't expect 100% positive reviews for any piece of machinery but the positives and the negatives seem equally spread for every engine I've looked at. It appears that it doesn't matter what you buy, from listening to others you only have a 50% chance of it being any good. I'd never expect that when buying a car!
Leaving aside personal preferences, from any comments on here about performance and reliability I am going to buy the engine that has twice as many good things said as bad!
Here's hoping not to make too big a £600 mistake!
Now I haven't bought an outboard for many years, certainly not since the "ban the 2 stroke" rules were forced upon us. My old (and hitherto very reliable) Tohatsu 3.5 two stroke is staying on my tender, consequently I have been researching modern four stroke ones between 2.5 and 3.5 hp. At first I was told to buy a Honda 2.3 then told it was awful, noisy and with "that horrid clutch". Then someone said the Suzuki 2.5 is brilliant, lightest in it's class, then I was told there are more warranty returns than enough so avoid like the plague. Next recommendation was the Yamaha 2.5 - fantastic, best built small outboard, then came the advice - steer clear major starting problems, and so on and so on.......
Now I don't expect 100% positive reviews for any piece of machinery but the positives and the negatives seem equally spread for every engine I've looked at. It appears that it doesn't matter what you buy, from listening to others you only have a 50% chance of it being any good. I'd never expect that when buying a car!
Leaving aside personal preferences, from any comments on here about performance and reliability I am going to buy the engine that has twice as many good things said as bad!
Here's hoping not to make too big a £600 mistake!
