xcw
Active member
I am in the market for a new 3.3hp outboard. I understand that many of the models are the same and just rebadged. Any advice on what's good, what to avoid etc. Also, where are the best deals to be had?
Outboard advice
- Thread starter xcw
- Start date
homa
Member
I have had a Mariner 2.5hp for the last couple of seasons. it's exactly the same as the 3.3 but the output is reduced. A friendly outboard agent removed the restriction and hey presto I've got 3.3hp.
Don't ask me how it's done I'm sure someone here with engineering know-how will be able to explain.
I owned a Honda 2hp, 4 stroke before that for 5 years, reliable engine but found it heavy & noisy. I prefer the Mariner it seems more robust and doesn't mind being inverted (unlike the Honda).
homa
Don't ask me how it's done I'm sure someone here with engineering know-how will be able to explain.
I owned a Honda 2hp, 4 stroke before that for 5 years, reliable engine but found it heavy & noisy. I prefer the Mariner it seems more robust and doesn't mind being inverted (unlike the Honda).
homa
Rob_Webb
Active member
I recently asked exactly the same question so should pass on the benefit of what I discovered. And I have just bought a new outboard after a ton of research - and settled for a Johnson 3.5hp.
I was told that the Marina/Mercury/Tohatsu engines are all essentially the same core machine (Tohatsu) but re-badged, as you say. But I was also told that these small engines suffer from overly-small waterways which are very prone to clogging with salty deposits unless you reularly rinse in fresh water - the side-effect is obviously overheating if the waterflow is reduced too much. The replies I received on this forum generally confirmed this story. I understand that bigger engines have larger waterways and don't suffer the same problem. They also all come with brass drive pins which are very easily sheared if you touch the bottom with the prop or engage forward gear at anything above slow idle.
I was told that the Johnson was designed to have bigger, free-er waterways and Oakley Marine in Brighton (01273 603322) told me that they had never had a Johnson back with any cooling problems, but in contrast regularly see lots of the M/M/T brigade back, even suprisingly young (under 2 yrs in the worst cases). The Johnson also comes with a s/s drive pin although I understand it is easy to replace the brass one in the M/M/Ts with s/s anyway.
I was also warned off the 4 strokes at this end of the range as being too heavy for their size/power and also noisier.
To be fair, I should point out that apart from the specific cooling and drive-pin issues mentioned above, the owners of these M/M/T outboards were otherwise very happy with their performance and reliability.
So for me, all the evidence pointed towards the Johnson and while Oakley said they would willingly sell me anything I wanted, they strongkly recommended the Johnson as the better engine in this category. It was also the cheapest by about £30, so they weren't trying it on.
So far, after only a month's use, I am delighted with it. The only niggle is that being white it obviously looks a bit mucky more easily than the darker models but that is only cosmetic and I can live with that.
Hope this helps.
Rob
I was told that the Marina/Mercury/Tohatsu engines are all essentially the same core machine (Tohatsu) but re-badged, as you say. But I was also told that these small engines suffer from overly-small waterways which are very prone to clogging with salty deposits unless you reularly rinse in fresh water - the side-effect is obviously overheating if the waterflow is reduced too much. The replies I received on this forum generally confirmed this story. I understand that bigger engines have larger waterways and don't suffer the same problem. They also all come with brass drive pins which are very easily sheared if you touch the bottom with the prop or engage forward gear at anything above slow idle.
I was told that the Johnson was designed to have bigger, free-er waterways and Oakley Marine in Brighton (01273 603322) told me that they had never had a Johnson back with any cooling problems, but in contrast regularly see lots of the M/M/T brigade back, even suprisingly young (under 2 yrs in the worst cases). The Johnson also comes with a s/s drive pin although I understand it is easy to replace the brass one in the M/M/Ts with s/s anyway.
I was also warned off the 4 strokes at this end of the range as being too heavy for their size/power and also noisier.
To be fair, I should point out that apart from the specific cooling and drive-pin issues mentioned above, the owners of these M/M/T outboards were otherwise very happy with their performance and reliability.
So for me, all the evidence pointed towards the Johnson and while Oakley said they would willingly sell me anything I wanted, they strongkly recommended the Johnson as the better engine in this category. It was also the cheapest by about £30, so they weren't trying it on.
So far, after only a month's use, I am delighted with it. The only niggle is that being white it obviously looks a bit mucky more easily than the darker models but that is only cosmetic and I can live with that.
Hope this helps.
Rob
xcw
Active member
Thanks very much for the advice. I now just need to find the best price!
Rob_Webb
Active member
Most suppliers seem to offer a discount off the RRP of a few %. The best deal I found was with Oakley who I think charged me £314 + VAT = £369. As I said, this was about £20 cheaper than the M/M/T brigade. The only extra was £10 to deliver it next day to any address in the UK, which I thought wasn't bad for an object the size/weight of an outboard - and it turned up fine the next day, saving me a journey to Brighton!
You might find cheaper elsewhere but I wouldn't know where else to look.
Good luck and if you go for the Johnson I hope you are as pleased with it as I am.
Rob.
You might find cheaper elsewhere but I wouldn't know where else to look.
Good luck and if you go for the Johnson I hope you are as pleased with it as I am.
Rob.
oldharry
Well-known member
Restricted mariners...
I dont know this specific engine - but on most small 2 strokes power restriction is acheived (as in restricting motorbike engines for learner-legality) by a restriction in the exhaust pipe which simply increases exhaust back pressure.
Make sure the carburation is not upset if you remove it, or you could overheat and damage the piston.
I dont know this specific engine - but on most small 2 strokes power restriction is acheived (as in restricting motorbike engines for learner-legality) by a restriction in the exhaust pipe which simply increases exhaust back pressure.
Make sure the carburation is not upset if you remove it, or you could overheat and damage the piston.
