Outboard upgrade (to around 4hp)

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cmedsailor

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I sometimes wish I had a bigger outboard for my 2.4m inflatable tender (Hondawave 2.4m). I am using a Honda 2hp now, relatively reliable but of little power especially with 2 adults and 2 kids on board. I would prefer something up to around 4hp (don't care if it's 2-stroke or 4-stroke) but with internal fuel tank. I definately want to avoid carrying an external fuel tank. Also I prefer something not very heavy (maximum 20 kilos).
Any ideas?
 
cmedsailor said:
I sometimes wish I had a bigger outboard for my 2.4m inflatable tender (Hondawave 2.4m). I am using a Honda 2hp now, relatively reliable but of little power especially with 2 adults and 2 kids on board. I would prefer something up to around 4hp (don't care if it's 2-stroke or 4-stroke) but with internal fuel tank. I definately want to avoid carrying an external fuel tank. Also I prefer something not very heavy (maximum 20 kilos).
Any ideas?
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Bear in mind that 4 strokes use less fuel so if you want a decent range from a small internal tank that's a point in favour of the 4 stroke.

A good few small engines are simply rebadged Tohatsus. A 4hp Tohatsu however weighs 26kg being basically the same unit as the 5 &
6hp models. A 3.5hp is lighter at 18.4kg.
 
As VicS has said the 4,5,6 Tohatsu, Mercury,Mariner are all the same engine. If you can get a 4hp it should have the internal tank which will give a fairly good range at lowish rpm then if thats still not enough power upgrade the carb to the 6hp model as i've done.
 
If you are considering 4 hp and 2 stroke IMHO you cant go wrong with an Evinrude or Johnson.

A very lightweight TWIN cylinder outboard. From memory about 16KG max!

Has an internal tank with an option for plugging in external for extended trips.

Only disadvantage is it has to be twisted round 180 degrees for reverse. But unlike the Horrendous Honda 4stroke it at least has a sensible manual clutch.

Getting harder to get hold of good ones but they do come up for sale in the ads and E bay.

Looked after and well maintained they last for years. Neglected and corroded examples should be avoided

I used my dads engine on and off for 20 years this was of a much earlier vintage (late 60's) It eventually overheated because of failure of a small rubber component that links the copper water feed tube from the impeller pump to the aluminium power head. This remains a design feature that was not improved on the later models.

Since then sourced one of the last ones imported before regulation strangled supply.
 
I often use a twelve year old but very low hour Johnson 3.5HP single cylinder outboard.

It is light, has an internal tank, is reliable, easy on the fuel and has plenty of power.

It would not start once. I had to pull the start cord again.................................
 
Without wishing to start a huge debate on weather two stroke of four stroke is better (although obviously I'm biased) I have an Evinrude 4hp twin from the mid nineties (forward and neutral with twist grip throttle) and it has been faultless, providing hour after hour of trouble free service. I change the impellor and plugs every year and not once has it failed to start. It's light enough to lift from tender to yacht and will sit any way up in any locker I choose.
My father however has a honda 2.3hp four stroke. It's an expensive, unreliable, spiteful, fussy, noisy uncontrollable little beast. It's only a kilo or two lighter than my Evinrude, produces less power, has an unpredictable centrafugal clutch that makes any attempt to go alongside a pontoon look as though you've spent an afternoon on the lash and can only be laid down on one side else it drinks it's own oil and that makes it unhappy.
Did I mention it's noisey?? It's like a modern Seagull! Why oh why would you buy one??
I'm sure there are better, quieter, more powerful, lighter and reliable four strokes out there but I don't see the need when my Evinrude does everything better

Cue people telling me I've missed the vital consideration that is fuel economy. Well, in the great scheme of things the extra egg cup of fuel that my Evinrude burns compared to my fathers Honda for a journey of the same distance (give or take a meter or two) to our moorings and it's a small price to pay for all the advantages especially when you get an extra 1.7hp.

Rant over. :o
 
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I had a Mercury 3.5 hp 4 stroke which is a Tohatsu engine, 18kg; the cdi ignition unit had to be replaced under guarantee, it overheated when the water intake got blocked with seaweed (my fault) but there was no damage, powerful and reliable engine. I sold it and I bought a new identical one, Tohatsu 3.5 hp 4 stroke,
 
TSB240 said:
If you are considering 4 hp and 2 stroke IMHO you cant go wrong with an Evinrude or Johnson.

A very lightweight TWIN cylinder outboard. From memory about 16KG max!

Has an internal tank with an option for plugging in external for extended trips.

Only disadvantage is it has to be twisted round 180 degrees for reverse. But unlike the Horrendous Honda 4stroke it at least has a sensible manual clutch.

Getting harder to get hold of good ones but they do come up for sale in the ads and E bay.

Looked after and well maintained they last for years. Neglected and corroded examples should be avoided

I used my dads engine on and off for 20 years this was of a much earlier vintage (late 60's) It eventually overheated because of failure of a small rubber component that links the copper water feed tube from the impeller pump to the aluminium power head. This remains a design feature that was not improved on the later models.

Since then sourced one of the last ones imported before regulation strangled supply.
Click to expand...

+1 I have just bought a s/h Honwave T27-1EI. My Johnson 2 cylinder 4hp 2T works very well with it and at full chat will get the boat up on the plane. The only downside is the noise so I'll be mainly running it slowly! ?
 
cmedsailor said:
So is the Tohatsu 3.5hp 2-stroke or 4-stroke? To be honest it's an outboard that I find quite interesting (and powerful).
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jerrytug said:
Two stroke is the correct answer, end of thread.
Click to expand...

The two stroke one was, still is for non recreational use or outside the EU, a two stroke

The four stroke, which replaced it in the EU in 2006 for recreational use, is a four stroke.
 
If you can get one the 2 stroke, see thread about lifting outboards. You can turn them on there heads they have plenty of power I used mine to push my Trident 24' around for a couple of seasons.

4 strokes will have there day but they have along way to go, presently I view them like the Seagull of the 2 stroke world primitive noisy, under powered and unreliable...

2 strokes had been around for so long most of the faults had been designed out of them.
 
jerrytug said:
Two stroke is the correct answer, end of thread.
Click to expand...

Yep, for a single cylinder tender engine, 2 stroke is the way to go.

Pick of the bunch IMHO is the Yamaha 5C, same weight as the 4hp at 19kg, starts 1st time every time and has intergral tank with external connection for longer range if needed. It will plane a Honwave 2.7 with an adult and child and gives hull speed with 4 adults.

Good ones sell for around £500 but are well worth it and only seem to be going up in value.
 
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Yamaha Malta 2 stroke should fit the bill if you can find a good second hand one. Having had a Suzuki DF 4 stroke, I would avoid them like the plague, I've gone back to 2 stroke Tohatsu.
 
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