Small 4 stroke outboard engine

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joybennett

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We are looking for a new outboard engine to replace our 30 year old + Mariner which, whilst is a superb little outboard, struggles to propel us and all our junk to our boat each week.

Having read reviews all over the place and sought advice from owners of varying makes (Honda and Suzuki) when I asked for a price ofa Suzuki F2.5 yesterday, I was warned off them!

Can anyone advise of any experiences good or bad regarding Marina or Yamaha ?
 
I have a 2.5 4 stroke Yamaha outboard. It doesn't get a lot of use but it seems to be up to anything I have asked of it when we do get it wet.

Be aware that 4 strokes are much heavier than 2 stroke engines so once you get to 4 Hp the wife will struggle lifting it. :)

Tom
 
joybennett said:
We are looking for a new outboard engine to replace our 30 year old + Mariner which, whilst is a superb little outboard, struggles to propel us and all our junk to our boat each week.

Having read reviews all over the place and sought advice from owners of varying makes (Honda and Suzuki) when I asked for a price ofa Suzuki F2.5 yesterday, I was warned off them!

Can anyone advise of any experiences good or bad regarding Marina or Yamaha ?
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I think someone was correct in warning you off Suzuki if my experience is anything to go by. DF6 peeling paint and rusted away filler cap after only 2.5 years. "Sorry sir, it's out of warranty". Just not interested in customer satisfaction and would never buy another.

OTOH our Yamaha Malta was still in excellent condition after around 12 years.
 
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Before buying a Mariner check that you are not paying for the Mariner name.
It could well be a re-badged Tohatsu and cheaper in its Tohatsu livery
 
VicS said:
Before buying a Mariner check that you are not paying for the Mariner name.
It could well be a re-badged Tohatsu and cheaper in its Tohatsu livery
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All well and good if the warranty/support is the same but a cost difference usually comes from somewhere other than a sticker so double check that the whole package is the same before scrimping on purchase price as that is far from the total cost of ownership.
 
lustyd said:
All well and good if the warranty/support is the same but a cost difference usually comes from somewhere other than a sticker so double check that the whole package is the same before scrimping on purchase price as that is far from the total cost of ownership.
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+1

I spoke to Tohatsu UK recently and was informed their 5 year warranty was UK, not European so no use to me.
 
This is very subjective but I have a new mariner 3.5. Well actually it is 3 years old but scroogy here still has fuel from the first gallon can:eek: So just about run in. Three seasons occasional useage, it starts ok and runs fine if a tad erratic( lightweight flywheel?)
And heres the thing. I don't think the quality is as good as the 5hp 2 str mariner that I used for many years. Hard.
Example: This spring in bringing it out of the garage I found that the fiddly piece of internal plastic that links the fuel tap internally with the actual knob externally had just fallen off and disappeared through one of the drain slots, so it is gone. Now this is quite a useful piece and perhaps in carrying or stowing it I put pressure upwards from the external lever...likely actually...but so what? Why aren't these things assembled a bit more securely instead of relying on a flappy piece of thin steel looped over that has the integrity of a clothes peg to hold three key components together?
So i made a better bit. And drilled one hole and fitted one self tapper and a washer-why didn't a MARINE engine manufacturer do something equally solid?
So, as I say, the jury is out on this model at the moment at Boatboatman sur mer
 
Bitthe bullet and went for a 2.3hp honda last year, great little engine, pretty much bullet proof, maybe a little louder than others but that more than maked up for not worrying about water ways getting clogged up etc, think uts great having an outboard that doesnt need water :)
 
Honda engine 2.3 are fine while they are running but if you need a part which isn’t a common part you may have to wait a while before you get the part .
one other thing which may be common on other outboard engine , the blots that hold on the power head get very rusty they look like mild steel to me ( I may be wrong) when the time come to remove them you have find it impossible to do so , also the blots that hold the cable that goes onto the cab they too get rusty quickly so they need seeing too , as once rusty you will find trying to remove them you will end up braking the inner casing which isn’t cheap to replace .
Other then they are noise and they are a lot heaver then 2 stoke engine .

up to the time mine packed up I was happy with it , but the time delay of getting a new part and the way Honda handle my problem have put me off buying Honda again.
after saying that I am sure hundred have been happy with Honda .
 
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My 4st 2.5hp Yamaha came with the boat, so didn't buy it as such.

There's never been an issue with starting it, hot or cold.

I think it uses more fuel than my 2st 2hp Mariner, same usage.

If it was my own money it would be the 2.5hp Suzuki as they're lighter, that's a big plus for me.

Ronhale has them @ £495
 
joybennett said:
We are looking for a new outboard engine to replace our 30 year old + Mariner which, whilst is a superb little outboard, struggles to propel us and all our junk to our boat each week.

Having read reviews all over the place and sought advice from owners of varying makes (Honda and Suzuki) when I asked for a price ofa Suzuki F2.5 yesterday, I was warned off them!

Can anyone advise of any experiences good or bad regarding Marina or Yamaha ?
Click to expand...

I've got a 3.5 Mariner/Mercury/Tohatsu 4str. and a Honda 2.3.
The latter is noticeably lighter and better made and has been more reliable, but is noisier at low revs.

Have you considered a 2nd hand 3.5hp 2 str.? Will weigh less than the Mariner above and can be stored pretty much anyway up. 4 strs have to be laid down in a certain way and are therefore more awkward to store.
 
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