Small outboard with electric start

[Ian_Edwards]

What's the lightest 4stroke outboard with an electric start???

Suzuki make a DF9.9A with and electric start option, but it weighs 40Kg!

My current DF2.5 weighs in at 13kg, which I can manage to lift off the dinghy onto the boat. I could probably lift a little more with practice, it's not the weight so much as the angle that outboard hangs at when lifted. I also want to avoid yet more clutter on the stern, in the form of a outboard crane.

The DF2.5 is OK as far as power is concerned, but some members of the crew can't start it and it can kick back like a mule.

It seems to me that there is a market opportunity for a small lightweight outboard with and electric start.

 

[pvb]

I don't think you'll find an electric start outboard much below 40kg.

There are better solutions to pull-starting. My Stihl chainsaw has something called ErgoStart - you just pull the starter cord out, this winds up a spring, when the spring is fully wound, it releases and starts the engine. Pulling the cord is smooth, not speed dependent, and with no kickback. There's no reason why this technology couldn't be incorporated into small outboards.

 

[penfold]

I don't think you'll find an electric start outboard much below 40kg.

There are better solutions to pull-starting. My Stihl chainsaw has something called ErgoStart - you just pull the starter cord out, this winds up a spring, when the spring is fully wound, it releases and starts the engine. Pulling the cord is smooth, not speed dependent, and with no kickback. There's no reason why this technology couldn't be incorporated into small outboards.

That technology is as old as the hills; windy up spring starters have been around for decades, usually attached to emergency generators, firepumps etc. I imagine the tricky bit would be making it water resistant.

 

[pvb]

That technology is as old as the hills; windy up spring starters have been around for decades, usually attached to emergency generators, firepumps etc. I imagine the tricky bit would be making it water resistant.

Yes, wind-up spring starters are well established, but they require winding and then manually tripping. The Stihl ErgoStart does the whole thing automatically.

 

[Seajet]

Some older boat inboards had a 'dynostart' spring system, as described- I think it may have been an option on Dolphins & Stuart Turners among others.

 

[VicS]

What's the lightest 4stroke outboard with an electric start???

Suzuki make a DF9.9A with and electric start option, but it weighs 40Kg!

My current DF2.5 weighs in at 13kg, which I can manage to lift off the dinghy onto the boat. I could probably lift a little more with practice, it's not the weight so much as the angle that outboard hangs at when lifted. I also want to avoid yet more clutter on the stern, in the form of a outboard crane.

The DF2.5 is OK as far as power is concerned, but some members of the crew can't start it and it can kick back like a mule.

It seems to me that there is a market opportunity for a small lightweight outboard with and electric start.

Tohatsu offer electric starting on the 8hp and upwards. The 8HP weighs 37 kg

 

[pvb]

Tohatsu offer electric starting on the 8hp and upwards. The 8HP weighs 37 kg

The manual 8hp weighs 37kg; the electric start version is 40kg.

 

[David2452]

Some older boat inboards had a 'dynostart' spring system, as described- I think it may have been an option on Dolphins & Stuart Turners among others.

Dynastart is actually a combined starter / generator system on STs not a spring device.

 

[macd]

Leccy start requires lectrickery, dunnit? That means lead, which no-one has found a way of making light. Then you need a charging facility...

 

[PaulJS]

I don't think you'll find an electric start outboard much below 40kg.

There are better solutions to pull-starting. My Stihl chainsaw has something called ErgoStart - you just pull the starter cord out, this winds up a spring, when the spring is fully wound, it releases and starts the engine. Pulling the cord is smooth, not speed dependent, and with no kickback. There's no reason why this technology couldn't be incorporated into small outboards.

As you can surmise from the "Which Outboard" thread I started yesterday, I've done a bit of internet research recently about small outboards, and I'm sure that I read that one of the modern outboards, Suzuki I think, has this, or a very similar method on their small engines.

Paul

 

[pvb]

As you can surmise from the "Which Outboard" thread I started yesterday, I've done a bit of internet research recently about small outboards, and I'm sure that I read that one of the modern outboards, Suzuki I think, has this, or a very similar method on their small engines.

You're right! It's Selva, who have an "Easy Pull" system on their 2.5hp Seahorse motor.

 

[Lakesailor]

The DF2.5 is OK as far as power is concerned, but some members of the crew can't start it and it can kick back like a mule.

Perhaps some operator training is required. Many people pull savagely at the pull cord without having felt the point of compression first. Pull it gently over compression then let the cord back in. Now pull it to start, giving plenty of time to create rotation before a compression. Pull long and steady, rather than viciously.
If the motor is lower than the straight pull use the other hand on the cord to maintain the pull angle. (sort of a double-handed swing).

If it's kicking back are you using enough choke?

 

[Ian_Edwards]

Thanks to everyone for their input, it confirms my own searches, and that no one sells a small lightweight outboard with an electric start.

I take the point about crew training, I don't have a problem starting the Suzuki DF2.5, except when I dunked it!

However, certain female members of the crew are "mechanically challenged" to the point where they find it hard to put diesel in the car .... so the very thought of pulling out a coke and using a recoil start, and then putting the coke in, isn't something they want to know about.

This means I'm usually the ferryman, my hope was that someone would have recognised the commercial opportunity.

 

[penfold]

However, certain female members of the crew are "mechanically challenged" to the point where they find it hard to put diesel in the car .... so the very thought of pulling out a coke and using a recoil start, and then putting the coke in, isn't something they want to know about.

This means I'm usually the ferryman, my hope was that someone would have recognised the commercial opportunity.

Tell them to learn how to row?

 

[macd]

so the very thought of pulling out a coke and using a recoil start, and then putting the coke in

Your outboard runs on coke? Keeps the carb clean, I suppose, but don't the bubbles mess up the jetting?