Upgrading my 3.5hp Mercury to a Suzuki 6hp?

[Tim Good]

I have a 3.5hp Mercury and she's been great. I can plane my avon inflatable at 12kts when only I'm in it but anything or anyone else and there is no chance. We'll sailing further afield and to West Africa soon and thing a more powerful outboard that can get us up rivers fast will be important.

Mine weighs about 19kg and a Susuki 6hp weighs only 24kg. Does anyone have experience with Suzuki and this model?

Any other thoughts or recommendations?

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

I have a mercury 3.5 hp 4 stroke. These engines are Tohatsu marketed by Mercury, very robust and reliable. I aslo have a 6 hp 4 stroke Tohatsu which i use for the dingy, never had any problems and is likely to be more robust than the 6 hp suzuki

 

[Tim Good]

I have a mercury 3.5 hp 4 stroke. These engines are Tohatsu marketed by Mercury, very robust and reliable. I aslo have a 6 hp 4 stroke Tohatsu which i use for the dingy, never had any problems and is likely to be more robust than the 6 hp suzuki

My issue is weight. Manhandling the 19kg Mercury down from the pushoit to the dingy is doable. I think inmight be able to stretch to 24kg with the Suzuki but it's boardline.

 

[Graham376]

We had a Suzuki DF6 and are glad to be rid of it. Unreliable starting, paint fell off just out of warranty, 2 filler caps steel innards rotted away, 2 replacement props after bushes failed without grounding. You would be safer with a second hand 2 stroke.

 

[VicS]

I have a 3.5hp Mercury and she's been great. I can plane my avon inflatable at 12kts when only I'm in it but anything or anyone else and there is no chance. We'll sailing further afield and to West Africa soon and thing a more powerful outboard that can get us up rivers fast will be important.

Mine weighs about 19kg and a Susuki 6hp weighs only 24kg. Does anyone have experience with Suzuki and this model?

Any other thoughts or recommendations?

.................. https://www.plastimo.com/en/mat-de-charge-pliant-et-amovible.html

 

[duncan99210]

.................. https://www.plastimo.com/en/mat-de-charge-pliant-et-amovible.html

I have something similar that I built myself out of stainless tube, does the job and means I no longer put my back out on a regular basis heaving the thing on and off the dinghy. I'd also aim for a two stroke if you can find one, much less temperamental than the modern four strokes which seem to have a hissy fit at the least hint of dirt in the fuel.

 

[mjcoon]

My issue is weight. Manhandling the 19kg Mercury down from the pushoit to the dingy is doable. I think inmight be able to stretch to 24kg with the Suzuki but it's boardline.

Do you have a hinged boarding ladder you can use as a crane? We tried it once and with more work it might have been worthwhile...

Mike.

 

[rotrax]

Just knocked up an outboard crane for our 24KG Suzuki 5HP four stroke. It fits around a support tube for the pilot house roof extension, swings over my home made outboard bracket and then over the dinghy's transom for lowering in place.

Cost, with two double blocks off ebay, 30mm S/S tube, strip and welding about 60 quid.

A cleat, 8mm rope, 25mm tube,ends, nuts bolts and shackles all in stock.

We would not feel comfortable without one-our previous boat had an expensive American Kato model which was a boon.

 

[lw395]

I don't think 6hp is really going to make all that much difference to planing performance.
If you want relaible planing performance with a couple of people, you'll probably need more like 8 or 10HP.
The weight is a double whammy, you need to go faster to plane with the weight, and you need more power to go as fast.
Even a small wave will knock you off the plane if you are loaded and don't have plenty of power.
It does depend on the prop size being right, the engine has to be able to rev enough non-planing, to get the power to get over the planing hump.
But then it needs to drive the boat fast on the plane without running out of revs.

Once people give up on the light and handy 2 to 3.5 HP motors, they seem to quickly end up with 9.9's and 15's.

Also, don't forget you may need to manhandle the tender and motor ashore.