Which outboard?

[jwilson]

Thanks to everyone for the advice. A 3.5 Hp 4 stroke is looking favourite despite the recommendations for 2 stroke, simply because I don't want the hassle associated with mixing 2 stroke oil/fuel in such small quantities, and I'd like to get something with a meaningful warranty... ie not a brand new updated 2 stroke from eBay!

There's a lot more hassle with four-strokes, more to go wrong, more to service, only lay down one way, and more weight to carry around.

The whole "anti-pollution two-stroke ban" thing makes sense for big engines where the amounts of fuel and oil used is significant, but a 2 to 4hp outboard for a tender uses such a tiny amount of fuel and oil each year that overall the extra pollution from building a more complex piece of machinery in the first place, as well as throwing away crankcase oil at every annual service, must outweigh it greatly.

 

[JClarkes]

Just get your self a simple Yamaha 2hp 2 stroke. I have a slated bottom also and the current in Ballydorn can be fast. The 2hp does fine. If it ever gets a problem, its usually dirt and can be stripped very easily, cleaned and built back together. There is nothing to them. Go for a second hand one and try it out, if it doesnt do the job then you shouldnt loose any money on it.

 

[jordanbasset]

4-strokes are heavier per horsepower and, in the experience of most of the people I know, a lot less reliable. I would stick with a 2-stroke.

- W

Without wishing to be too controversial that is the complete opposite to what I have found, the majority of people use 4 stroke and are happy with them.

 

[jwilson]

Without wishing to be too controversial that is the complete opposite to what I have found, the majority of people use 4 stroke and are happy with them.

I am very happy with bigger 4-strokes, particularly for safety boat/fishing boat type usage, where much of the time you may be poodling around at low speeds. Two-strokes definitely dislike this, they can foul up plugs and give a lot of smoke when next given some throttle.

But for a 2 - 3.5 hp engine on a yacht tender the engine is running at plenty of throttle typically 95% of the time, burning fuel/oil cleanly. The engines are incredibly simple, and much lighter than the four-stroke equivalent. My money is on two-strokes for tenders, hence one in use and a virtually unused one, bought new just before they were banned, sitting in the cellar. The one in the cellar I ran for two hours up the river, just to run it in a bit, and then washed out, oiled and stored.