Which small outboard

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Mr Cassandra

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Hi All Its been a long time since I have been on this site ,lots of new names.I need to get a new outboard which one do you recommend ? Honda 4 stroke bf2 2.3hp. or a Mariner 2 stroke 2.5It will be used in Greece bestprice I can find is £399 for Honda and £299for Mariner Is this a good price . Cheers Bob T
 
The mariners are re-badged tohatsus (so are mercury). You may be able to find a tohatsu cheaper. If you are considering the 2.5 it may be worth going for the 3.3 which, as well as the extra power (enough to make a small inflatable plane) also has a fwd/neutral gear shift. The motor is the same as the lower power version so weighs the same though it is a bit more expensive.

It's also worth having a look at what people use locally. For example almost everyone in the caribbean uses Yamaha so spares are easy to find.
 
Thanks I need it for the kids to use, the twist grip on the Honda would I think be better than the Hare and tortoise type on the Mariner, it also has the centrifugal clutch ,the problem is that there is not a good dealer service in the islands and I am not sure about Turkey
 
Depends how you will store the honda, as if it lies on the wrong side you will have an oily mess to clear up.

Tohatsu 3.5 is a great engine, it has good fuel consumption, good power to weight and is also quieter than the honda.

On the other hand the honda does have that clutch and also air cooling, but is also harder to start for a little un than the 2 stroke.
 
The problem with a centrifugal clutch is that it won't allow manoevering at tickover so you can't trickle into a berth. As soon as you shut the throttle all steering is lost.
 
I had a Honda BF2, good engine and the twist throttle was nice to have but I found it struggled a bit with two adults and a dog and it was quite noisey, mine was the 2hp so I guess the 2.3 is better. We changed it to a Mercury 3.5, quiet, powerful, very pleased with it.
 
I swear by yamaha engines, not swear at them. I have never had a moments trouble with the four I have owned. I also have a 2hp honda four stroke, surplus to requirements, but it's in Barcelona.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Depends how you will store the Honda, as if it lies on the wrong side you will have an oily mess to clear up.

Tohatsu 3.5 is a great engine, it has good fuel consumption, good power to weight and is also quieter than the Honda.

On the other hand the Honda does have that clutch and also air cooling, but is also harder to start for a little un than the 2 stroke.

[/ QUOTE ]

i had a Honda 2hp hated it noisy, twist grip / clutch was strange to use as no throttle = no stearage sold it bought Tohatsu 3.3 fantastic engine
 
Hi,
I went through this last year.
I ended up with the 3.5 Tohatsu after warm recom from this forum, at 750€, for the extra push, simplicity, noise and weight(13Kilos). Very good piece of kit.
Rgds
George
 
As Tohatsu make for re-badging most of the small end for other outboard manufacturers you might as well buy direct.

I've had a 3.5 for about 8 years and it can plane (just) me in a 2.6m annex and has given no problems (but one) in the period I've had it.

The weakness is in the clutch operating lever bush which is constantly seizing up. It's best to use the Mercury stainless steel shearpin rather than the Tohatsu bronze one which shears rather too easily.
 
I've had the 2hp mariner, very reliable and good little engine. Since bought the 3,3 tohatsu as part of a package for a new tender and found the extra power and the neutral start/stop very useful. Same weight, so no extra problems.
 
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