WOT Outboard ?

[owendov17]

My 2 HP Yamaha has given up the ghost after spending two weeks on it back.
It is my intenton to use a Mirror dinghy as a tender. My boat is some half a mile from the hammer head at West Mersea so it need to push the Mirror on at a resonable rate.
Any opinions about the Honda 2HP 4 stroke, What benifits or othersise of the next size up,
Opinions on :-
Performance
Weight to lift on board

etc
would be of help.
Where do Seagull outboards go are there any good second hand ones out there ?

 

[charles_reed]

I'd recommend the 3.5hp Tohatsu - it's the Mercury/Mariner 3.3 undisguised and about 75% of their price and will probably get your Mirror +1 up on the plane.
It's a lot lighter and more powerful than the Honda, about the same weight as your current engine, and has the advantage of a F/N clutch.
Spares are reasonably priced, starting has always been prompt, in the 10 years I've had this and its predecessor and it's suffered several seawater duckings without any ill-effects.
I had a Mercury 2.2 before that and discovered that Tohatsu made all the smaller 2-stroke outboards for re-badging by the other o/b manufacturers at a far lower price.
Incidentally Tohatsu are the world's oldest outboard manufacturer.

 

[owendov17]

Good tip Thanks very much

 

[parm]

3.5hp is plenty . I was out today in a 8 ft ply dinghy with a 5hp mercury 2 stroke which was way over powered fine with 2 people 1 up front to keep front down but with only 1 onboarb the bow was way up in the air

 

[spark]

The 2hp 4-stroke Honda came up in a recent conversation with an outboard mechanic. He says they are very cheaply built with plastic valves which cause trouble after a couple of years. For a wee engine his advice is to go for a 2-stroke. (He loves the bigger Honda 4-strokes - 10hp and up - hich he says are very well made).

 

[samwise]

We are in the middle of our season with a new Honda 2 four stroke. We are well pleased. Easy starter, light to handle. Fuel tank is a bit small so fill up before you leave or take a can with you -- just in case

 

[ToMo]

Fully agree with you, ours is pushing a 2.65 Wetline with SWMBO, 2 Airedales and self - no problems!

TôMö

 

[dickh]

S/H Seagull Outboards...

Yes, there are plenty still around - see www.saving-old-seagulls.co.uk
John often has some for sale and is very knowledgeable.


dickh
I'd rather be sailing...

 

[dickh]

I have the early Honda 2HP and am pleased with it and it is certainly powerful enough on the Deben entrance with tides up to 4 knots - BUT if I was to buy another outboard I would seriously consider a 2 stroke - Why? - my other half cannot start the Honda, it is heavier and larger than the equivalent 2 stroke, and with modern 2 strokes the environmental advantages of the Honda are marginal. Most 2 strokes seem to start very easily, whereas the Honda always needs 3/4 hard pulls from cold.

dickh
I'd rather be sailing...

 

[Joe_Cole]

2 hp is OK for most tenders. The only reason I went for a 3.3 hp is that, in an emergency I've got some power if my main engine packs up....but my boat is only 7 metres.

Joe Cole

 

[Sammy]

I have a Honda 2 and had the previous version for about 5 yrs used every wk end never a problem.
Had to tow my sail boat with it at wk end (Sadler 34) and was surprised it pushed it along at just under 3Kts at about 3/4 throttle.
I would not go back to a 2 stroke now



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