Posted by Michael Katz (mgsb@…>)
This year I puchased a Freedom 38 that has an 8 foot Sevylor fold-up inflatable. My wife and I are planning to leave the Chesapeake next fall and go down the ICW to the Florida Keys for the winter. We are in the market for a portable outboard, somewhere in the 2.5–3.5 hp range. Weight is a major concern, since we will be taking it on and off constantly. For that reason alone I think I need a 2 stroke. Choices seem to be Nissan, Johnson, and Mercury. ( I had heard Yamaha was the best, but they no longer make a small 2 stroke–discontinued in 2002. I did locate a brand new 2001 Yamaha 2 stroke 3.0 hp, but it weighs 36 lbs–about 8 lbs more than the comparable 2 strokes of the other manufacturers.) Question is: Are all these outboards about the same, or is one of them clearly better, more reliable, easier to maintain. I know Johnson/Evinrude went bankrupt a while back, and are now under the same new ownership. Don’t know much about Mercury. I know Nissan makes a helluva great car! Honda did come out with a 4 stroke that weighs only 27 lbs, but it is only 2.0 hp. Any thoughts from those of you who have experience with small outboards?
Michael Katz
Posted by CRAIG WINDERMAN (crwindy@…>)
Most two strokes are remarkably reliable, especially in the small horsepower you are talking about. Nissan used to make the lightest, and I have a 3.5 horse of theirs that just won’t quit. Having said that, I got a newer and larger, but still light Avon inflatable floor dingy, and replaced the old motor with an 8 horsepower mercury. This thing weighs a ton, so I got an engine lifting davit. I am very happy with this set up, and I feel that the better dingy with bigger engine lets me anchor out farther, and do more exploring. Just something to consider. If you stay small, my 2 cents says that the Nissan won’t let you down. Also, chech the classifieds, I got both my Avon and the ‘new’ engine used, and saved substantially.Michael Katz <mgsb@…> wrote:
This year I puchased a Freedom 38 that has an 8 foot Sevylor fold-up inflatable. My wife and I are planning to leave the Chesapeake next fall and go down the ICW to the Florida Keys for the winter. We are in the market for a portable outboard, somewhere in the 2.5–3.5 hp range. Weight is a major concern, since we will be taking it on and off constantly. For that reason alone I think I need a 2 stroke. Choices seem to be Nissan, Johnson, and Mercury. ( I had heard Yamaha was the best, but they no longer make a small 2 stroke–discontinued in 2002. I did locate a brand new 2001 Yamaha 2 stroke 3.0 hp, but it weighs 36 lbs–about 8 lbs more than the comparable 2 strokes of the other manufacturers.) Question is: Are all these outboards about the same, or is one of them clearly better, more
reliable, easier to maintain. I know Johnson/Evinrude went bankrupt a while back, and are now under the same new ownership. Don’t know much about Mercury. I know Nissan makes a helluva great car! Honda did come out with a 4 stroke that weighs only 27 lbs, but it is only 2.0 hp. Any thoughts from those of you who have experience with small outboards?
Michael Katz
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Posted by jsforgey@… (jsforgey@…)
Just bought a new Mercury 3.3 for my Avon inflatable.
It is GREAT. It has great reviews from the magazines as well as from the people I spoke with that own them.
A two stroke is always going to be lighter.
I recommend the Mercury 3.3
Scott
Girlfriend
F-32 Hull Number 84