randy: consider the honda long shaft 2hp if you are not in high wind/seas. for going to and from the dock and some smooth-ish water motoring the 2HP honda will do. if 2hp is too little maybe the tohotsu 3.5 long shaft (about 43 pounds) the yamaha 4hp long shaft has received good reviews (about 62 pounds) i have a suzuki 4hp long shaft (about 65 pounds) NOTE: the yamaha and suzuki 4HP motors are the same as the 6HP motors with a 'smaller' carb. :: Dave Scobie :: M17 #375 SWEET PEA - www.m17-375.webs.com :: Sage Marine - www.sagemarine.com --- On Thu, 4/12/12, Randy <randy@caffeibis.com> wrote:
I apologize for bringing up an already much discussed topic. I am downsizing my outboard motor. I have a 1978 M-17 with the cutout for the engine. I currently have an extra long shaft mounted directly to the transom. The 2.5 hp engines are not available in a long shaft let alone an extra long shaft. Do I even need a long shaft or can I mount an engine bracket to drop the engine? Will I have to lean over the back of the transom to operate? Will having a bracket set back from the transom trump lowering the engine weight by getting smaller engine?
Randy Wirth randy@caffeibis.com