to add another point of view on this topic - i believe the best motor for the M17 is 4HP. the best motor that _was_ available _was_ the 'old' yamaha 4HP, 4-cycle, long shaft. this motor weighted about 40ish pounds, had an external fuel tank option, had F-N-R gearing and was water cooled. the sad truth is yamaha discontinued the 'old' 4HP powerhead and now uses, like most outboard manufacturers, the same powerhead as the 6HP ... the difference is in the carburetor. for this reason you are hauling around the extra weight of a 6HP motor ... both 6HP and the weight are not needed on the M17. the bonus' with a 6HP motor is you get into the range of outboards that have an alternator ... but you are running the motor at such low RPM (ie, 6HP is way more motor than needed) you likely are getting little, if any, current from the alternator. the second 'bonus' is an external fuel tank. i have a Suzuki 4HP outboard on my M17. HEAVY motor that hasn't failed me; but also hasn't been 'my favorite' motor. the Suzuki 4HP is the same as the 6HP but without an external fuel tank and a different carb. i have motored into 3' seas, 20+ knot headwinds, and with/against some strong tides with no concerns (remember, when 'battling' tides you really can't overcome the M17's hull-speed limitation so understand how fast she will go and how she will behave when the tide is with, or against, you). again, 4HP is a good 'size' match for the M17. There is the 3.5HP Merc/Tohatsu (Tohatsu makes the motor) as was already shared. at a light 43# dry weight in the long shaft model this is a good weight and 'power' combination. the issue comes if you can find a modification for an external fuel tank. Tohatsu also makes the Nissan outboards. Honda's 5HP is very popular on the M17s. good and reliable motor that has an external fuel tank, F-N-R gears ... but weights in at 60#. there are some folks using short shaft outboards on M17s with adjustable height outboard brackets. I have seen this with 2.5 to 3.5 outboards that only come in short-shaft versions. the negative is if there is weight (such as me at 220#) at the bow the prop will experience cavitation. there is also an issue of cavitation if motoring into a high sea ... more than a few-ish feet. warning ... when using a water cooled outboard cavitation likely means the motor isn't able to get water and this will quickly destroy the cooling system impeller and then the motor. 'paintboy' (aka, Stan) did mention the Honda 2HP. this is a very nice motor. i use this motor myself and have always found it to be reliable. this is from using a number of Honda 2HPs ... i currently use three and had one on my M15. the 2HP is enough to push an M17 at acceptable motoring speeds in calm-ish seas and calm-ish winds (about 4.5 knots). the weight of the honda 2HP is also great! about 30# including the long shaft, oil and fuel. the negative is there is no 'official' external fuel tank option. as the motor is air cooled you also avoid the issue of water pump failure and maintenance (paying someone to do the maintenance on a water pump is _expensive_). for 'just going from the dock and back' the 2HP Honda cannot be beat. the next best is, if you can find one, the 'old' 40# 4HP Yamaha. in closing an important consideration: if you are not into doing your own motor maintenance purchase an outboard from a local shop that can also do the servicing. having a 'local guy or gal' that can service the motor is a great help. oh ya ... one more thing ... Ronald, do you expect to get you M17 in time to attend the Lake Havasu Pocket Cruisers Convention? a great event you should have on your 'bucket list'. :: Dave Scobie :: M17 #375 SWEET PEA - www.m17-375.webs.com --- On Sun, 9/23/12, Ronald McNeil <ronaldwmcneil@yahoo.com> wrote:
Hi, I have a new M17 on order and I’m now shopping for a motor. I was planning to go with the Yamaha 4hp, but if I go with the Mercury 3.5 it would only weigh 40lbs vs. 60lbs, which I like. My biggest concern I guess with either of these is their ability to motor into a strong head wind. Does any have experience motoring in stong wind with these or like size motors on an M17?