Hi: I have a 4 hp 4 stroke Mercury that has worked well for motoring in the San Juans in currents, etc. I’m not crazy about it on my local reservoir and often leave it in the garage and use an electric motor, since it is much lighter, allows me better performance sailing. The gas motor weighs between 60 and 70 pounds. I sail all winter with the electric motor on the reservoir. I Pete WinterSky (Zimowsky) an old salty stuck in the sagebrush outdoors writer and photographer www.getoutdoorsnorthwest.com <http://www.getoutdoorsnorthwest.com/> Twitter: @zimosoutdoors "The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it," - — Robert Swan, Arctic explorer and climate activist
On Oct 13, 2020, at 3:55 PM, John Schinnerer via montgomery_boats <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> wrote:
There's been several prior long threads on motors in the last couple years, you might look those up in the archives. They cover about all the ground there is to cover.
There are a few more propane options in the last year or two. They all weigh within a pound or two of equivalent gas HP.
My succinct summary:
For any reasonably recent production outboard - if you want a reverse gear, you have to get a 4hp or up. No reverse on smaller ones.
That will be a ~58-60 lb. motor, if Tohatsu/Mercury or Honda. Suzuki claims a handful of lbs. lighter (54-55 for the 4 or 6). For quite a while now, in 4-6 hp range, all manufacturers use same carcass (they just strangle the carb to reduce HP rating). That means same weight for 4, 5, or 6 hp.
I am a gear-head and research things thoroughly (especially when they cost as much as a new outboard). After lots of study and inquiry, I ended up getting a Honda 2.3hp long shaft and I'm quite happy with it. It is simple and reliable and light (30 lbs). Sips fuel for the most part.
There's also the Suzuki 2.5hp - might be a bit quieter (water cooled vs. air cooled - and, needs cooling system maintenance). It's cheaper than the Honda by ~$150. F-N gearbox instead of centrifugal clutch. Don't know how it compares for quality/reliability. Same weight.
Add 10-12 lbs, and you can get a 3.5 Tohatsu/Mercury. Still no reverse gear though.
Those are your options, basically, unless you find some unusual make or something used from another era that suits better.
I have tested my Honda 2.3hp on my M17 in glassy water to high winds with resultant chop (20-25 and gusty). It has enough power. I lose only about half a knot of speed cruising into 15-20 mph winds vs. glassy water. At 1/3 throttle and no wind, I'm going 3.8-4.0 knots; at half throttle no wind I'm going ~4.5 knots.
After that, in calm air, hull speed limitations start to kick in and I gain very little speed from more throttle. But the throttle is still there if there's headwinds and I want to maintain ~4 knots.
There are no doubt situations I could get myself into where the motor would not be enough. I suspect that in most of those situations, no motor would be enough, because it's not just about the horsepower.
My main wish is that there were high-thrust props available for these smaller motors. The standard props are not designed for heavy displacement hulls, so they are not as efficient as they could be (meaning we could get more push from the same moto, with a prop designed for the type of boat we have). Some of the larger (6+ hp) outboards sold as sail auxiliaries can be had with props designed for heavy displacement hulls, but I've been unable to find anything like that for smaller outboards. They work fine anyhow! Just wishing...
cheers, John
On 10/13/20 12:40 PM, Andrei Caldararu via montgomery_boats wrote:
Hello fellow Monty owners, my 1982 M17 came with a trusty old Evinrude 4hp, 2 cylinder version (see attached, old picture). Advantage -- lightweight (35lbs). Disadvantages -- works only sometimes, and has left me stranded a number of times in no-wind conditions; very noisy; uses smelly gasoline -- my wife complains about this a lot; no reverse; no alternator. Recently it has caused me enough troubles that I decided to try looking for another motor. One model that I was looking at was the Tohatsu Propane 5hp which seemed to do everything right. Until I looked at the weight -- well over 65 lbs! As currently set up, my boat has the original fixed motor mount, and I leave the Evinrude there all the time, including when trailering long distances. Never had a problem. After seeing the weight of the Tohatsu, I started having doubts that it would be a good idea to get it. I fear that keeping it on the mount all the time will damage my transom or my mount during trailering. Three questions: a) Does anyone have experience with keeping a heavy motor on the mount all the time?b) If the Tohatsu is not the right one, are there recommendations for a lightweight, reliable, motor for the M17 that is quiet and has reverse? I don't think the Honda 2hp is powerful enough for the M17. c) Alternatively, do people feel that I may simply be better off doing a complete refurbishing of my Evinrude? I could get it in tip top shape for about $150, I guess. I am handy with mechanicals, and I have in the past replaced points, condensers, etc. Thanks for all your comments!Andrei.
-- John Schinnerer - M.A., Whole Systems Design -------------------------------------------- - Eco-Living - Whole Systems Design Services People - Place - Learning - Integration john@eco-living.net - 510.982.1334 http://eco-living.net http://sociocracyconsulting.com