i've not seen anyway to get a true external fuel feed system on the Honda 2 (i've looked and looked). the usual methods - * rig an external tank that hooks onto the filler cap. use the bulb to put in some fuel every 15-20 minutes. this system involves creating a fuel tank vent line so you don't 'squirt' fuel out of the fuel cap vent. * rig an external tank with a bump bulb where the hose has a stop valve at the end. every 15-20 minutes unscrew the honda's fuel cap and use bulb to put in a few squirts of fuel. * third, which is what i use, is to use a fuel 1 gallon fuel can to fill the honda's tank. not at all fun if the sea is up. i have a secondary 3 gallon fuel can that i use to fill the smaller fuel can. the 1 gallon fuel can is much easier to control than a 3.5 gallon can. the best cans to use are the now 'illegal to purchase' fuel cans. the cans you can now buy require the use of three or four hands - one to hold, one to control, and another one (or two) to use the 'EPA approved filler valve that leaks all over the place'. * fourth, some folks fill smaller jugs that they can invert and fill the honda's tank. safer is the 1L size that are designed to hold white gas (used by backpackers for stove fuel). some folks use 1L soda-type bottles ... i don't recommend this because of the BOOM danger. if honda, or other small outboard manufacturer, provided a 3HP or smaller motor that had an external tank there would be a LOT of happy trailer sailors out there that sail in 17' and less sized boats. my range experiences with the honda 2HP are as follows - on a Montgomery 15 the motor pushes the boat along at 4.3 knots at just over 1/2 throttle. at this speed can go about 1 hour to 1 hour 15 min between fillups. on a Sage 17 the motor pushes the boat along at 4.5 knots at 2/3rd throttle. at this speed can go about 45 minutes between fillups. i always think range in hours, not miles ... comes from all my time sailing in places where you always seem to have a contrary tide 2/3rd of the time ;-) with four gallons on board i figured i had about 15 hours of motoring ability on my M15. on Sage 17 i figure i have about 11 hours of range. :: Dave Scobie :: M17 #375 - SWEET PEA - www.m17-375.webs.com :: Sage Marine --- On Sun, 1/29/12, Tom Jenkins <tjenk@gte.net> wrote:
Well put, Stan. I have a Honda 5 because it came with my 17, but I would have chosen the 2 if I had to buy it. I don't know what the range is on the integral tank, and I have pitied folks filling their tank in bumpy water, but there is probably a trick way to tap into the system without standing up with a gas can.
Tom
On Jan 28, 2012, at 10:38 PM, Stan Susman wrote:
I just want to chime in on the outboard question. IMHO you need to know what kind of sailing or motoring you really want to do. For me who owns several boats it may be a lot different then you. When I sail my 17 I want to sail. When I use the motor it's usually for a short time or maybe going to weather in a long narrow channel getting to where I want to sail, or just getting somewhere when there's no wind. The other thing I want is light weight . I don't want to lift anything near a 6 hp motor any more, nor do I want the damn thing hanging on the transom. I'm also tired of 2 strokes getting blue smoke and oil on my tuna sandwiches. Enter the Honda 2hp. I had serious doubt that this was enough poop for my fat little 17 but I was wrong. It pushes it a nearly hull speed in flat water and was way blown away how well it did one afternoon towing another lapstrake 17 footer with a lazy crew in after a race. Have I tried going to weather in 30 knots of wind with 3 ft. chop? nope. But I know I could motor sail into it if need be. Anyway it works for me and I'm just pickled tink I got what I got. I actually doubt that it only makes 2 hp. I think the 2 has now become a 2.5 hp and I wonder if they changed anything?/
Stan