Aha, OK! Haven't looked at offerings since I researched for a year or so before buying my Honda. Good for them! Lehr was the only propane option back then and no 20" shaft. I wrote them and said they could have a corner on the pocket cruiser auxiliary market if they put out a 20" model. They said they'd take it under consideration but no immediate plans to produce one. Looks like they got passed up by Tohatsu. Tohatsu makes Mercury's small motors, or at least they did up to a couple years ago. They are literally the same motor with a different branding, I looked at both back when I was shopping. cheers, John On 5/20/20 10:16 AM, Rob Bultman wrote:
John, both Mercury and Tohatsu are making 20" propane models.
On Wed, May 20, 2020, 12:55 PM John Schinnerer via montgomery_boats <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com <mailto:montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com>> wrote:
Is someone making a 20" shaft propane now? I looked into the Lehr models but they only had short shaft a couple years ago. They are a bit heavier for same HP as gas motors (2.3 and 3.5 hp gas that is - as mentioned if you go to 4 hp you have the weight of a 6 hp).
More shortly re my setup...
cheers, John
On 5/20/20 8:21 AM, Rob Bultman wrote: > Thanks or the replies so far. I'm frankly on the fence regarding gas vs > propane. I'm leaning towards the Mercury 5 HP sail power model, 20" long > shaft, mostly because it has reverse on the handle. Is the 20" adequate or > is the extra long shaft better? > > Dave - I have a 1977 M17 with the cutout. I've attach two photos that I > happen to have that show the transom of my actual boat. What is the > concern here? > > Thanks, > Rob > > On Wed, May 20, 2020 at 10:17 AM Dave Scobie <scoobscobie@gmail.com <mailto:scoobscobie@gmail.com>> wrote: > >> Rob: >> >> First a question for you - what year is your M17? There is one issue that >> relates to the older 'first desk version' Mk1 boats with the outboard >> cutout in the transom that is different than the second generation Mk2 >> boats. >> >> A 4HP motor is more than enough for the M17. Sadly there are no more true >> 4HP motors made - most are now the same as a 6HP with de-rated carbs. This >> also means the motors weigh more than a true 4HP motor. Weight aft is >> bad. (Motor I always wish I had was the true 4HP Yamaha.). The new Honda >> 4/5/6 are excellent but way to heavy. I had a Suzuki 4 (6 is the same >> motor with external tank and alternator options). >> >> Place your external tank at the aft end of the cockpit footwell. Two >> reasons: #1 is the aft locker of the Mk2 boats is NOT safe for fuel storage >> as it is open to the cabin. #2 is the fuel can sitting at the aft end of >> the cockpit will encourage you to sit at the proper location near the head >> of the tiller NOT at the back of the cockpit! For most M17s this sitting >> location is just aft of the cockpit mainsheet floor traveler track (again >> there are some differences in the boats with traveler placement). >> >> The gas can doesn't get in the way. >> >> Propane has some negatives - mainly fuel tank storage, less range, >> refilling when cruising and the Lehr build quality is poor. IMO gasoline >> is still the best bet for a cruiser. >> >> >> :: Dave Scobie >> :: M6'8" #650 >> :: SV SWALLOW - sv-swallow.com <http://sv-swallow.com> >> :: former owner M17 #375 SWEET PEA - m17-375.com <http://m17-375.com> >> :: former owner M15 #288 SCRED - www.freewebs.com/m15-named-scred/ <http://www.freewebs.com/m15-named-scred/> >> >> >> On Wed, May 20, 2020, 4:31 AM Rob Bultman <rob.bultman@gmail.com <mailto:rob.bultman@gmail.com>> wrote: >> >>> I'm looking at getting an outboard for my M17 and I have a few questions. >>> >>> 1) If you have an external fuel tank, where do you keep it when you are >>> under sail? >>> 2) If you have an external fuel tank, where do you keep it when you are >>> under power? >>> 3) To what degree does the fuel tank get in the way either when under >> sail >>> or power? >>> 4) Any opinions on gasoline vs propane outboards? >>> >>> Thanks, >>> Rob >>> >>
-- John Schinnerer - M.A., Whole Systems Design -------------------------------------------- - Eco-Living - Whole Systems Design Services People - Place - Learning - Integration john@eco-living.net <mailto:john@eco-living.net> - 510.982.1334 http://eco-living.net http://sociocracyconsulting.com
-- 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