Hi,

I am in the process of replacing our outboard for a 20 foot swing keel spacesailer.

Primary goal is to get a unit that is light enough to easily remove off the transom and still give enough thrust for pushing a bit of tide / windage drag. The eternal dilemma!

The bracket on the transom is pretty low and the 5HP unit I have is a real struggle to lift on and off. Due to the transom hung rudder there is not a notched transom like a hood 23 etc to easily access the bracket.

I think I could "get away" with a 3.3hp unit, but I am struggling to find one with a Reverse Gear - Pivoting the engine through 180 degrees is tricky due to clearance to the transom.

Any thoughts on my options?

Fiesta said..

Hi,

I am in the process of replacing our outboard for a 20 foot swing keel spacesailer.

Primary goal is to get a unit that is light enough to easily remove off the transom and still give enough thrust for pushing a bit of tide / windage drag. The eternal dilemma!

The bracket on the transom is pretty low and the 5HP unit I have is a real struggle to lift on and off. Due to the transom hung rudder there is not a notched transom like a hood 23 etc to easily access the bracket.

I think I could "get away" with a 3.3hp unit, but I am struggling to find one with a Reverse Gear - Pivoting the engine through 180 degrees is tricky due to clearance to the transom.

Any thoughts on my options?

5 hp tohatsu 2 stroke single cylinder is the lightest,most reliable and cost effective outboard on the market... It's weight is 19kg and I quite often lift it from my tender up onto my yacht without to much trouble.

cisco said..

southace said..
5 hp tohatsu 2 stroke single cylinder is the lightest,most reliable and cost effective outboard on the market... It's weight is 19kg and I quite often lift it from my tender up onto my yacht without to much trouble.

That would be the same engine as a Mercury or Mariner wouldn't it???

Do they sell the Tohatsu 3.5 still? The 3.5 had a gearbox, 2.5 did not. 3.5 with a nozzle would be fine. the 3.5 is the same as a Mercury and a Nissan, not sure about Mariner.

Thanks all, Looking at the Tohatsu 4 HP next week. Is it best to drain integral tanks after use?

Cheers

Don,
Yes weight is the issue so staying with the 2 stroke, I think you are correct the 4 HP is the same engine as the 5 HP, with a different injection fitting. So may go to the 5HP depending on the cost differential.

Cheers

Of course there is going to be a huge difference, The five horse is a twenty percent power increase over the four horse, so this being a form of Pr1ck tax I expect the five to be at least twenty percent dearer.

Or as the salesman will attempt to explain it; "Oh no sir the the five horsepower model whilst it may look the same is an entirely new motor with very much different and much more expensive technology"

Yep, or in some cases they are fitted with restrictor plates in the induction system or a smaller carby. Remove those and or replace, Voila! Instant extra power.