I'm looking to buy one for a 10ft rubber ducky. Anyone any preferences as to brand?
KB
2.5hp 4-stroke outboards
(5 posts) (4 voices)-
MisterMoon
MemberI'd buy a Yamaha, Tohatsu (Mercury), or a Suzuki over the Honda 2.3. Honda is air cooled and the others are water cooled. I'm not a big fan of the noise made by the Hondas. The others are marginally quieter. Also, the Honda does not have a neutral, the others have foward and neutral gears, and all have to be spun 360 degrees for reverse. I think the Suzuki is the lightest of the water cooled, but make sure you can get service nearby. I'd buy either the Yamaha or Tohatsu/Mercury as my first choices. I have a larger Tohatsu on Bandaloop that's been excellent.
Posted 10 months ago # -
danceswithmullet
MemberHonda uses a centrifugal clutch instead of a shifter. Unusually prone to carb clogging and they use steel bolts instead of stainless in many applications which makes service difficult.
Suzuki has had severe corrosion issues and getting parts difficult in the past, not sure if resolved.
Yamaha is pretty much always good.
I have an 8hp 2 stroke tohatsu/nissan and a 3.3hp stroke merc/tohatsu. The 3.3 has been through hell and is probably the most trouble free motor I have ever had. The AK 47 of outboards. Sounds like you are set on a 4 stroke but the merc 3.3s are plentiful, light and seem immune to corrosion isues. There is a 2.5 version same motor seems to be the same whether badged yamaha,tohatsu, nissan or merc. All say made in japan. I am glad to contribute some confusion. DWM.Posted 10 months ago # -
Archangel
MemberKristen, do you plan to use primarily on fresh or saltwater? I would say air cooled is safer for saltwater because your not running saltwater through it, nor does it have to be rinsed after every use. We have had a Honda 2hp four stroke on our 23 ft Osprey since we launched it in 2010. Just changed the oil every year. Trouble free. Powers 1100 lbs multihull at 6 knots. Very happy with it!
Have not had experience with the other options, so I cannot speak to them personally.
Posted 10 months ago # -
danceswithmullet
MemberArchangel look over your honda carefully I had a friend asked me to fix his. It siezed while running. First I checked oil, none, added oil=oil all over shop floor. Stamped steel valve cover had rusted through the bottom. Couldn't remove valve cover due to rusted shroud bolts. Cut shroud since this motor was probably poop anyways and drilling out 4 bolts is not fun. Installed new valve cover added oil, engine was free but connecting rod snapped while trying to start so I quit there. Not a difficult fix if it wasn't having to drill out all the rusted bolts. If your bolts still have heads pull them and replace with stainless while you still can and inspect your lower valve cover. This motor sat on the back of a sailboat in saltwater but was only maybe 6 years old. I do still have a 1982 honda 2hp hanging in the rafters it looks the same as today's motors under the cowling. DWM
Posted 10 months ago #
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