Choosing a Used Outboard Motor

30 years ago American manufacturers lead the outboard motor marketplace.Names such as Mercury, Johnson, Evinrude and Chrysler, directed the field competing with each other to produce larger and larger outboard engines. Nevertheless, even though this was going on they were brushing aside the smallest of the outboards. These are the outboard motors that sell in the greatest of numbers and are usually the initial outboard several of us, purchase. This being the case numerous of us stick to the same brand (brand loyalty) as we buy other bigger outboards over the years. The Japanese seized on this fact and gradually Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Tohatsu concentrating on modest outboards began to take over as marketplace leaders. They achieved this domination by improving efficiency and reliability. As well as adding features to these small outboards previously only found on larger engines.

The Japanese manufacturers expanded up the power range. They again came to dominate the outboard engine marketplace up to at least 20 hp. The American manufacturers instead of competing with the Japanese, gave up and decided to acquire these engines from the Japanese and badge them as their own. Now the Chinese have entered the market. Basically doing what the Japanese did previously, copying the greatest features of the present engines and at the exact same time keeping costs down.

So let us compare the usedoutboard motors that are on supply for those looking for an outboard motor for their dinghy. If we take a fairly larger dinghy say, a Pioner 12, every outboard has to push a reasonably heavy weight through the water. If we then take the following outboard motors :

Mercury 2.5hp; Mercury three.5hp; Mariner 2.5hp; Tohatsu three.5hp; Yamaha 2.5hp; Suzuki 2.5hp; Honda 2.3hp; and a Parsun 2.6hp. These outboards are 4 stroke engines, due to an E.U. Directive that prevents 2 strokes from being sold in the European.Union. These outboards will offer a fairly wide range of engines readily available on the market, for powering dinghies.

To judge one used boat motor against the yet another various tests had been completed. A Bollard pull test showed that the Mercury three.5hp and Tohatsu three.5hp were the most powerful at 90lbs of thrust (These two engines along with the Mariner are virtually identical). The least efficient was the Honda 2.3hp at 66lbs of thrust. In between were the Suzuki 2.5hp at 83lbs of thrust, the Yamaha 2.5hp at 78lbs of thrust and the Parsun 2.6hp at 70 lbs of thrust.

Next test was Fuel Consumption. At full speed - 5.75 knots, the finest outboards had been the Yamaha 2.5hp and the Suzuki 2.5hp by at least 20%. The worst was the Parsun 2.6hp. When the throttles had been eased and the dinghy was cruising the Fuel Consumption comparision was much less evident, only about 10% difference. All these figures are for 4 stroke engines. Even so, based on figures previously recorded for 2 strokes under similar circumstances, the older engines were up to 50% much less fuel efficient at full speed. Really thirsty! Remember 2 stroke outboards are still readily available second hand.

Then the weight of every outboard motor was compared. Four stroke engines are heavier than older 2 strokes because of the powerhead etc. The Mercury, Mariner, Tohatsu, Yamaha and Parsun all weighed approx. 38 - 41 lbs (18 kg.). Nevertheless, the Honda 2.3hp and Suzuki 2.5hp weighed a lot much less at 28 lbs (12.5 kg.).
The price of every outboard motor was then compared. This was challenging to be accurate as discounts and sale provides are always changing.
Although the Parsun was the cheapest and it is virtually identical the same engine as in the Yamaha 2.5hp, it is not as excellent. It is a bit like me following a Gordon Ramsay recipe, to the letter, but when compared side by side you just know that his is going to be that much far better. The Chinese are able to copy, just like the Japanese did just before them, but they have not got it right, yet!

Finally a little about each employed outboard tested. The Mercury, Mariner and Tohatsu are the exact same engine. Starting settings for the throttle are simple to fully grasp with the choke and stop button clearly labelled. The petrol on/off tap is not so clearly marked. All these motors have gears. Ahead and neutral then using the 360 degree rotation you can get astern thrust. There are 4 tilt positions and a shallow water capacity. Oil levels can be quickly checked by viewing the indicator on the side of the engine cover.

The Yamaha 2.5hp also had simply understood beginning and stopping settings but the oil level gauge was out of sight under the engine casing cover. As with the Mercury outboard the Yamaha 2.5hp has gears, ahead and neutral with 360 degree rotation. Unlike the Mercury which has a shear pin, the Yamaha has a rubber hub at the propeller, so no shear pin to break.

The Suzuki 2.5hp is as above but with the oil gauge simply viewed at the side of the cover. The propeller has a shear pin with spares stowed under the engine cover.

The Honda 2.3hp is not water cooled like all the other outboards tested. It is aircooled and has no gears. Instead it uses a centrifugal clutch. This makes beginning and maneuvering far more tough than the other people. It basically takes a bit of acquiring employed to it. The oil gauge is out of sight under the cover. The propeller has a shear pin with spares kept under the engine cover.

Finally the Parsun 2.6hp, a copy of the Yamaha 2.5hp but not as very good. Nevertheless it is the cheapest engine when new. Fuel consumption was its greatest draw back.

Utilized Boat Motors