03-05-2020, 02:57 PM
Hoping for some advice from the more experienced members. I am looking to get a small all-purpose outboard. I have 3 boats I would like to use it on. would be the primary motor for craft #1 and #2, and a back-up/trolling motor for craft #3. I have little to no experience with outboards.
Craft #1 is a 12' aluminum sea sprite from the 70's. This has been my primary fishing boat since I was a kid. In all the years, I have always used 30# minn-kota with a marine battery (or oars). The electric motor is quiet and it gets the job done, as long as I don;t want to go over 4mph, or troll for more than a few hours. The nameplate on the transom gives a max outboard of 10HP and a max weight in the boat of about 350lbs.
Craft #2 is a 16' fiberglass canoe. it has a sqaure back to mount a motor, and have used the electric motor a number of times, but paddles are most often used. On occasion would be nice to have an outboard to help move along. I do not know what (if any) hp the canoe is rated for.
Craft #3 is a 16' hydro-swift hydroswift project boat (there will be some other threads covering this) that I have been working on over the winter and am hoping to get into shape so I can take it out this summer. I have an old outboard on this now that functions and can get the boat moving pretty quick but it does not like to go under about 1.5mph, and can be moody when I want it to start. Was able to take the boat out once last fall before it got cold to find all this out.
Due to the age of the motor, I would feel much better with a trolling motor that can also be used as a backup if the main outboard doesn;t feel like working.
I have been considering a portable outboard in the 5-6hp range. with a weight of just over 50lbs, I can manage moving it from one craft to the other, and the weight is not much more than the electric motor-battery combo that I have been using. The 5-6hp would be able to get craft #1 (and craft #2) moving fast enough to increase my range a bit more than what I have now, and with a couple gallon tank, I could spend all day out on the water without worrying about running out of juice. A motor of this size would also work as a trolling motor for craft #3, and serve as a backup for if/when the main outboard gets stubborn. I am fine with a pull start, and most of the portable outboards can be outfitted with an alternator to take care of any electronics if I ever wanted to go that direction.
Am I on the right track with my thinking, or, should I be looking at something larger (or smaller)? Any other recommedations or things I should be considering? Any recommendations on manufacturers to seek out or avoid (Tohatsu, honda, mercury, etc.)?
Craft #1 is a 12' aluminum sea sprite from the 70's. This has been my primary fishing boat since I was a kid. In all the years, I have always used 30# minn-kota with a marine battery (or oars). The electric motor is quiet and it gets the job done, as long as I don;t want to go over 4mph, or troll for more than a few hours. The nameplate on the transom gives a max outboard of 10HP and a max weight in the boat of about 350lbs.
Craft #2 is a 16' fiberglass canoe. it has a sqaure back to mount a motor, and have used the electric motor a number of times, but paddles are most often used. On occasion would be nice to have an outboard to help move along. I do not know what (if any) hp the canoe is rated for.
Craft #3 is a 16' hydro-swift hydroswift project boat (there will be some other threads covering this) that I have been working on over the winter and am hoping to get into shape so I can take it out this summer. I have an old outboard on this now that functions and can get the boat moving pretty quick but it does not like to go under about 1.5mph, and can be moody when I want it to start. Was able to take the boat out once last fall before it got cold to find all this out.
Due to the age of the motor, I would feel much better with a trolling motor that can also be used as a backup if the main outboard doesn;t feel like working.
I have been considering a portable outboard in the 5-6hp range. with a weight of just over 50lbs, I can manage moving it from one craft to the other, and the weight is not much more than the electric motor-battery combo that I have been using. The 5-6hp would be able to get craft #1 (and craft #2) moving fast enough to increase my range a bit more than what I have now, and with a couple gallon tank, I could spend all day out on the water without worrying about running out of juice. A motor of this size would also work as a trolling motor for craft #3, and serve as a backup for if/when the main outboard gets stubborn. I am fine with a pull start, and most of the portable outboards can be outfitted with an alternator to take care of any electronics if I ever wanted to go that direction.
Am I on the right track with my thinking, or, should I be looking at something larger (or smaller)? Any other recommedations or things I should be considering? Any recommendations on manufacturers to seek out or avoid (Tohatsu, honda, mercury, etc.)?