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Outboard motor recommendation
I'm looking for a new dinghy engine to replace my formerly faithful 15
hp Merc 2 stroke.I'd prefer another 2 stroke for weight reasons but it's not an
absolute requirement. What I'd like is a 20 hp short shaft, with electric start and tiller
steered. Any recommendations? The primary considerations, other than the
above, are longevity and reliability. The engine is going to be used
in salt water and receive minimal maintenance. |
Wayne.B
Jan 22
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| The Coasties are using big Honda outboards on their patrol boats
around here, typically (3) 225s on a 30 ft or so RIB. Machine guns
fore and aft of course, can't take any chances with us terrorists
running around in 10 kt trawlers. |
Wayne.B
Jan 24
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| I've had one of those for a couple of years. Fwiw, I haven't been
impressed and wish I'd bought a Merc 2 stroke 20-25hp. Rick |
PhantMan
Jan 24
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| ==== What kind of issues have you had with it? |
Wayne.B
Jan 24
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| Nothing major. I just haven't been impressed. Fuel consumption is good
but, with an engine that small, the $ savings are also small. It's a
little quieter but not enough to matter. It vibrates at low speed, I
hadn't expected that. Maybe I'm just getting old but, damn, it sure
seems a lot heavier than a 20hp should. With 2-3 hours on it, the
impeller disintegrated. Honda guy says I must have run it in sand.
Nope, I'd done nothing but baby the thing in clean deep water.
Personally, I think it had dried out (gone k-put) new in its crate so
I wanted the warranty to cover it. But to install a new impeller, they
charged me $140..... WTF?? Last replacement on my little Evinrude was
half that amount. In addition to expensive parts, they also take
forever to get here. Time in the shop has been spent mostly waiting on
a part (we're talking a couple of MONTHs in one case... fortunately
they were cold weather months).
As far as the 2/4 stroke difference, I don't think this motor has the
oomph of a 20hp 2 stroke. For one thing, weight matters... a LOT. I
bought a second prop (lower pitch) to use when I carry more than usual
(i.e. extra passenger). I've never had to do that with a 2 stroke.
Anyhow, I'm not going to junk it or sell it or anything. But for the
price I paid and the raves I hear about Honda, I was expecting more. Rick |
PhantMan
Jan 24
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| Hmmm - that reminds me of Yamaha parts. Although I haven't heard any
negative things about Honda's small engines including their generator
engines. I do know that they have a rather strange attitude for an outboard
manufacturer. I was actually present at a presentation the Honda rep
made at my dealer and one of the questions was about warranty and
technical support like schools and the like. The Honda rep basically
said that Honda felt that their engines were so good that technical
support wasn't needed nor were schools. And I do know of a case where they had a problem with a Honda 225 and
actually went to a Honda auto dealership to ask one of their mechanics
to come and look at it because Honda hemmed and hawed about sending a
technical rep. I know there are dealers who have had Hondas and don't anymore and
it's not because of cost. Having said that, I've never heard of their small engines having
problems though and see an awful lot of them around various marinas. |
Short
Jan 24
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My local dealer handles Yamahas and Hondas, but all the boat lines it
sells come with Yamaha pre-rigs - Parker, Grady, one or two others. It
has a couple of Hondas on the floor, especially the smaller units. Also
sells a lot of Yamaha portable gasoline generators. |
Harry
Jan 24
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| TriState has also become an authorized Honda service center, which has made
some of the folks in Breezy Point very happy! |
JohnH
Jan 24
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| Wayne, what's the matter with what you have? Wayne.B wrote: |
Tim
Jan 22
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| Answering my own post, it looks like it's going to be a Honda BF20. Pricey, and a 4 stroke, but it looks like a nice little motor with
everything I was looking for plus Power Tilt as a bonus. The weight
is not that much more than my old Merc 2 stroke. The local dealer has
agreed to knock about $800 off of the list price after a bit of
comparison shopping and negotiation. |
Wayne.B
Jan 23
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| 20 hp on a dinghy? Is that a racing dinghy? It certainly isn't a Dyer
dink. :>} |
Harry
Jan 23
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| Good choice - I was going to recommend that actually, but lost track
of the thread. |
Short
Jan 23
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| Definitely not a Dyer although they are certainly pretty little boats.
Our dinghy is a Caribe RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat, aka, hard bottom
inflatable) about 12 feet long counting the stern tube overhang. It
is rated for 20 hp although 15 was usually plenty unless we had 3 or 4
heavyweights aboard. Since I needed a new motor anyway, decided to
max it out since the price difference is not all that much in the
grand scheme of things, and it should last longer running at half
power most of the time. With the Merc 15 it runs at close to 20 kts
at WOT with one person aboard and flat water. The 20 hp Honda should
be awesome. |
Wayne.B
Jan 23
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