Outboard Discussions

[agua dulce]

bkeegel2
how does the motor fit in the laz?
i have a 4-strk 6 merc
i think anything bigger would b a pain to mount/dismount?

[Bill]

how does the motor fit in the laz?

A review of the thread should answer that question.

[French]

Well I went down to the boat last night to check things out.
I have a 6hp Merc Twin. The handle will not mount vertical and when placed horz. the lazarette have been slot-cut so it would fit. Perhaps some of the other outboards have a different handle position. I was told by an old sailor at one time , when I first got the boat, I could make do with a smaller HP motor about 3-4 hp. I think that would be way under powered. I guess it is time to do some research into outboard designs and power. The Nissan/Yammha 5 hp sounds interesting.
Any other suggestions?

My Merc runs well, and does fit,... however I would like something that will give me more manevirablity, even a little lighter would be nice.

[Bill]

Check out the boats at the Hoppe gathering on April 13. Most have ob's with control handles that swivel to the vertical. An 8hp Yamaha/Nissan/Merc 2-cycle should be a good choice. I have a 5hp Merc (very light) and it works fine in most conditions on the SF Bay. Fighting an ebb at the GG, however, is another matter The cost difference, as I recall, is about 1/3 less compared with the the 8hp 2-cycle.

[commanderpete]

French

If your Merc is worth keeping, you can get a remote outboard engine control box. The throttle arm is removed and cables run to the shift and throttle mechanism on the outboard. The box is mounted in the cockpit.

You can see an example of one type of box on eBay Motors Item # 1815838190.

I have a Yamaha brand for my outboard.

[French]

Hmm thats a cool idea, I'll take a look

thx

[Mike Goodwin]

You guys running the 4 stroke outboards, have you replaced the prop or you still using the one that came with it ?
You should be using one with less pitch 7" , the one supplied is 8" , makes a big differance , lets you get up to RPM faster and less slip . 8" pitch is for planing dinghies and jon boats , some mechanics even suggest 6" or 6.5" pitch .
A prop shop can re-pitch it for you for a few bucks ( cheaper than a new prop ).

Mike G

[Theis]

Returning to the original issue of lower unit corrosion, I just found out yesterday that lower unit corrosion, and more importantly prop corrosion are almost inevitable, even in fresh water, and even with the zinc scrifical corrosion plate.

It even happens with stainless steel props, unless they have a high concentration of nickel.

The only way I was told to resist corrosion is to keep the prop/lower unit painted. In the case of the prop, the paint comes off the edges, the electrolysis starts and is seen even in the center of the blades where the paint is bubbling/blisering off.

Ah, the elements have a way to beat the best that man can muster

[Bill]

The March edition of Practical Sailor has a run down on all the 4-stroke outboards.

". . . the price of small 4-strokes has dropped within reasonable range of same-power 2-strokes. (The same is not yet true of the bigger four-strokes, unfortunately.) The bad news is that weight remains a major issue with the small 4-stroke outboard. Some are so heavy they don't qualify as "portable" engines, in our view."

For example, the 6-hp Suzuki, Tohatsu, Nissan and Mercury all weigh 55 lbs. with a 15" shaft, a bit more with a 20" shaft. The 6-hp Johnson is about 13 lbs. heavier at 68 lbs, but the Yamaha is really heavy at 83 lbs! [As an 8, the Yamaha is one of the lightest engines along with the Johnson 8.]

[French]

greetings
To raise a old topic...

I got what I thought was a good deal on a 4 stroke , 5 hp Honda...until I remembered this old post...how big of a modification is needed to make this work???

I have a 6hp Mercury in there now. The only thing I have to do is take the trottle handle off before putting it in or take it out of the well. it does not fold.

anyone out using a honda 5hp - 4 stroke?

Originally posted by Bill
Fox makes good sense. Keep it light at the stern of the Ariel/Commander. It also makes it easier to R & R the engine. Less chance of doing damage to yourself

MaiKa'i runs a 5 HP Merc two stroke. Plenty of power for most conditions. An 8 HP Nissan / Yamaha 2 cycle, however, is still pretty light (60 lbs?) and will give you the max appropriate horsepower. Someone figured 8 HP was equivilent to a 160% Genoa.

The Nissan / Yamaha / Merc 5 HP four cycle is still small enough to fit in the engine well. Hondas and other four cycle engines over 4 HP will not fit without a lot of modification to the boat. And, they weigh a ton.

[Theis]

Did you know that French Toast is named after a guy named French? Any relation?

[ebb]

I heard a frewnch kiss was named after a belgian waffle.

[Bill]

Ok, that's enough you guys . . .

[French]

well, not really... he is from the French cuff French's where as I am from the French tickler and mustard Frenchs. People often get us bewildered and ask that. I am however related to the French kiss Frenchs. That was a false tale about the waffle, a jelous female ...friend, she spread that lie because she could not have the recipe...anyway...However on the otherhand...as we all have to come from someone in the beginning , and from one come many , and many lead back to one... yes We are related...

Originally posted by Theis
Did you know that French Toast is named after a guy named French? Any relation?

[French]

Hmmmmmm. guess I 'll have to do this myself...

Hello there French, after sorting through all the replies to your quandry, I have perhaps some answers to clear the haze about the Honda fitting your Ariel.

I have done some reserch whihc may help...

1st off the statement that stired the confussion " above a 4 stroke Honda will not fit" was made in error. Honda does not make a 4 stroke, 4 hp outboard! They made a 5 hp, the next down is a 2 hp . THerefore I conclude that the statement was suppose to be perhaps anything above a 5hp Honda will need modications to the boat.

2nd. I had forgotten that 2 yrs ago at the sail expo I was looking at some honda 4 strokes, and the dealer said, this will work for you with your Ariel. As it turned out he owns a Ariel.

3rd. The overall size of a Honda 5hp four stroke is smaller than a Mercury 6 hp twin 2-stroke. except for the width which is 2.5 inches wider. Therefore the overall smaller Honda 5hp will replace your Mercury 6hp with no problem.

Once you get your new motor in, give us a post on how it went, I'm sure inquireing minds will want to know.

Hope that helps
best wishes
your cousin French of the toast family linage

Oh and btw, French onion soup is also invented on my side of the family