RE: [bolger] Micro motor recommendations
Hi Glen,
I've been swamped here the last week and haven't been able to follow the
list so this is a bit late.
First, the fine print. I am an outboard dealer, our primary line being
Honda. We are also a Nissan/Tohatsu dealer and a Yamaha service center. I
am not on this list to solicit business but rather to lend help/advice when
possible, learn always and have a bit of fun with other Bolger enthusiasts.
In fact, you can't purchase a motor from us unless you're willing to drive
to our store (1-1/2 hours north of Seattle, WA) and pick it up in person.
So, to your question ...
Your main choices will be Honda, Yamaha and Nissan (same as Tohatsu). The
Mercury is a black Tohatsu. The Yamaha F4 weighs in at 49 lbs. The Nissan
(Tohatsu) NSF4 and NSF5 are the same engine except for carburetion; the 4
has an integral tank (1.1 liter) and the 5 a remote 3 gallon tank (remote is
an option on the 4). They weigh about 55 lbs. The Honda BF5 weighs in at
60 lbs and has a separate 3 gallon tank.
The Nissan (Tohatsu) is quieter and smoother than the Honda BF5. I don't
like the Honda around saltwater. While the Nissan has F-N-R gears it also
spins 360 degrees so if you need a lot of thrust in the reverse direction
it's available. It's also lighter and cheaper than the Honda. Tohatsu is
the oldest of the Japanese outboard manufacturers, they've built outboards
since 1954. The Yamaha F4 is a light, great running motor with F-N-R and
also spins 360 degrees. I haven't seen enough of them to tell how they're
going to hold up but Yamaha's are generally pretty good.
I would base a lot of my decision on what dealers are near you or in your
intended cruising area. It's nice to have help when you need it.
Hope this helps,
Les
-----Original Message-----
From:glen_gibson@...[mailto:glen_gibson@...]
Sent: Monday, July 17, 2000 2:41 PM
To:bolger@egroups.com
Subject: [bolger] Micro motor recommendations
I'm beginning to think about a good motor for my under-construction Micro.
Am planning on a 3 to 5 HP 4 stroke and was wondering if anyone has any
recommendations or other comments. Also, what about long shaft vs standard?
I've heard great things about the Honda, but what about Mariner, Mercury,
and
Nissan?
Any help appreciated,
Glen
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wish you had something rad to add to your email?
We do at www.supersig.com.
http://click.egroups.com/1/6819/13/_/3457/_/963862942/
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bolger rules!!!
- no cursing
- stay on topic
- use punctuation
- add your comments at the TOP and SIGN your posts
- add some content: send "thanks!" and "ditto!" posts off-list.
I've been swamped here the last week and haven't been able to follow the
list so this is a bit late.
First, the fine print. I am an outboard dealer, our primary line being
Honda. We are also a Nissan/Tohatsu dealer and a Yamaha service center. I
am not on this list to solicit business but rather to lend help/advice when
possible, learn always and have a bit of fun with other Bolger enthusiasts.
In fact, you can't purchase a motor from us unless you're willing to drive
to our store (1-1/2 hours north of Seattle, WA) and pick it up in person.
So, to your question ...
Your main choices will be Honda, Yamaha and Nissan (same as Tohatsu). The
Mercury is a black Tohatsu. The Yamaha F4 weighs in at 49 lbs. The Nissan
(Tohatsu) NSF4 and NSF5 are the same engine except for carburetion; the 4
has an integral tank (1.1 liter) and the 5 a remote 3 gallon tank (remote is
an option on the 4). They weigh about 55 lbs. The Honda BF5 weighs in at
60 lbs and has a separate 3 gallon tank.
The Nissan (Tohatsu) is quieter and smoother than the Honda BF5. I don't
like the Honda around saltwater. While the Nissan has F-N-R gears it also
spins 360 degrees so if you need a lot of thrust in the reverse direction
it's available. It's also lighter and cheaper than the Honda. Tohatsu is
the oldest of the Japanese outboard manufacturers, they've built outboards
since 1954. The Yamaha F4 is a light, great running motor with F-N-R and
also spins 360 degrees. I haven't seen enough of them to tell how they're
going to hold up but Yamaha's are generally pretty good.
I would base a lot of my decision on what dealers are near you or in your
intended cruising area. It's nice to have help when you need it.
Hope this helps,
Les
-----Original Message-----
From:glen_gibson@...[mailto:glen_gibson@...]
Sent: Monday, July 17, 2000 2:41 PM
To:bolger@egroups.com
Subject: [bolger] Micro motor recommendations
I'm beginning to think about a good motor for my under-construction Micro.
Am planning on a 3 to 5 HP 4 stroke and was wondering if anyone has any
recommendations or other comments. Also, what about long shaft vs standard?
I've heard great things about the Honda, but what about Mariner, Mercury,
and
Nissan?
Any help appreciated,
Glen
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wish you had something rad to add to your email?
We do at www.supersig.com.
http://click.egroups.com/1/6819/13/_/3457/_/963862942/
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bolger rules!!!
- no cursing
- stay on topic
- use punctuation
- add your comments at the TOP and SIGN your posts
- add some content: send "thanks!" and "ditto!" posts off-list.
--- Inbolger@egroups.com, glen_gibson@3... wrote:
I use a Minn Kota 32 lb thrust electric motor to push my
Micro along. It's good in the river and pushes against the tide(2-
3kts)but is slow of course. I have a battery of 105 amp hrs and a
trip of 8 km maybe drained it by 1/4 (against the tide). I don't know
if I would recomend it for an open bay though???
Phill
>Micro.
>
> I'm beginning to think about a good motor for my under-construction
>any
> Am planning on a 3 to 5 HP 4 stroke and was wondering if anyone has
> recommendations or other comments. Also, what about long shaft vsstandard?
> I've heard great things about the Honda, but what about Mariner,Mercury, and
> Nissan?Hi Glen,
>
> Any help appreciated,
>
> Glen
I use a Minn Kota 32 lb thrust electric motor to push my
Micro along. It's good in the river and pushes against the tide(2-
3kts)but is slow of course. I have a battery of 105 amp hrs and a
trip of 8 km maybe drained it by 1/4 (against the tide). I don't know
if I would recomend it for an open bay though???
Phill
One of the problems with motors of Micro size are that you can be
tempted to do without a gear shift exchanging convenience for $$$. I
would want to think carefully about the controls, and access to the
engine controls from the cockpit.
The 3 to 4 hp size sounds about right. I use a Mercury 5hp, 2-cycle
on
my 2250lb sailboat and it is enough power. I don't have any
experience
with 4-cycle ob's.
The Mercury is going strong after several seasons totaling around 100
hours as a guess. The total number of hours run under power in a
small
sailboat is usually fairly small because it's a fairly unpleasant way
to travel. On race days, I usually power the 2.5 miles to the
starting
line which is much more than I have ever powered when out for a
daysail. (Except maybe one time with a different boat and motor when
we got caught in a calm.) The Mercury has been a little tempermental,
though, with mid-season trips to the shop when it failed to start for
some reason or other.
In addition, every time I look at a new model, they have changed some
formerly sturdy part into a flimsy plastic one. For example, the
plastic gearshift lever changes shape in the hand under the small
stress of shifting gears.
The effective number of choices open to you is fewer that you might
think at first because a few builders supply several brand names. I
would suggest dealing with a shop that you trust and which is
convenient.
Peter
tempted to do without a gear shift exchanging convenience for $$$. I
would want to think carefully about the controls, and access to the
engine controls from the cockpit.
The 3 to 4 hp size sounds about right. I use a Mercury 5hp, 2-cycle
on
my 2250lb sailboat and it is enough power. I don't have any
experience
with 4-cycle ob's.
The Mercury is going strong after several seasons totaling around 100
hours as a guess. The total number of hours run under power in a
small
sailboat is usually fairly small because it's a fairly unpleasant way
to travel. On race days, I usually power the 2.5 miles to the
starting
line which is much more than I have ever powered when out for a
daysail. (Except maybe one time with a different boat and motor when
we got caught in a calm.) The Mercury has been a little tempermental,
though, with mid-season trips to the shop when it failed to start for
some reason or other.
In addition, every time I look at a new model, they have changed some
formerly sturdy part into a flimsy plastic one. For example, the
plastic gearshift lever changes shape in the hand under the small
stress of shifting gears.
The effective number of choices open to you is fewer that you might
think at first because a few builders supply several brand names. I
would suggest dealing with a shop that you trust and which is
convenient.
Peter
I'm beginning to think about a good motor for my under-construction Micro.
Am planning on a 3 to 5 HP 4 stroke and was wondering if anyone has any
recommendations or other comments. Also, what about long shaft vs standard?
I've heard great things about the Honda, but what about Mariner, Mercury, and
Nissan?
Any help appreciated,
Glen
Am planning on a 3 to 5 HP 4 stroke and was wondering if anyone has any
recommendations or other comments. Also, what about long shaft vs standard?
I've heard great things about the Honda, but what about Mariner, Mercury, and
Nissan?
Any help appreciated,
Glen