Ruff Stuff

[attoyac]

Hello All,

I'm a current owner of a 14' flat bottom with a 15HP Evinrude, mid 70's model. I hunt and fish small river bottoms and hunting season is sneaking up fast. The evinrude has been a great motor, but I always have minor problems, fuel pump, throttle linkage, winding spring, etc. They are always small problems (that usually end up with lots of stories and laughing in the end-at my expense), but always something. I am considering upgrading. Seriously considering after last year's trip and a 4 hour talk with a broken boat paddle about buying a new motor as we made our way back down river and over the 12 logs that we had crossed on the way up that morning. I'm in the market for something that can take the abuse of the river and still crank every time I pull. I've been looking at Hondas. I was impressed with the quietness of their generators and have been told that their boat motors are of the same breed. Any truth in that. Reliability issues? Are they worth the price? For the price of just the Honda motor alone I could get a whole package deal, boat, motor, trailer but with a different brand motor. Anything over a 15HP is overkill for me. Small rivers. I would like to get a boat that has more rivets than golf tee's also(side note-golf tee's work wonders for popped rivets). The boat still has some life in it, but if I'm going to do this I want to do it right. Any comments or suggestions from anyone knowledgeable about the subject would be appreciated.

Thanks for your time
Attoyac

 

[hitace]

Re: Ruff Stuff

anything over 15 hp would not only be over kill but grossly over weighted with them heavy honda 4 strokes i hope you like carrying big heavy bulky motors

15 hp honda Dry Weight (Power Tilt) 131 pounds
15 hp evinrude 58 pounds

4 strokes are just not practical in Small outboard power

 

[steelespike]

Re: Ruff Stuff

For your purpose it seems the Evirude 15 is a no brainer.allmost like it isn't there when easing over logs and such.The 15 is capable of 7,000 rpm it seems
with the right setup it could really make a boat scoot!

 

[attoyac]

Re: Ruff Stuff

Actually most of the new 15's are pretty close in weight. I would like it to be short shaft with electric start without the power trim. I have done well with the current motor, but I have lost faith in it after being stranded on multiple occassions. My friend sent me a new boat paddle (via my wife) as a slight jab. Most people, myself included, would cringe at taking a new motor into log infested water. Simular to taking a brand new 4x4 truck offroading through the woods, but that is what this one will be used for. Any comments on the noise they make at a slow idle, reliability issues, or structural integrity?

 

[pwiseman]

Re: Ruff Stuff

I am going to agree with the other two guys that a 15 OMC is about the perfect motor for what you do describe.

I would get a solid running 15, plus an old OMC 6 and bring them both. That way if one craps out, you have a trusty get home motor. Also, if you smack something hard, you are looking at $800 bucks or so for another 15 instead of $3K or so.

If you your really want to go 4 stroke because of quiteness, all of them in 15 or 20 HP will be two cylinder with carbs. Honda 15 and 20 weigh the same, so if you are rated for 20, I would go with that. You probably want to compare noise levels at 3/4 throttle though. Some of the lakes I frequent get few boats every day and you can hear both 2 and four strokes from a long way off probably 2-3 miles. Wildlife will hear you coming whatever motor you have.

Hondas are quite and smooth and a nice shiney motor always seems to give peace of mind until the first problem you have. Could be 3 years, could be 5. I also think the hondas are pretty cold blooded, so get electric start and be very very careful with your gas.

Honda 15 short with manual tilt and electric start is 109 lbs. You can bring a 15 OMC and a spare for close to the same weight. The difference in weight will make you sit a couple inches deeper in back, and cause you to fall off plane at higher speed. Very annoying in shallow water.