Field & Stream says Briggs & Stratton 5hp is "quiet."

[palefire]

I've know this engine has been discussed extensively in these forums and I've searched them to get some background. However, I'd like to get some reactions to the endorsement that appeared in Field & Stream that says:<br /><br />"WHY IT WINS: The perfect outboard for waterfowlers: quiet and camouflaged."<br /><br />I can understand camouflaged, but "quiet"? Others have posted that it's not nearly as loud as a lawnmower, and that at lower speeds it is indeed 'quiet.' <br /><br />I guess I'm a bit skeptical, but would love to hear other thoughts about the noise-level of the motor, and why F&S, which could have said any number of things about the motor, chose to use the word "quiet." Maybe this isn't as loud as the lawnmower we all assume it sounds like. An I'm assuming the only difference between the black and the camo version of the motor is the paintjob and not some noise-suppression feature that makes the camo version run quieter. (Still, I gotta wonder sometimes, they charge 100+ extra dollars for that paint job???)

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Field & Stream says Briggs & Stratton 5hp is "quiet."

palefire. Whoever wrote that article was deaf. The motor is VERY loud compared to a regular 5hp. outboard. It is just like a lawn mower although it doesn't rev as high, so at WOT it is not as loud as a mower at WOT. No difference between the black and camo other than color.<br /><br />Check this out if you're thinking about getting a B&S. web page <br /><br />It's only a few hundred more. A whole lot quieter.

 

[palefire]

Re: Field & Stream says Briggs & Stratton 5hp is "quiet."

Thanks, Drowned Rat. I thought that review sounded a little inaccurate. I've been considering the Tohatso that you linked to, as well. Not to drift away from the topic of noise, but I wonder if there is really any appreciable difference in running the B&S vs. a water-cooled engine in shallower waters. I see the Tohatsu has a "shallow water drive" which I assume is just something that allows you to lift the prop up a bit. The air-cooled B&S might plow through the shallow crud I may encounter a bit better, but really, most of my time will be in deeper water so it would make sense to get the best motor for normal running conditions. <br /><br />By the way, if you do encounter a rock or other obstruction in shallower depths at slow speed, do the shafts of most of these little outboards "deflect" or "bounce" up a little to keep pins from shearing off, etc? The don't just sit rigid in the water, right?

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Field & Stream says Briggs & Stratton 5hp is "quiet."

On the B&S, the motor will tilt up if you hit an object when the motor is in forward. The motor automatically locks down when you put it in reverse. I am not familiar with the Tohatsu, but I'm sure it has a similar feature. Don't get me wrong, I like the B&S. I've had no real problems with mine, but it is loud and you can't take it in salt water. If I could do it over, I would spend the extra bucks and get a Tohatsu or Maybe a Merc. It's hard to beat the price of the Tohatsu for a 4 stroke.

 

[apexfishman]

Re: Field & Stream says Briggs & Stratton 5hp is "quiet."

Hi,<br /><br />I recently got my B&S 5hp and have run it a couple of times on my 14 foot boat. <br /><br />As to loudness. I would have to agree with the earlier posts. When running at low speeds it is fairly quiet, but when you go full throttle it is loud. But it does start easily, over and over again, and it sips gas, and all in all I think for the price it will be a great little motor. It pushes my boat very nicely and is light enough to carry from my truck to my boat without too much trouble. <br /><br />I don't trailer my boat. I shove it in the back of my Suburban and then put the motor in with it and head to the boat ramp.<br /><br />Just thought I'd share my thoughts.<br /><br />MW

 

[Mark42]

Re: Field & Stream says Briggs & Stratton 5hp is "quiet."

The motor can be made to run quieter rather cheaply. Surprisingly, these air cooled motors produce a lot of noise from the engine block. So putting a quieter muffler on it will only quiet the exhaust, but do nothing for the radiated mechanicals sound. <br /><br />You can try removing the outer plastic cover, and then remove the flywheel/cylinder sheet metal air flow cover. Then line the cover with the heavy sound deadener (about 1/4" thick) that the boom-boom car stereo guys use inside their cars. It is peel-and-stick black rubbery stuff. Can be found at car stereo shops. This will help deaden the radiated noise from the cylinder as well as some of the flywheel air fan noise and crank case noise. The sound deadener will also stop noise from vibrating parts really well. Those OHV engines have some of the loudest lifters going. <br /><br />Remember it's air cooled, so don't do anything that will restrict air passages around the cylinder or interfere with any carb linkages.<br /><br />Go to www.brigsandstratton.com and you can download and exploded parts view of the motor just to get an idea of what parts I am referring to.<br /><br />I used this technique on my 12hp electric generator that screamed like a banshee. First I put a large (4”x10”) round heavy duty muffler on it. It helped, but I was surprised that you could then hear the motor itself. That’s when I added sound deadener to the flywheel cover. It helped some more. Then you could hear the sound of the whirring electric generator . I stopped there.<br /><br />Mark.