Outboard Engine Question and Observation

[gm280]

After reading and reading so many posted questions concerning outboard engines, I have an observation and question about outboards in general. Seems that even very small 2 cycle outboards are mostly twin cylinder type engines. Are all outboards twin cylinder engines and if so is it because if one cylinder goes out you still could limp back in with one cylinder? And what is the smallest outboard twin anybody has even seen? It still amazes me to see 5 HP two cycle outboards with two cylinders knowing they could easily obtain that output with one cylinder making it much simplier and less costly...

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Outboard Engine Question and Observation

There are a lot of low hp one cylinder outboards available but along with that simplicity comes vibration. The twin smooths most of that out.

 

[64osby]

Re: Outboard Engine Question and Observation

+1 - I'll take a small twin over a single any day of the week. Much less vibration.

The cost factor is only relative to new or newer motors. I have a few that are great runners and the total investment was no more than $150 to get them fully functional and are used regularly.

And Yes you can limp home on one cylinder if needed.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Outboard Engine Question and Observation

The smallest twin I've ever seen is the late 1930s Johnson HA models. They are the predecessor to the venerable Johnson and Evinrude JW/Lightwin 3-horsepower models of the 1950s, easily some of the best outboards ever made. SMOOTH power, lightweight, easily worked on, plentiful parts availability. Simply can't go wrong...

 

[JB]

Re: Outboard Engine Question and Observation

What Chinewalker said. ^^^

 

[seahorse5]

Re: Outboard Engine Question and Observation

Dont forget the little ELTO outboards that generated a whopping 0.5hp out of 1 cylinder back in the late 30s.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Outboard Engine Question and Observation

We acquired a single cylinder 5HP Mercury with a boat last year. After using it a couple times were sold it in favor of the twin cylinder Evinrude we already owned. The difference was night and day in smoothness.

 

[F_R]

Re: Outboard Engine Question and Observation

You can get an old single cylinder Clinton or Eska with up to 7hp or so. But you probably won't like it because of the vibration and noise.

 

[phillnjack2]

Re: Outboard Engine Question and Observation

Now one of the worst engines for vibration ,but the best ever engine for reliabilty was the British seagull single cylinder.
i have had singles twins triples 4 cylinders and v6.
the single cylinder british seagull will not only outlive the rest, but will always get you home.
I had a small 2hp twin from evinrude that was a complete load of rubbish, but the 4hp twin evinrude was nice and the 6hp twin was fantastic engine.
But the old singles were realy built to last and last and last, they were simple engineering but also built strong.

Back to the original question
there has been every configuration of cylinders on outboard engines, so a single is no more popular than
a twin triple 4 cyl or 6 cyl
yes there is also v8 outboards but not as common as the rest just yet.
we even have diesel but these are pretty rare


phill

 

[gm280]

Re: Outboard Engine Question and Observation

You can get an old single cylinder Clinton or Eska with up to 7hp or so. But you probably won't like it because of the vibration and noise.

Actually I did own a single cylinder 7.5 HP Sear Game Fisher, Ted Williams if I remember correctly now. It was a simple air cooled engine probably a Tecumseh built engine now that I think of it. I bought it for I think $35 dollars. That was so long ago. I didn?t have any outboard on my boat and was using only a cheap trolling motor on a 12? ?V? hull Feather Craft boat and was just getting into fishing at that time so I bought it. But it had a bad ignition module in it and I had to buy a new one to get it running again. I didn?t even have a trailer for the boat so I had to lug it in the back of my Chevy P/U and put everything into the boat and unload it, carry it or slide it into the water, attach the trolling motor and outboard on it, and start her up and fish. I thought it was awesome and seemed light years ahead of a trolling motor at that time...UNTIL I bought a new 9.8 HP Mercury. WOW the difference was unreal. The Mercury would idle so smooth and run rings around that Sears outboard that there literally was no comparison. That is when I was sold on outboards and boats in general. Of course that was way back in the years too.

 

[F_R]

Re: Outboard Engine Question and Observation

Yep, many thousands of those old air cooled Sears/Eska/Clinton motors were sold as "starter" motors for people just getting into boating. They did the job pretty well for what they were.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: Outboard Engine Question and Observation

The idea behind the Zephyr (5hp 4 cylinder) was to smooth out the idle. Didnt quite work like they thought though.