Silly question about direct drive outboard motors.

[distrbd]

I'm a newbie and I know you all might get chuckle out of this but I have to ask:embarassed:: how do you initially start a direct drive motor while you are sitting in the boat and anchored to the dock? you pull the cord and the motor starts and wants to go right away while the boat is still anchored? or do you first pull away from the dock , then start the motor? even that way you still take off towards the open water,isn't it more dangerous than a bigger motor with neutral/reverse? wouldn't you have more control if there were a neutral with these direct drive motors?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Well that all depends on what sort of motor you are talking about...

A small cheap outboard.... Yep always in gear...

A normal inboard... Has forward neutral and reverse

A jetski or jet boat..... Always in gear but many have a reverse bucket that gives the functions of neutral and reverse

A race boat.... Often yes always in forward gear but the lack of neutral and reverse is a small price to pay for weight reduction.

 

[distrbd]

I'm talking about small 4 hp Johnson/Evinrude ,you know the type that you have to turn the motor 180? to go in reverse.

 

[bruceb58]

I am assuming you are talking about something 4Hp or less. When the idle is low, the boat will try to move but you can easily hold a boat at a dock with an idling outboard even though the prop is spinning.

I don't know about small and cheap in the same sentence. We have a 2HP Honda 4stroke outboard and it was anything but cheap.

 

[distrbd]

I don't know about small and cheap in the same sentence. We have a 2HP Honda 4stroke outboard and it was anything but cheap.

Not trying to change the subject but I just saw an ad for a Honda 2 hp(4 stroke) for sale for $500,then googled it and found out they are air cooled and owners complain about it getting way too hot after 1/2 an hour of running! but you are right they are not cheap.

 

[smokeonthewater]

A boat small enough for a motor that small will be very easily paddled so yeah, push off the dock and start the motor... If it doesn't start grab your paddle...

If you think they aren't cheap think about how much they would cost with the added cost of neutral and reverse....
FWIW those motors aren't actually direct drive as they have a gear box in the lower unit.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Oh and BTW I have a cruise'n'carry 1.5 hp outboard... I have to spin it around backwards for reverse but it does have neutral.

 

[JimS123]

My first 19 years of boating was done with a direct drive Merc.

You untie the lines from the dock and push off. Then you put the oars in the water and move far enough away, with the bow pointing in a safe direction. A cold start is ~3/4 throttle, so once it starts you have to throttle back a bit as you turn off the choke.

When coming back in at idle shut the motor off at just the right time and you'll coast slowly right to where you want to park.

 

[airshot]

In my day those were called "yank and go" motors, yep just fire it up and you should not have any problem with the dock line holding, those little motors do not have that much thrust. When you are ready to go, just untie the line and be on your way, you are not going to speed away anyway.

 

[ssobol]

I don't know, but don't small outboards have centrifugal clutches in them?

 

[smokeonthewater]

I suppose there might be some that way but none that I've ever seen..... would be really bad for idle speed maneuvering

 

[bruceb58]

I suppose there might be some that way but none that I've ever seen..... would be really bad for idle speed maneuvering

Yeah..no kidding. You would only be able to maneuver at above idle speeds! LOL

 

[bonz_d]

Brings back thought of a Mighty-Mite I once owned and used on a 10' jon boat! I swear at times I thought I could row faster.

 

[hardwater fisherman]

I have a 1978 johnson 4hp direct drive. When starting I keep one hand on the throttle and pull with the other. Once started I can throttle back and it barely moves the boat. Im not sure on yours but with mine the throttle needs to be advanced about 3/4 when starting. So make sure your pointing in the direction you wish to go.

 

[distrbd]

Thank you all for your comments, I just received my impeller for the 9.9 hp Ted Williams motor and will be changing it asap so for now the 4 hp purchase is put on the back burner.