Small outboard for an inflatable

[mrdrh99]

HELP!!! Ok, I posted this question in the inflatables forum but didn't get much response, and this seems to be a more responsive area. I have an Intex Mariner 4, rated for a 3hp outboard. It has an inflatable keel so that adds a bit of controll through the choppy waters and helps in steering of the boat. I'm currently using a MK Endura 30lb motor with a 109ah battery. I am interested in getting an outboard somewhere between 2/2.5/3hp. Generally the boat, passengers, gear add up to about 500lb but can handle 880lb max. Does anyone have an idea on how much faster one of these outboards would move me? I'm guessing I'm getting maybe 3-4mph max on the trolling motor but would love to ditch the battery (sometimes) and try to double that up possibly reaching 10-12 mph on the larger lake in the area. Anyone care to give some advice? Thanks guys, like I said, I know I'm not really in the right forum but thought you guys could help a bit more!

I've attached a couple pics to give you an idea what I'm working with.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Small outboard for an inflatable

A 3 hp would be rated to make about 8 mph There is a slim chance you could do that with one aboard and a tiller extension so you could sit in the middle seat.
The soft inflatable" non ridged hull" wont do well as you add weight. But the 3 hp will kick the trolling motors but.
The Evinrude/Johnsopn 3 hp is one of the best made,with a production run from 52-68.
A smooth twin,reasonably quite and still has a vast selection of routine new and used parts available.
Otherwise stick with the common brands and one with a close parts and service dealer.

 

[mrdrh99]

Re: Small outboard for an inflatable

Thanks for the reply! I was cruising ebay and happened to noticed two different things that caught my eye, Island hopper motors, which look like supped up weed eaters, and Hangkai outboards. Price wise they seem fantastic but they just seem dirty and noisy. Anyone have any experience with these? I'm still thinking I'd be much better off waiting and finding a good deal on a evinrude/johnson or even a nissan/suzuki. Any thoughts? Thanks!

 

[matt167]

Re: Small outboard for an inflatable

Hangkai outboards are cheap Yamaha clones. Some have good luck, most find out that they are barely worth their cost. Island hoppers however are actually a decent product. They are weedeater motors so it will be noisy but they are a real company with parts support. Not name brand type support but buying 1 isn't going to land you dead in the water in a couple years when it dies. They are sort of comparable to the Cruise N Carry outboards.. That said, you can buy a good Johnson/ Evinrude for what 1 of them costs

 

[WN2712NJ]

Re: Small outboard for an inflatable

I would really second the notion of looking for one of the Johnson/Evinrude "lightwin" motors from the 50s or 60s. Very simple reliable little motors, and most of the parts are still available. They are a very small 2 stroke, 2 cylinder motor, and as a result will be much smoother and lighter than the modern single-cylinder 4 stroke motors in that HP range. Of course, they won't have a 4 star emissions sticker on them - over even a 3, 2, or 1 star!

The lightwins, like most motors in that range, have a integrated gas tank. If you want to go modern, Honda makes an air cooled 2HP, and Tohatsu/Nissan/Mercury sells a 3 (made by Tohatsu, which is probably gonna be the cheapest badge to buy it with).

-dm

 

[blackhawk180]

Re: Small outboard for an inflatable

"they won't have a 4 star emissions sticker on them - over even a 3, 2, or 1 star!"
LOL. I grew up with a 50's Johnson 3hp that was my summer salvation. Fantastic motors.... never failed me once. The reason I laughed so hard was a memory of refilling the internal gas tank while bouncing around in the sound (near Olympia, Wa) and refilling from a 3 gallon tank without a funnel. Got'r done but it looked like the Exxon Valdeze when I finished!
Wish I still had that motor. I bet it's still running just fine.

 

[WN2712NJ]

Re: Small outboard for an inflatable

"they won't have a 4 star emissions sticker on them - over even a 3, 2, or 1 star!"
LOL. I grew up with a 50's Johnson 3hp that was my summer salvation. Fantastic motors.... never failed me once. The reason I laughed so hard was a memory of refilling the internal gas tank while bouncing around in the sound (near Olympia, Wa) and refilling from a 3 gallon tank without a funnel. Got'r done but it looked like the Exxon Valdeze when I finished!
Wish I still had that motor. I bet it's still running just fine.

Hah, maybe she's the one hanging on the wall in my folks garage. A 56 Evinrude 3. Got it for the price of a 12 pack of very cheap beer. Replaced the ignition system and she fired right up. Only use it once or twice a year, but each time she fires right up.

-dm

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Small outboard for an inflatable

Don't expect planing performance although the engine could take care of, to achieve good displacement, non planing performance would be more accurate, mainly because that boat uses an air deck & attached transom mount at back, no matter how well you've got inflated that sib to, mount will move downwards when at throttle, worst on choppy seas, lacks mount/tube rigidity in that area, worst with 4 strokes engines that weights much more than 2 strokes. Would recommend to search for a 2 strokes Tohatsu 3.5 HP engine, same weight as of the 2.5, but with more punch...

Happy Boating