Propane Outboards

[MarkJ]

I saw the propane OBs in a shop a few weeks ago. They had the little one and the bigger one, 6hp? And said they were getting a 9.9hp.

I pulled the lid off to have a look. Has anyone else done that? Well, if you wonder past one pull off the cowling a dn have a look at the spark plug.

How ya gunna get it out?

I asked the guy there and he had a look, admitted he couldn't see how, but "it must be easy"

So before you buy one sort that lil problem out!

[HopCar]

DWJ, I ran one for several hours at the Ft. Lauderdale boat show. A couple of people commented on how quite it was. I have to say it sounded just like a gasoline powered engine to me, no worse, no better.

MarkJ, I haven't looked at how hard it is to change the spark plug but I'm going to take the service class. I'm sure they'll teach me. Of course propane engines rarely need new spark plugs because they run so clean.

[DWJ]

How was the build quality? I saw that its made in China.

[Irish rambler]

I can confirm that in Ireland/UK Europe it would prove very difficult if you were cruising to get refills. Some large supermarkets sell gas for cars but would have a dicky fit if you wanted to fill a portable tank.

[HopCar]

DWJ, They look like real outboards. The only thing I wasn't too sure of were the stainless steel cowling catches. Other than that they look like they were made by one of the big name manufactures. Time will tell of course.
This weekend I started building a Glen-L 14 foot skiff that I plan to put a 9.9 Lehr on.

[DWJ]

Thanks HopCar I looked at them in the local WM. and liked what I saw but you can't run them in the store. It really fills a couple of needs for me so I think I'm going to get one. I wish I could find one for under a grand though.

Dave

[HopCar]

Dave, send me an email through my website, let me know which one you're interested in and I'll be glad to quote you. Let me know your ship to address so I can calculate the shipping.

You guys need to buy some stuff from me. SaucySailoress is after me to
re-up on my Sponsoring Vendor membership. She's a tough negociator!

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by DWJ

How was the build quality? I saw that its made in China.

That's something I worry about..Nice on the outside but who knows the metal quality. I am interested in these also but will wait a few years to see how they work out.

[HopCar]

My new Practical Sailor magazine arrived today. They did a test of the Lehr propane outboard. They confirmed a couple of my impressions. The cover latches leave something to be desired and they are very easy to start. They also confirmed Lehr's claim that the 5HP will run on one of those one pound propane bottles for half an hour at WOT and a lot longer in typical use.

[Ocean Girl]

Any more update on the propane outboards? Anyone actively using one? Did we find the spark plug
Erika

PS
Great websit HopCar, Price on your bilge paint is the cheapest I've found.

[GrowleyMonster]

I don't even have a propane stove. I use a Butterfly 2412 that burns kerosene or diesel. No way I would consider a propane outboard, for the reasons other posters have stated. If anything, I would be more interested in a diesel outboard. Or electric.

[HopCar]

Ocean Girl, I've been hanging out at the Lehr booth at the boat show">Miami boat show the last four days. The only thing I can find wrong with the darn thing is the latch on the cover of the 5hp is a little strange looking. It works fine but it looks cockeyed.
They are showing a new 9.9 hp with electric start. The interesting thing is that they've put the battery inside the engine cowl. It's a small lithium iron battery and it really spins the motor.

Bernardo, the owner of Lehr, ran a 12 foot aluminum boat from California to Catalina Island on propane. How far did the song say that was? I think he's planing other demonstration trips to prove the reliability of the engine. I've been trying to talk him into taking me to Bimini.
I'm still waiting for the 9.9's to arrive. It looks like sometime in March before I can get mine.

We've sold a few of the 2.5 and 5 hp. I've only heard back from one of the customers and his only problem was that darn latch on the 5 hp. The Lehr distributer is sending someone to his house to replace it. Since they're new to the market, they think it's really important to make each customer happy.

Now is a good time to buy. We've got some great boat show prices.

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by HopCar

They are showing a new 9.9 hp with electric start. The interesting thing is that they've put the battery inside the engine cowl. It's a small lithium iron battery and it really spins the motor.

Interesting. Given options, I think I'd prefer electric start (assuming it also has a back-up pull-starter option), but I'd been thinking about what that would mean for battery location, maintenance, charging, etc...

-Chris

[HopCar]

Chris, yes there is a starter cord on the electric start versions. I was very impressed with the little battery. We cranked the engine a lot of times over the course of five days without any recharging. It still spun the engine fine on the last day. They didn't allow us to actually run the engines inside the convention center this year but we cranked the hell out of it.

[HopCar]

On the subject of spark plug access. The 5HP is the only one that looks difficult to get at the sparkplug. The 2.5 and the 9.9 are easy. There is an easy fix for the 5 as well. I'm going to encourage them to make the change on all new 5's. There is a rubber plug in the lower cowl of the 2.5 that when removed allows you to insert a plug wrench right onto the spark plug. This same rubber plug would work on the 5 hp. They just have to make the hole in the lower cowl and stick in the plug.