Anyone be using one of these unconventional looking cheap outboards?

[Franziska]

Hi,

As my Spindrift 10 is completed I am looking into a lightweight 3-5hp outboard.

Ideally a used 2 stroke of a known brand, unfortunately the well known brands do not sell new two strokes anymore in Europe.

As a used 2stroke still is about 350€ and of unknown "health" one of these:

https://www.google.de/search?client=...Z-YPQO4M:&ip=1

looks interesting as well.

They come in various sizes and from many sources.
Seems like a generic air cooled engine with an outboard leg attached.
They are incredible cheap, but I suppose that is because they use an engine which is manufactured in huge numbers for pumps, garden equipment and so on.
Actually we have a lawn cutter with such an engine and it runs very well since many years.

Has anyone experience with those?
Longevity? Simplicity? Repairability?
I suspect they are easy to maintain and simple to fix.

I know the phrase buy cheap buy twice [emoji3]
Still, we are on a tight budget.

[Lepke]

I've used 2 cycle outboards since the 1950s. Now I use an electric. Moving and charging a battery is less trouble than dealing with an auxiliary fuel tank. 2 cycle engines have fuel problems on a regular basis. Even when using conditioners, carburetors get buildups that eventually keeps the engine from running. Gas outboards seem to fail when you need them most. Unless you're making really long trips, an electric is less trouble and cost.

[LongRange]

I don't have experience with those outboards, but a similar low-priced petrol generator stopped working within 10h of operation (on land), and in effect the "proper" generator I eventually purchased cost me 1.25 times as much as it should have.

At that price it's not going to be made of marine-grade materials. It might be OK for freshwater use, but I expect it'll be a rusty mess within weeks or months if being dipped into seawater, and the initial cheap price will become false economy.

[Franziska]

He, thanks for the answers so far.

Electric is no option for us.
We have 2x Yamaha 9.9 petrol engines as main engine as well as a petrol genset.
For the tender we want a lightweight petrol. 2strokes are lighter than 4 stroke.

Engines like these do not need a registration over here unless you run them on lakes.

Still I really wonder how these lawn mower style outboards perform and last. I understand that they may not be good, but would really appreciate some first hand info on them.

[Shrew]

Originally Posted by Franziska

H

As a used 2stroke still is about 350€ and of unknown "health" one of these:

https://www.google.de/search?client=...Z-YPQO4M:&ip=1

You provided a link to the Google search results, but not what you're actually looking at.

Most of the 2-3 HP 4-strokes are air cooled. We had an air cooled Honda 2HP OB for 8-9 years.

[Sailmonkey]

https://www.google.de/search?client=....0.aBeUKdmmaSw

This is a link to a different google search that confirms my suspicions......nice toy, bad engine.

[Franziska]

These (or similar) are the ones:

https://goo.gl/images/5ddrZt

Just wondering.
Ideally I know that I'll would want to get a used 2stroke of Yamaha/Mercury or similar.

[HankOnthewater]

Franziska, when reading your first post (and checking that link), I was thinking you were referring to these kind of engines. I had one (not diesel, but 5HP 4 stroke petrol) for years, cheap to buy, then only costed me fuel to run. lots of torque, but .... very heavy, no good for any dinghy smaller than 4 or 5 mt. Even pushed my 12 ton boat!

Then when I read your last post, I see that unit would be far more manageable, but the question of course is quality. Why not get a 2nd hand 2 HP Honda or 3 HP Yamaha? Both utterly reliable, still have a Honda in the shed, drop in and I will sell it to you for a few hundred $$
photo below belongs to first paragraph

[Franziska]

Hey Hank, thanks for the info. Well, it's buying a used and old one (with perhaps hidden issues) by a reputed manufacturer or a brand new but unconventional one.
Regarding your experience the unconventional ones need not mean that they are bad.
Will see.

Thanks!

[LeeV]

Not sure why electric won't work for you. We have a 10' inflatable and use a saltwater trolling motor with this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Works like a charm and is the size of a book. Charges with USB, 110, car charger, etc....

[DrDelmas]

I bought a new on made in China. It lasted 3 months with daily use in salt water. It died due to corrosion. Also it was VERY loud.

[Ita]

Originally Posted by LeeV

Not sure why electric won't work for you. We have a 10' inflatable and use a saltwater trolling motor with this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1



Works like a charm and is the size of a book. Charges with USB, 110, car charger, etc....

How much running time did you get with it?

[Franziska]

Electric is no option (for us!) as its

A)
Expensive to buy. Our budget is 400€ max.
B)
Difficult to fix with onboard means if broken and in remote areas. Few dealers who could fix it on site.
C)
Limited range of operation, we do not just use it to just get out of port, as we anchor most of the time
D)
Long charging times
E)
Limited operation at a time

Might work in 10 years time when these issues are overcome, but not now (at least for us).

[Franziska]

By the way, we are buying a hardly, and only in freshwater, used 4hp 2stroke Suzuki now.

[Scout 30]

I would take a used name brand motor over generic Chinese junk any day. If you're looking for loud & inneficient why not get an old Seagull?