Small Motor Help Needed

[feb]

I have an old 12' or so aluminum boat and want to buy my father-in-law a motor for christmas that he can use on the boat just to putt putt around and fish. No expectations of cruising from one end of the lake to the other in 15 minutes. Just something to use when he is bored of fishing form the dock.

Should I get something like a 4-stroke 2.5hp motor or will a electric trolling motor generate enough power to move him along?

Thanks and Merry Christmas.

[brk-lnt]

I would buy a gas 4-stroke motor.

While an electric might work, dealing with the battery can be a pain. If you run out of battery 1/2 way back home you can't easily just recharge as simply as refilling the tank. Also, checking to see how much run time is left is much easier to do with a gas tank than a battery.

[VitaBene]

As a reference, my son's 12' aluminum boat will plane and run 24 MPH (GPS) with a 2 stroke 8 HP merc!

[MDoug]

You can't go wrong with a four-stroke 9.9.

Good power, good on fuel.

[NBR]

I'd probably go with a 5 or larger HP. It would push him along at a decent speed. Trolling motors are fine but I would hesitate to have one as the only source of power. They are quite slow and should be charged after every use.

[Winnisquamguy]

Go with the four stroke so he doesn't have to deal with mixing the oil and gas. The Honda's are very quiet and great on gas. Merry Christmas to you as well.

[garysanfran]

If weight is an issue, a two stroke motor is much lighter than a four stroke. Mixing oil with gas has never been a big deal for me. One 5 gallon gas tank will last a very long time with a motor under 9.9hp.

[MDoug]

Originally Posted by garysanfran

If weight is an issue, a two stroke motor is much lighter than a four stroke. Mixing oil with gas has never been a big deal for me. One 5 gallon gas tank will last a very long time with a motor under 9.9hp.

Think green and get a 4 stroke engine. The 2 strokers pollute.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by MDoug

Think green and get a 4 stroke engine. The 2 strokers pollute.

Evinrudes Etec, which is 2 stroke, is the cleanest burning engine and has the lowest reportable emissions of any outboard on the market including 4 strokes! They are Carb 3 star certified engines and one of the few outboards allowed on Lake Tahoe.

Ever wonder where all that oil goes after your four stroke oil change??? Only 33% gets legally disposed of. No oil changing in an Etec.

Etec's have been around for a number of years now and I believe BRP's patent will be up on them soon allowing other manufacturers to copy the technology. Two strokes are coming back, cleaner, more powerful and better than ever!

I don't work for Evinrude, just someone who did their homework before buying and wanting to keep it as clean as I could regarding the lake.

Dan

[MDoug]

Having him buy a new ETEC when a used 4-stroke would do as well is just crazy.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by MDoug

Having him buy a new ETEC when a used 4-stroke would do as well is just crazy.

Etecs are not new, been around about 6 or 7 years now. There are used ones to be had.

I do not disagree with getting a four stroke, just with your statement all "two strokers pollute".

Dan

[nightrider]

How old/strong is he? 4 strokes are much heavier that equivilant horsepower 2-strokes. If he is putting the engine on the boat and taking it off everytime he wants to use it, make sure he can handle the weight. If the engine is too heavy, he won't want to use it. Small outboards tend to disappear if left on the boat.

[moose tracks]

Originally Posted by garysanfran

If weight is an issue, a two stroke motor is much lighter than a four stroke. Mixing oil with gas has never been a big deal for me. One 5 gallon gas tank will last a very long time with a motor under 9.9hp.

I would go with a 7.5 hp - 2 stroke. Should be just right in weight and power. A 9.9 hp is a little heavy. Mixing gas and oil is no big problem

[bkgoodman]

I'd go with the 4-stroke gas for the aforementioned reasons (no gas-oil mixing, easy to refuel).

The other concideration being, 4-strokes run much easier then 2-strokes, and they especially are much easier to start. So for a small engine that you're not going to have an electric starter for - and he's going to have to pull-start, much better to go with a 4-stroke that he won't ever have to fight with!!

[MDoug]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Etecs are not new, been around about 6 or 7 years now. There are used ones to be had.

I do not disagree with getting a four stroke, just with your statement all "two strokers pollute".

Dan

By all means tell us where we can find a used 5-9.9 hp ETEC.

[gf2020]

A new outboard is a pretty generous gift for a father-in-law. I'm giving mine a baseball cap!

For what it's worth, I would go with at least a 6 HP. Weight is a problem, however, with the 4-strokes. If you can find a Yamaha 9.9 2-stroke that is a great engine.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by MDoug

By all means tell us where we can find a used 5-9.9 hp ETEC.

As you are well aware the smallest Etec is a 15 H.P.

Give it a rest. I already said I only took issue with your overly broad statement that "2 strokers pollute". That simply is not true...O.K.?

Over and out;

Dan

[Kamper]

About 15 years ago I had a 'freighter' type canoe. I decided on gas because if I was dumb enough to run out, it was easier to get gas and oil than a fesh-battery. I got a 2-s because I got a good deal.

[John A. Birdsall]

I would suggest that you look at the size of the boat, is it a low row boat or a high sided row boat. We have a 12' low sided row boat and I could not put a motor on it and sit in the back to operate it with out it sinking. When growing up we had a 14' wooden row boat with a 6 hp motor on it that was a good mix. However my dad when he was growing up had a 1 hp motor on that and went all over the lake. (that motor went to the Winn. Musem when it was in the Weirs)

[MDoug]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

As you are well aware the smallest Etec is a 15 H.P.

Give it a rest. I already said I only took issue with your overly broad statement that "2 strokers pollute". That simply is not true...O.K.?

Over and out;

Dan

We're just trying to make sense of your overly broad statement: "Evinrudes Etec, which is 2 stroke, is the cleanest burning engine and has the lowest reportable emissions of any outboard on the market including 4 strokes! They are Carb 3 star certified engines and one of the few outboards allowed on Lake Tahoe

Now you tell us there are no 9.9 ETECs.

[SIKSUKR]

What is your problem Doug?You made an incorrect statement and was called out.Your response should be "I stand corrected",not trying to flame ishoot with bogus arguments because its not helping but hurting your point of view.

[MDoug]

Originally Posted by SIKSUKR

What is your problem Doug?You made an incorrect statement and was called out.Your response should be "I stand corrected",not trying to flame ishoot with bogus arguments because its not helping but hurting your point of view.

You spot it, you got it, Fellows.