On Sun, 21 May 2006 12:30:59 +0000, marierdj wrote:

I never had an outboard engine. I have always used a set of oars with my
little rigid dinghy.
Now I am looking at getting an inflatable and they do not row as well as
a rigid dinghy so I need an outboard engine. Carrying gasoline on my
sailboat does not appeal to me very much let alone mixing oil. On the
other hand a two strokes engine does not weight as much as a 4 strokes.
On a sailboat handling an outboard engine means that you have to lift it
up and secure it on the stern rail when sailing. Then when you want to
go ashore you have to get the outboard down and mounted on your
inflatable.
I have not done this before and any held would be appreciated.

I've been very happy with the 2 HP Honda 4 stroke, which weighs only 28
LB, and runs for a couple of hours on a pint of fuel. It's been dead
reliable for 4 years, and hundreds of starts (at least).

Even a Seagull is heavier than that, noisier, stinkier, thirstier, less
reliable, and horribly polluting.

Matt O.