Shaun,

Honest Mistake, I've been known to get them mixed up standing next to one.

All the "High Thrust" versions I have actually been able to get real
specifications for to date have:
1 - A higher numerical reduction in the lower unit
2 - A lesser pitch propeller
3 - A larger propellor diameter (sometimes not very much)

Yes - this allows the engine to get up on the cam at zero boat speed, so
yes it necessarily runs a higher crankshaft speed at the same boat
speed. With boats like ours, you just don't need this.

We do not yet have enough history with the friends HT Honda to know if
he does burn more fuel than I do, but early results say yes, but not a
great deal. I do 6hr at 6.1~2 on 3 US gallon, he thinks he can do 5.5
hr under the same conditions, but we have not done a side by side run.

I like the Yamaha with the shift on the tiller, but I just drilled a
hole on the shift and plug the hiking stick in there when manuvering.

I sold off my '73 350-4 a couple of years ago. Insurance cost more than
the fun was worth.

Don't bother looking for diesel. The Yanmar are too big and heavy and
the little chinese are just as much junk as you think - at least the two
I have seen - and parts are not simple to get.

2 Strokes with modern ignition systems and the ashless lube oils are not
the ecological disaster or maintenance headache that they were in my
youth. If you run into a good one at a good price, you could save a lot
of money at the cost of some fuel rate, but also save 20kg of engine
weight.

Fair Wind and Smooth Sea
Matt Colie
Lifelong Waterman, Licensed Mariner and Pathological Sailor


Shaun Van Poecke wrote:
Sorry Matt,
I must have had Honda on the brain last night..... Cant stop riding Honda
bikes either ;-)

The motor im holding out for is a *yamaha* 9.9 high thrust. Ive heard
really good things about this outboard a long life and good running.

Is the same thing true of all high thrust outboards/props? Not knowing much
about it, im guessing a high thrust motor differentiates from a standard
motor only in prop, and the prop would be larger in diameter, but with less
pitch? If so, does that mean any high thrust motor will consume more
fuel/require higher higher RPMs to sustain a decent cruising speed?

Thanks,
Shaun


Next,
Don't hold your breath for a high thrust. You don't need it. Any good
little OB will do fine. Honda's High thrust gets you more stall thrust
and better thrust astern, but at the cost of rev at cruise. My boat is an
S2-7.9 (2.2t vs 1.7t) very much the same class as your Thunderbird. My
2000my (but not many hours) Honda 9.9 Exls will kick me to hull speed at
about two thirds power, but at WOT it picks me up maybe 0.1 knots and
burns twice the fuel. A friend with a sister boat and a newer H9.9 HT has
to crank it up to stay with me. This engine is about 50kg (108lbs)

An alternator capable of ~10 amp at rated speed will add maybe 0.5Kg.
Electric start adds 6+Kg not including cable and battery. While the
alternator is real nice to have, the only reason I have the electric start
is because my wife and daughter also sail and neither was comfortable with
the hang your body over the transon routine to get the engine going. My Ex
shaft added at least 3Kg.

Fair Wind and Smooth Sea
Matt Colie