Nissan or Tohatsu would be my first choice... out of the ones you listed,
Yamaha.

--


Keith
__
"A woman drove me to drink and I didn't even have the decency to thank
her."--W.C. Fields
"RoyB" wrote in message
...
Looking for a recommendation for a 3-4 HP outboard for a small Zodiac
(C260FR) inflatable.

Mercury, Yamaha and Johnson are readily available here. So far I've
looked at the Mercury 3.3HP and Yamaha 4HP versions at similar prices.

What I want is rock solid starting and reliability (if such a thing
exists in the context of 2 stroke outboards).

If you have a recommendation I'd appreciate hearing it.

Roy

On Sun, 20 Jul 2003 04:58:33 -0500, "Keith"
wrote:

Nissan or Tohatsu would be my first choice... out of the ones you listed,
Yamaha.

Last time I looked (4-5 years ago) Tohatsu *made* the small Nissans
and Mercuries and sells for less. (The Tohatsu 5 is identical to the
Nissan 5 right down to the rabbit and tortoise on the control handle,
and the Mercury 4 was a downspec'd Tohatsu 5 in a different shell.)

Didn't know that about the Merc. I knew that Tohatsu and Nissan were the
same (made by Tohatsu) Well, if Tohatsu makes it, it'll be good.

--


Keith
__
A good captain is one who is hoisting his first drink in a bar when the
storm hits.
"Dick Locke" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 20 Jul 2003 04:58:33 -0500, "Keith"
wrote:

Nissan or Tohatsu would be my first choice... out of the ones you listed,
Yamaha.

Last time I looked (4-5 years ago) Tohatsu *made* the small Nissans
and Mercuries and sells for less. (The Tohatsu 5 is identical to the
Nissan 5 right down to the rabbit and tortoise on the control handle,
and the Mercury 4 was a downspec'd Tohatsu 5 in a different shell.)

John wrote:

RoyB wrote in message . ..


Looking for a recommendation for a 3-4 HP outboard for a small Zodiac
(C260FR) inflatable.

Mercury, Yamaha and Johnson are readily available here. So far I've
looked at the Mercury 3.3HP and Yamaha 4HP versions at similar prices.

What I want is rock solid starting and reliability (if such a thing
exists in the context of 2 stroke outboards).

If you have a recommendation I'd appreciate hearing it.

Roy



First off, what's with the comment on two stroke reliability, where
did that come from?

There are many sources. The major one that I can think of is that there
were VERY few 2-stroke automobiles even before the EPA got its teeth.
And, as I recall, only Toro made a 2-stroke lawn mower, the closest
mass-market equivalent to outboards I can think of.

Don't kid yourself, two strokes outboards have been around for a very,
very, long time. They are simple, reliable, and require very little to
keep them running. Four stroke outboards on the other hand have not
been around for long, are much more complex, heavier, more expensive,
lack the performance of a two stroke, and require more maintenance
(oil changes). And your not going to notice much of, if any, fuel
savings on such a small motor.

Sorry, but many, many people who have made the switch will disagree. The
newest ones are not that much heavier, idle without complaint, don't
smoke, don't destroy plugs at every opportunity, and have greater
torque, so can be run at lower RPMs. I ran 2-stroke motorcycles for
years and was astounded when I got my first 4-stroke. MY, how
maintenance got easier!

4-stroke technology, as far as I can tell, is actually older than
2-stroke. (I'm only thinking back to the Model T.)

And our ancient 7.5 Honda sucked less than 1/2 the gas of a newer
2-stroke 4 HP at a greater top speed. I believe the new ones are even
better. Having to change the oil is a minor item compared to, say,
mixing the oil in the gas.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

"Jere Lull" writes:

And, as I recall, only Toro made a 2-stroke lawn mower, the closest
mass-market equivalent to outboards I can think of.

Did you ever hear of Jacobson?

4 Cyl vs 2 Cyl.

Some simple economics.

With more than 10% of the population, California leads the way in
environmental issues.

Manufacturers simply can not afford to ignore California as a market.

California has outlawed 2 Cyl engines for a lot a very valid reasons.

My guess, it will get to the rest of the country within 5 years.

Why would you consider "pushing on a rope" by even considering a 2 Cyl
engine?


--
Lew

S/A: Challenge, The Bullet Proof Boat, (Under Construction in the Southland)
Visit: http://home.earthlink.net/~lewhodgett for Pictures

Two stroke anything will soon be outlawed in the USA... While the smog
produced by a single engine is negligible, the sum of hundreds of thousands
of engines running at any given instant, 24/7, is not negligible...

Denny

"Jere Lull" wrote in message
...
John wrote:

RoyB wrote in message
. ..


Looking for a recommendation for a 3-4 HP outboard for a small Zodiac
(C260FR) inflatable.

Mercury, Yamaha and Johnson are readily available here. So far I've
looked at the Mercury 3.3HP and Yamaha 4HP versions at similar prices.

What I want is rock solid starting and reliability (if such a thing
exists in the context of 2 stroke outboards).

If you have a recommendation I'd appreciate hearing it.

Roy



First off, what's with the comment on two stroke reliability, where
did that come from?

There are many sources. The major one that I can think of is that there
were VERY few 2-stroke automobiles even before the EPA got its teeth.
And, as I recall, only Toro made a 2-stroke lawn mower, the closest
mass-market equivalent to outboards I can think of.

Don't kid yourself, two strokes outboards have been around for a very,
very, long time. They are simple, reliable, and require very little to
keep them running. Four stroke outboards on the other hand have not
been around for long, are much more complex, heavier, more expensive,
lack the performance of a two stroke, and require more maintenance
(oil changes). And your not going to notice much of, if any, fuel
savings on such a small motor.

Sorry, but many, many people who have made the switch will disagree. The
newest ones are not that much heavier, idle without complaint, don't
smoke, don't destroy plugs at every opportunity, and have greater
torque, so can be run at lower RPMs. I ran 2-stroke motorcycles for
years and was astounded when I got my first 4-stroke. MY, how
maintenance got easier!

4-stroke technology, as far as I can tell, is actually older than
2-stroke. (I'm only thinking back to the Model T.)

And our ancient 7.5 Honda sucked less than 1/2 the gas of a newer
2-stroke 4 HP at a greater top speed. I believe the new ones are even
better. Having to change the oil is a minor item compared to, say,
mixing the oil in the gas.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

Yea, but all the existing ones will be grandfathered. That's why I was glad
to be able to get my Yamaha 25 hp two stroke while they're still available.

--


Keith
__
A hangover is the wrath of grapes.
"Dennis O'Connor" wrote in message
...
Two stroke anything will soon be outlawed in the USA... While the smog
produced by a single engine is negligible, the sum of hundreds of
thousands
of engines running at any given instant, 24/7, is not negligible...

Denny

"Jere Lull" wrote in message
...
John wrote:

RoyB wrote in message
. ..


Looking for a recommendation for a 3-4 HP outboard for a small Zodiac
(C260FR) inflatable.

Mercury, Yamaha and Johnson are readily available here. So far I've
looked at the Mercury 3.3HP and Yamaha 4HP versions at similar prices.

What I want is rock solid starting and reliability (if such a thing
exists in the context of 2 stroke outboards).

If you have a recommendation I'd appreciate hearing it.

Roy



First off, what's with the comment on two stroke reliability, where
did that come from?

There are many sources. The major one that I can think of is that there
were VERY few 2-stroke automobiles even before the EPA got its teeth.
And, as I recall, only Toro made a 2-stroke lawn mower, the closest
mass-market equivalent to outboards I can think of.

Don't kid yourself, two strokes outboards have been around for a very,
very, long time. They are simple, reliable, and require very little to
keep them running. Four stroke outboards on the other hand have not
been around for long, are much more complex, heavier, more expensive,
lack the performance of a two stroke, and require more maintenance
(oil changes). And your not going to notice much of, if any, fuel
savings on such a small motor.

Sorry, but many, many people who have made the switch will disagree. The
newest ones are not that much heavier, idle without complaint, don't
smoke, don't destroy plugs at every opportunity, and have greater
torque, so can be run at lower RPMs. I ran 2-stroke motorcycles for
years and was astounded when I got my first 4-stroke. MY, how
maintenance got easier!

4-stroke technology, as far as I can tell, is actually older than
2-stroke. (I'm only thinking back to the Model T.)

And our ancient 7.5 Honda sucked less than 1/2 the gas of a newer
2-stroke 4 HP at a greater top speed. I believe the new ones are even
better. Having to change the oil is a minor item compared to, say,
mixing the oil in the gas.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

Two stroke anything will soon be outlawed in the USA... BRBR
While I agree the two-stroke engines are not environmentally friendly, it
would take a thousand of them to equal what just one city bus or 18 wheeler
belches out. When are they going to be outlawed?