Rats! I was hoping that at least one member of this group would have
had personal experience with the Suzuki portable outboards, especially
the 4hp and the 6hp to offer some insights as to their functionality,
endurance, noise level, trolling , etc. Haven't received too many
replies in the other boat group either so guess Suzuki's don't have
that many users. Thanx to the ones who responded though. Jay

On 2008-04-08 01:10:49 -0400, Jay said:

Rats! I was hoping that at least one member of this group would have
had personal experience with the Suzuki portable outboards, especially
the 4hp and the 6hp to offer some insights as to their functionality,
endurance, noise level, trolling , etc. Haven't received too many
replies in the other boat group either so guess Suzuki's don't have
that many users. Thanx to the ones who responded though. Jay

I don't have direct experience with them, but if you really are just
trolling around, the 4 will beat oars handily.

MY concern with any outboard is that you have adequate support where
you live and/or cruise. We have a wonderful ancient Honda, but no
dealers that I can get to without taking time off of work.

I'd feel safest with two nearby shops with good reputations, and at
least one day they're open past 5 PM.

--
Jere Lull
Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD
Xan's pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI trips & tips: http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

On Apr 7, 10:58*pm, Jere Lull wrote:


Good point about having a good service shop nearby. And thanx for the
support of the 4HP. I've been leaning in that direction anyway. The
lakes we go to are pretty calm and, maybe I'm wrong, but I don't see a
lot of mechanical difference between the 4HP (DF4) and the 6HP (DF6).
It's like they're the same exact motor and the 6 just winds out more.
-Jay

Forgot to mention a harebrained (?) idea a friend of mine had. He
said to just putt-putt that 14 footer around these calm ponds in the
area all I would need would be the Suzuki 2.5 HP but that sounds more
like a motor for an inflatable, dinghy or a little 8 or 10 foot Walker
Bay to me.

He also mentioned that if I was going to shell out a $1100 for the
Suzuki DF4, I should pick up the Briggs and Stratton 5HP online for
$750 delivered. (One more horse at work for $350 less). Hmmmm...too
many damn decisions.
-Jay

On Tue, 8 Apr 2008 02:49:20 -0700 (PDT), Jay
wrote:

Forgot to mention a harebrained (?) idea a friend of mine had. He
said to just putt-putt that 14 footer around these calm ponds in the
area all I would need would be the Suzuki 2.5 HP but that sounds more
like a motor for an inflatable, dinghy or a little 8 or 10 foot Walker
Bay to me.

He also mentioned that if I was going to shell out a $1100 for the
Suzuki DF4, I should pick up the Briggs and Stratton 5HP online for
$750 delivered. (One more horse at work for $350 less). Hmmmm...too
many damn decisions.
-Jay

I think your problem is in your description of what you want to do. I
have a Mercury 3 H.P. and I'll guarantee it will push your boat around
a lake. Not too quickly, but it will push it and since speed will be
more a factor of water line length then anything else the 2.5/3 H.P
will probably push your 14 footer about as fast as my 8 foot dinghy
(with the same number of people aboard).

The Briggs & Stratton will probably work as well as anything and last
as long. At least for the weekend and holiday use you will likely put
it to. Or get a good used second hand 4 - 5 H.P. if you can locate
one.


Bruce-in-Bangkok
(correct email address for reply)

On Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:44:36 +0700, Bruce in Bangkok
wrote:

The Briggs & Stratton will probably work as well as anything and last
as long. At least for the weekend and holiday use you will likely put
it to. Or get a good used second hand 4 - 5 H.P. if you can locate
one.

The Briggs and Stratton is air cooled and *very* noisy. I think it
would be a poor choice. The 2.5 will definitely move you around
although not very fast. If you want to optimize light weight and low
cost the 2.5 would be the best option (if you have dealer support).

For low speed on a small pond you might be happy with an electric
trolling motor and a deep cycle battery.

On Tue, 08 Apr 2008 09:57:51 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:44:36 +0700, Bruce in Bangkok
wrote:

The Briggs & Stratton will probably work as well as anything and last
as long. At least for the weekend and holiday use you will likely put
it to. Or get a good used second hand 4 - 5 H.P. if you can locate
one.

The Briggs and Stratton is air cooled and *very* noisy. I think it
would be a poor choice. The 2.5 will definitely move you around
although not very fast. If you want to optimize light weight and low
cost the 2.5 would be the best option (if you have dealer support).

Second that. Ran an air-cooled 5hp for years. Cheap Sears thing.
Always regretted not kicking in the extra cash for a water cooled.
It was noisy as hell.

--Vic

Wayne.B wrote:
For low speed on a small pond you might be happy with an electric
trolling motor and a deep cycle battery.

That's what I've been thiinkin' from the start.
What's wrong with that idea?

Rick

On 2008-04-08 06:44:36 -0400, Bruce in Bangkok said:

The Briggs & Stratton will probably work as well as anything and last
as long. At least for the weekend and holiday use you will likely put
it to. Or get a good used second hand 4 - 5 H.P. if you can locate
one.

A B&S outboard? It's been years since I had a gas lawnmower (went
electric 20 years ago), but I wonder how reliable they are and how
easily serviced....

Search shows they're air cooled & OHV, so they're a bit different than
way back when.

Anyone have experience with them?

--
Jere Lull
Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD
Xan's pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI trips & tips: http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

Jere Lull wrote:

On 2008-04-08 06:44:36 -0400, Bruce in Bangkok
said:

The Briggs & Stratton will probably work as well as anything and last
as long. At least for the weekend and holiday use you will likely put
it to. Or get a good used second hand 4 - 5 H.P. if you can locate
one.


A B&S outboard? It's been years since I had a gas lawnmower (went
electric 20 years ago), but I wonder how reliable they are and how
easily serviced....

Search shows they're air cooled & OHV, so they're a bit different than
way back when.

Anyone have experience with them?


I've had two of them.
One was an old beater used in salt water (a no-no for this engine)
Never missed a beat, though.
Just not quite as stong as...

The other one was brand new from Academy - on sale for $650)

Up Side:

It's a Briggs.
Starts, runs, does exactly what it's supposed to do.
Service centers everywhere.

It's a 4 stroke engine - no oil mixed in the gas.
Reliable as can be.

Lots-O-Torque.
This was the motor on my Capri 18 - 1500 pounds of small boat.
It would make hull speed at about 75% power
and could push the boat into a 25 mph headwind at a couple knots.
Strong motor...

Electronic RPM limiter to prevent damage from overspeed - like
when the prop comes out of the water or you turn and cavitate.

VERY miserly fuel consumption compared to equal powered two strokes.

ANd lastly, no water pick up for engine cooling - no exhaust water
tube either. A bit lowder, maybe at full boil, but not bad.


Down Side:

It's a 4 stroke, so it has oil in the sump.
You can't lay it down on it's side like a two stroke.

It's heavy for a 5 horse at 56 pounds.

External fuel tank required.


For what that's worth...

Richard

Motor mods page:
http://www.home.earthlink.net/~cavelamb/c18-mot.htm#top

--
(remove the X to email)

Now just why the HELL do I have to press 1 for English?
John Wayne