Remember the older motors were HP rated at the flywheel, whereas later
ones (around late '80's onward) are rated at the prop - abt a 1 HP
difference in these small sizes in practical output. If you can find a
good deal on a not-abused 2.5 HP Nissan/Tohatsu/Mariner (all the same)
you will not only have a little more pwr stock, but if you take the
little aluminum restrictor plate out of the carb it will be a 3.5
HPssshhh!. You can still get parts for these and more easily too, as
they are still in production, but they are expensive.

I found a higher-pitch 2-bladed Al prop locally at a prop shop (no clue
where you'd find one now) for my 2.5, removed the restrictor plate, and
it will plane me alone on my 7'6" inflatable on a calm lake & runs like
a raped ape (for a tiny 22 lb motor). By comparison, my earlier type 3
HP 2 cylinder Evinrude in perfect condition has less poop than the 2.5
stock.