- Do I need a lift? How small a motor can
we man-handle it without a lift?

I'd say 25 max - I have trouble with them.

Sound like I may need a lift. I am planning to get a 18-ft boat, and I
have a feeling that I may need a gas engine something above 25HP to
drive that boat, and that will exceed the limit that you have
established. Oh well...

- How many hours should I expect to spend to mount
or dismount an outboard?

Hour max.

Good. This means time is not a big issue as long as I have the
appropriate lift.

The reason why I am asking this is that I would like to use one boat
for both in electric-motor-only lakes and lakes that allow gas engine.
I plan to dismount the gas engine when I go to electric-only lake, and
then re-mount the gas engine when I go to lakes that allow gas engine.

Around here in lakes that have no gas or low horse power requirements,
we just disconnect the gas line, tilt the motor out of the water and
go about our business. I've never heard a complaint yet.

This sounds very good. But I have a feeling that this is depending on
the lake. I just have to find out exactly how the restriction has
specified in the lakes that I plan to operate a boat.

Thanks for the good news.

Jay Chan