Best dinghy outboard?

[malyea]

Mercury, Honda, Yamaha...??? Looking for a good/solid/reliable new 2 to 5 hp outboard for my new WM PRU-3 dinghy... Would really like to hear your opinion if you actually have experience with the outboard you're either promoting or bashing. Thanks!

[bytownboy]

Have owned a Lehr 2.5 propane outboard for two years now. Like it a lot an love even more no longer having gasoline on board!!

[barnakiel]

I am into Yamaha a lot. Reliable and quiet.

My other choice is Tohatsu.

b.

[Mike OReilly]

I have a 3.5 hp (4-stroke) Tohatsu, which I believe is the same engine also sold as a Mercury or Nissan. I’ve owned this engine for about four years. I use is seasonally on the Great Lakes.

I haven’t asked a lot of this engine, but so far it has been perfectly reliable. Zero problems. It is efficient, light and can easily plane my portabote with one person in it.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

I am into Yamaha a lot. Reliable and quiet.

My other choice is Tohatsu.

b.

I will second both of these recommendations.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by malyea

Mercury, Honda, Yamaha...??? Looking for a good/solid/reliable new 2 to 5 hp outboard for my new WM PRU-3 dinghy... Would really like to hear your opinion if you actually have experience with the outboard you're either promoting or bashing. Thanks!

I have a 2011 5 hp 4 stroke Mercury on my boat. It would (with the short shaft) make an excellent dinghy motor. The Mercury 4,5,6 are basically the same.

The 3.3 HP's and less (all makes) seem to have the most problems with their carburetors due to the very small jets

[Boatguy30]

I would comment that dinghy choice is not a great one for a boat like yours unless you are sticking to protected anchorages along the ICW. And even then, in the keys and S Florida it will be marginal unless it's just one fairly small person in it.

In light of that, I would go with the smallest option like a Suzuki 2.5 as you either need to maximize the lightness easy launch factor, or you're going to be getting another dinghy with a 9.9 or 15

[Mayhemdog75]

Not a fan of the mercury. Bought a brand new 4 stroke 3.5 hp and had issues right from the start. Returned it, bought a Yamaha 4stroke 6 hp and absolutely love it.


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[brianlara 3]

As a seriously old ex-mechanic, I thought my Honda 5 hp 4 stroke engineering & quality was like nothing else I've seen. Mercedes quality. But Yamaha are right up there too.
Dealership locations are important and I would expect Yamaha to have more dealers. Academic really because both will never need a spanner .....sorry, wrench.
Fwiw.

[brianlara 3]

Originally Posted by Mayhemdog75

Not a fan of the mercury. Bought a brand new 4 stroke 3.5 hp and had issues right from the start. Returned it, bought a Yamaha 4stroke 6 hp and absolutely love it.


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Yep, same story. Two new Mercurys with important defects out of the box. Small Mercs are made for Brunswick by Tohatsu......but for a tight price I suspect.
I'd but Tohatsu new but never again Merc.

[Strypes]

Honda.

[Mayhemdog75]

Originally Posted by brianlara 3

Yep, same story. Two new Mercurys with important defects out of the box. Small Mercs are made for Brunswick by Tohatsu......but for a tight price I suspect.

I'd but Tohatsu new but never again Merc.

I have a 90's merc 3 hp 2 stroke that is now our back up and it runs great. That's why we went with the new merc 4 stroke thinking it'd be a nice little engine. We were wrong!!! At least the dealer was understanding and gave a full refund and for a little bit more money we bought the Yamaha. Mercury needs to step it up if they wanna compete with the small outboard market. Anyway the weather is beautiful here in Key West!!!


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[puffcard]

Your dingy is 53 lbs, you don't want to put a 60 lb motor on it. Get a light Honda 2.2, it weights like 24 lbs.

[brianlara 3]

Originally Posted by puffcard

Your dingy is 53 lbs, you don't want to put a 60 lb motor on it. Get a light Honda 2.2, it weights like 24 lbs.

Had one, the 2.3......get seriously good ear muffs!!
Air cooled causes heaps of fan noise and above water exhause in a following breeze is another thing I dont like. If you can put up with the noise then probably the best little engine on the market, especially having a centrifugal clutch...light, beautifull engineered.

[J Clark H356]

Had a Yamaha 4HP 2004 model 4 stroke and it was a great motor until the gas changed. Even using Non-ethanol the carb jets still get clogged. The jets are the size of a hair and get crystallized gas in less than a month. Motor is high quality, but current gas is junk.

Got a Lehr 5 HP propane in 2014 and love it. Reliable and no gas on board. Propane easy to get and carry and a 1 lb cannister lasts about an hour.