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Best 2hp outboard

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cwstrang
1st Mate

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USA
78 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/24/2012 : 12:35:55

Guys:
Greetings from beautiful St Helens!! The itch to get out on the water is growing with the nice weather we have had. For those of you with a tender, I have an eight foot inflable. What has been your experience with outboards? I found a 2hp Honda short shaft on sale in craig's list for about 2/3 the new price.

Have decided to keep Three Bs vs trading up to a 30fter based on your feedback and reading some of the latest postings.
Craig

Edited by - on

Lonnie
Deckhand

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USA
8 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2012 : 15:02:07

I replaced by 5hp Nissan with a 9.8hp Tohatsu on my C250 this past winter and could not decide what to do with the Nissan. I ended up buying a Zodiac Zoom wood floor 8'6" inflatable from Defender. Weight 88 lbs, capacity-a little over 900 lbs. It is not used as a tender, just a toy for the Grandchildren. The Zodiac is rated for a max. of 8hp and 6hp is recommended. I took it out yesterday with two people and it worked just like it should if you don't get in a hurry. I don't know your tender, but 2hp on mine would not work. Hope that helps at least a little.

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2012 : 15:21:01

I have the Honda 2. It's the lightest current model out there, and air cooled so there're no cooling system issues. It won't get your 8-footer on plane of course, but it pushes my 8.5' Achilles to hull speed.

The negatives on it are that the air cooling makes it noisier than most, and instead of a shift, it has a centrifugal clutch which takes some getting used to. One trick is finding a good starting throttle position that won't engage the clutch the instant the engine fires--if it does, it can be a bit of a surprise.

A friend has a Suzuki 2.5 that wasn't available when I bought the Honda... It's just a little heavier, but still lighter than almost everything else, is water cooled (making it a little quieter), and has a shifter. (I forget whether it's FNR or just FN, but both engines rotate 360 degrees.)

I do like not even thinking about an impeller, thermostat, etc., and the Honda seems bullet-proof... but if I were doing it now, I might pick the Suzi.

BTW, the "short shaft" Honda 2 is for a 10" high transom, not the usual 15" that is normally considered "short." If the Honda is really "short", make sure it's not too short. Mine is 15" (L), which seems right for my Achilles.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 04/24/2012 15:27:58

Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1511 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2012 : 15:23:46

I have a 2hp Honda and an older 3.5hp Nissan. The Honda is easy to deal with because it is light and uses regular gasoline like my Tohatsu, however, it is loud, a lot louder the than the 2-stroke. The only other thing is, the throttle is very touchy. It took me some time to get used to it.

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2012 : 15:27:38

Craig,
We've got an Avon 3.14 (~10') roll-up and used to have a 4hp 2-stroke for it. It wasn't enough to push the boat up on plane, but I'm not exactly the smallest guy either. I've replaced it with a 5 hp 4-stroke, but have never even put it on the transom yet. As long as you're not in any hurry, the 2hp will be sufficient to push you around, but you're not going to get wherever you're going in a hurry.

Honestly, I quite like rowing the Avon, but wouldn't want to have to row into a wind or current. The rowing seems therapeutic to my grumpy shoulder and neck, but I don't get a chance to do it as often as I might like.

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2012 : 15:37:26

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Davy J
 ...the throttle is very touchy. It took me some time to get used to it.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I think he's talking about the clutch I mentioned. It will remind you that two horses have some kick!

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 04/24/2012 15:41:25

Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1511 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2012 : 16:12:07

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I think he's talking about the clutch I mentioned. It will remind you that two horses have some kick!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Ahh yes, nothing, nothing, warpspeed......

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2012 : 16:31:09

We have a Suzuki 2.5hp on our 8'ish inflatable.

Works great... but only if you start it (dink spends toooo much time rolled up in it's bag!)

It always has a healthy dose of Stabil in the fuel.

Paul.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2012 : 16:33:47

Oh! Duh! didn't realize the program here!

Suggest a bigger boat, browse around, figure the costs, decide that you'll save a bunch sticking with what you have... then 'A new outboard motor is nothing compared to moving up 5' So let's get a new outboard.

Very shrewd!

Paul

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2012 : 16:41:11

A friend of mine has the Suzuki 2.5 4 stroke on the back of his C-22. Nice motor!

Edited by - on

cwstrang
1st Mate

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USA
78 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2012 : 10:07:26

I have done some price comparing and the Suzuki 2.5 looks to be a good by at 31lbs and 68CC. Thanks for the input.

Edited by - on

Skipper Paul
1st Mate

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USA
34 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2012 : 11:29:22

I have had a 2hp Honda for 6 years and have used it in salt water exclusively on my tender in the Pacific Northwest. It has performed flawlessly. It is like a fine jewel watch. Always starts first time, sips fuel, is simple and easy to maintain. I bought it on Craigslist for a bargain and have absolutely no complaints.

Edited by - on

cwstrang
1st Mate

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USA
78 Posts

Response Posted - 04/26/2012 : 06:27:27

Paul..
I know what you mean about Honda quality. I have a 15hp on my 250 and just this week fired it up for the 1st time, 1st turn of the key it started right up. Had a 19ft Hunter WB with a 5hp Honda for 16yrs and never changed the spark plug and it started flawlessly on the 1st or 2nd pull.

Edited by - on

Skipper Paul
1st Mate

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USA
34 Posts

Response Posted - 04/26/2012 : 15:34:16

Hi Craig, Please let me know how you like that 15 hp engine compared to the 9.8 most of us have on our 250s.

Edited by - on

cwstrang
1st Mate

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USA
78 Posts

Response Posted - 04/27/2012 : 06:33:23

Paul: Its a great motor here on the Columbia river not only is there the current to deal with but we have really big swings in the tides. The motor has been very dependable, very low maintenance, and pretty quiet at full power. It moves my 250 along at 6 knots. I do have ~200lbs of counter weight in the bow.

Craig

Edited by - on

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 04/27/2012 : 07:12:54

I have a 15 hp Honda also (1999-2000 vintage with the squared off cover, a little smaller and lighter than the 2002+ models), and can echo those comments. For normal cruising it makes no difference, because once you reach hull speed (at ~1/3 throttle) any extra power just digs your transom down in a hole. But for slow-speed maneuvering in strong tidal currents, the extra power comes in really handy if you need to make quick adjustments.

The best example of this is docking. Depending on the tides the current will either be pushing me out of the slip or into the slip. It's like landing a plane against the wind or with the wind. In the former case, it's a piece of cake. You have full rudder control even at zero SOG, so you come in slow and steady. But docking with the current is a white-knuckle affair. The current is pushing you in at ~2-3 knots, so you're coming in faster than that and really need to hit the gas to stop. This is one of several reasons that we back in - because gunning the motor in forward is much more successful than gunning in reverse (which can cause the locking mechanism to release and pull the motor out of the water). We've refined our technique so that we begin to slow down sooner and more gradually, but it's good to know that the power is there if we misjudge and need to adjust quickly.

Edited by - TakeFive on 04/27/2012 07:15:15

Skipper Paul
1st Mate

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USA
34 Posts

Response Posted - 04/28/2012 : 12:11:03

I have a 9.8 Tohatsu which I have used for several years in the Pacific Northwest and Monterey Bay. I bought it because it was the best value on the market at the time. It has the long shaft, remote controls, low speed power prop, and is smaller than the 9.8 Honda which it replaced. I tied the rudder to the motor with a detachable arm which I use only at low speeds which allows it to be manuvered like a power boat. This is great for impressing bystanders but is not really a demonstration of any great docking or manuvering skill.

I am really satisfied with this motor. My reason for asking about the difference between the 9.8 and the 15hp is when I am in the Pacific Northwest I too have battled currents, tides, and narrow channels. At times I have felt a bit underpowered and wished I had a bit more "uumph" under power and a bit more speed when on a long windless passage. I am able to get close to hull speed at about 1/2 or a little better throttle so that would probably not improve. The fuel consumption for my Tohatsu is about 1/2 gallon per hour, which is pretty good for this size motor. It doesn't seem so far if there would be a big improvement over performance with a 15hp engine for my boat.

I am going to look into adding weight to the bow after researching it a bit though, and hopefully that is a way to improve performance and handling under power and sail. Thank you so much for the information.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 04/28/2012 : 20:24:02

Hull-speed is hull speed, through the water. You won't exceed that with less than perhaps a 50hp engine. If the current is 2 kts against you, your engine can get you to hull speed (6.3) through the water, but only to 4.3 over the bottom. A 15, or even a 20hp engine will do NO BETTER. My Honda 8 could reach hull-speed at about 3/4 throttle, although I never operated there--more like 5 - 5.5 at 2/3 throttle or so.

Now, wind and waves are another issue that will slow you down, independent of currents and "hull speed". But my Honda 8 had more than I needed against 30+ kt winds against Long Island Sound chop. Honda's 9.9 is the same engine... Honda's 15 is total over-kill IMHO, but if that makes somebody happy, so be it.

(How did we get to this discussion starting with a question about 2hp dinghy motors????)

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 04/28/2012 20:27:29

Skipper Paul
1st Mate

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USA
34 Posts

Response Posted - 05/12/2012 : 22:11:34

My Bad, I digress..I do that a lot. I blame it on SADS (Senior Attention Deficit Syndrome), Yes I should have stuck to the topic of the 2hp Honda. I wandered to the 15 hp realm. But then, I wonder how the 5hp or the 8hp would compare to the 15hp................?

Edited by - on

awetmore
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1144 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2012 : 18:47:17

I know this is a bit of an old thread, but dinghy motors are new to me.

I bought the Honda 2hp motor a few weeks ago. It is the older BF2A model without the idle (it is always in gear when turned on). It hadn't been used in 5 years, so I changed out all of the oil, checked the plug, and put fresh gas in. It started right up (there is another thread on this, sorry if this is a duplicate for you).

I've used it on my dinghy (Zodiac Zoom 230) and a friends Acheilles 10+ inflatable. It is about the right size for the Zoom (suggested motor is 3hp), undersized for the Achillies (max 10hp, suggested 8hp). On the lake it quickly got both boats up hull speed with one or two men, won't get either up to planing with one man. I think it'll meet our needs just fine, and the light weight is a big bonus. I like our small dinghy too, it was inexpensive, handled fine, and pumps up quickly. It'll be a chore unloading a full boat of friends with it, but for carrying my wife and I to shore from anchorage it'll do great.

I kept reading reviews that the Honda was really loud, but I didn't find it to be that bad. I wouldn't want to listen to it all day, but it isn't that much worse than the Tohatsu 9.8 outboard that pushes our C-25. I've wondered if the ones that people find to be loud are perhaps low on oil?

The Honda 2hp motors are easy to find used around here (Seattle). I also saw a lot of the Tohatsu's go by, but ignored them since they are much heavier. I didn't see any of the small Suzuki's, but can see how the aluminum prop (the Honda one is plastic), lower price, and water cooling could make it a better option if buying new.

So here is my new question for the thread. I bought a little mount for the dinghy motor to store it on the stern pushpit. Where is the best place to install it? I have a 1984 with the motor mounted starboard, ladder mounted port. I don't think that I could install the dinghy motor mount port without it getting in the way of the swim ladder. If I mount it starboard it seems like it'll get in the way of using the sailboat's outboard. I've wondered about making a mount to store it in the dumpster, but don't like the idea of gas fumes going into the boat should I forget to close the vent on the Honda's tank.

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