Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Small 4-stroke outboard motor....

do power to weight ratio... running rpms ...gear box or not? fuel tank size ......then off u go ! "A canoe is not designed to plane" ...truer words were never spoken.

2 stroke will be lighter. I have had a 15 HP merc that has never failed me. It sat for 7 years In a barn and when I got it out to use it again, fresh gas an it started 3 rd pull

I've got an Briggs 5hp on my 12' Smoker Craft alum boat and an electric motor. I use it on shallow type lakes for bass, crappie, and pike fishing. I really like the electric motor for small lakes far better than any combustion motor. It's so handy and plainly awesome for getting in near the shore or running after ducks in ponds.

As per the 5hp Briggs, motor, it works and is quite slow. It vibrates really bad and is really an low end boat motor. So with my setup it works just fine and economically for me on shallow type lakes and that's where I keep it.

In bigger deeper water I'd really look at Suzuki, Yamaha, or Honda. The Briggs just doesn't have the power and IMO the reliability to be in an place where you depend on your motor, and that's why keep the electric with me and an big battery.

I'm still trying to wear out my Evinrude Lightwin 3hp....fugger won't die and going on 60 years old

on my Grumman freighter square stern, I have a 4 hp johnson for just dinking around

and older 15 hp Honda for getting serious to use it to haul a moose, another guy and gear out.

but if you put the Honda on it by yourself you best have some ballast rocks up front!

am thinking the 8hp Honda woulda been a one motor better overall choice, but that's hindsight

What length Grumman Freighter do you have?

We used to truck top this boat and motor.
8 hp Johnson 2 stroke 56 lbs.
12' T12V-.............153 lbs.

Worked great. Hasn't been in water since 05. Thinking about selling.

Truck-topping ANY fishing craft is a schidt-storm. Being able to load the boat, even a canoe, the night before, all rods/tackle/cooler secured, and just drive off is priceless. I even have an UL aluminum trailer for my canoe. One of my take-out spots enables me to walk the trailer down a steep hill to load my canoe, without unloading the contents, and haul it by hand back up a road too rough to drive down to the parking area.

The Honda 2.3 hp is looking pretty sweet. They want a princely sum for it, but its the lightest. I think I am sold on the NuCanoe 12' frontier. Think I'm gonna order tomorrow.

Jordan

In high school I had a 17ft aluminum canoe and a 5hp Briggs and Stratton (???) two stroke on a stern-mounted sideboard. That thing planed and hauled a$$, way beyond the design intent of the canoe, but luckily we was immortal back then. We would charge the wakes of the big boats on the Lower Hudson, if you were in front you'd go airborn

Here's my present 13 footer with a Honda 2hp......



The most it will do with two people aboard is maybe 6 or 7mph, above efficient hull speed but not enough to plane.

Same canoe, MinnKota 40lb thrust marine motor....



At full throttle with a fresh battery you're talking 4mph, maybe 4.5 Just about efficient hull speed.

'Nother problem I have with trolling motors is, with a gas motor I can look at how much gas I have in the boat and know pretty much how far I can go. With a trolling motor you are never certain. OTOH it sure is cool to cruise along the shoreline dead silent.

I wouldn't dream of crossing a body of water as famously treacherous as Yellowstone Lake with a trolling motor.

Other's MMV,
Birdwatcher

Birdwatcher:

Thanks for that info. Very helpful. Can't find a negative review on the little Honda anywhere. The boat I am liking is a 12' kayak/canoe hybrid (called NuCanoe). And you're right: crossing Yellerstone on my set up (if I purchase) is foolhardy. I'll have to hug the shoreline. I'd do it on a 17' aluminum freighter with a 5hp motor, but not a little set up like I am thinking of buying.

Jordan

I passed on test driving the used 2 H.P. Honda last night. He said he couldn't budge from $550. I'm going with the new Suzuki 2.5 horse. Just a matter of where I'm going to buy it at this point.

The Zuke is nice. I'm looking to save every pound and I think the Honda is a tad lighter.

Damn. The Zuke is lighter than the Honda---29 vs. 31 lbs. I need to check it out.

Whoops. 29 lbs vs. 29.5 for the short shaft, in favor of the Zuke (half pound lighter----and alot less money).

You should've bought it. Considering where you live though, a 15'4" Gheenoe with an 8hp would be a better skinny water boat.

The Honda is 7 yrs. old @ $550. The new Suzuki is $709 out the door with a 3 yr. warranty. My skanoe, gheenoe, whatever the hell it's called, was given to me as a bonus on a job that I brought in under budget. It is only rated for up to 5 h.p.

I forgot you already had a boat. I'm sure the Zuki will serve you well.

I went to my local Honda / Yamaha / Suzuki dealership yesterday. I told the salesman I was interested in the 2.5 Suzuki. He said they didn't stock that motor since they have the 2.3 Honda @ $1074 + tax, which in his words, "runs circles around the Suzuki". He said by the time they special ordered from Suzuki, it would be about the same price as the Honda.

Here's the kicker (pun?): As I was leaving, the salesman said, and I quote, "I can't really blame you for wanting the Suzuki, I have one on my boat. But you really should buy this Honda"!

I have had a 2.5 H.P. Suzuki for 5 years now and I like it. Its been a good motor.