Orca outboard

[Map]

Hello,

I am looking for some advice on Orca outboards - I did a search but nothing came up.

I am looking at the 2.5 or 6 hp outboard - I will be carrying to the beach and it will be for a small sib to pootle about with. I will mainly be rowing - to keep fit and enjoy the sea with my young kids, but the engine as back up / fun - I live in Southend so it’s very tidal but I will be within a few hundred meters of the shore.

Anyone have any experience with this brand? Or do I need to spend the extra and get an outboard from the usual manufacturers?

Any suggestions on most effective (time, maintenance, weight and money) outboard welcome. Electric/propane/petrol etc.

Thanks.

[Fenlander]

Hello Map and welcome to the forum.

I'd not touch an Orca outboard... seemingly a Chinese cloe of something else with no brand support in the UK other than one seller as far as I can see.

Any used 2-stroke or 4-stroke from Mercury, Mariner, Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha etc would be better.

I'd tend to go for 6hp rather than 2.5hp for use at sea.

For your use don't bother with elec or propane.

[Map]

Great thanks. That’s orca crossed off the list.

What’s the minimum hp you would recommend?

it will be used in fair weather, no strong winds or rain etc. If it’s capable of pushing a 3m sib 5-6knots with 200kg of people on board that would suit just perfect.

[Fenlander]

If you just want to do displacement speed of up to 6kts I think around 6hp would be fine. 4hp might do but I do like that extra bit of grunt at sea even if moving at modest speeds. 8hp is probably more than you need so extra weight/cost not justified.

[Map]

thanks

[Poly]

Have you rowed a SIB before? It’s not something I’d do to “keep fit”. If I was buying a boat to row I’d not buy a SIB - obviously it can be done, and I dare say it’s so inefficient it is actually quite a good workout.

Originally Posted by Fenlander

I'd not touch an Orca outboard... seemingly a Chinese cloe of something else with no brand support in the UK other than one seller as far as I can see.

Any used 2-stroke or 4-stroke from Mercury, Mariner, Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha etc would be better.

I’d agree with that. Tohatsu should be on that list (that’s the European Name for Nissan Marine) and is often a little cheaper but still widely supported (quite often with identical parts to some of the mariners). If you really want to buy an “obscure” brand in the UK then it *might* be worth looking at Selva. They are more popular on the continent, share a lot of design with Yamaha, but are a big enough company you should be able to get support.

[Fenlander]

Ha sorry... Tohatsu are indeed worthy enough not to fall under "etc".

[jeffstevens763@g]

some reading on tohatsu

Tohatsu History

[chipko]

Possibly also worth noting most Mercury/Mariner motors under 30hp are manufactured by Tohatsu in Japan.

More worryingly my Mariner 60 is manufactured by Mercury in China.....Eek!

[jeffstevens763@g]

Originally Posted by chipko

Possibly also worth noting most Mercury/Mariner motors under 30hp are manufactured by Tohatsu in Japan.

More worryingly my Mariner 60 is manufactured by Mercury in China.....Eek!

yep
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_Marine