6hp outboard query

[general123]

hi, am looking for a bit of advice please ...

I am considering buying a 6hp outboard, either a Suzuki or a Mariner. The Suzuki has an inbuilt petrol tank, the Mariner does not, and as I'm about to be a newbie to boating, I don't have the experience to decide between the 2 engines. I would welcome advice and opinions please to help decide, or is it more a case of personal choice and cost??
Many thanks
Mark

[willk]

Having the option is nice. For example, someone with a 2.7m () might appreciate being able to do short trips without a big brute of a tank taking up deck space. You could then carry a small container of fuel as a reserve, e.g. a camping fuel bottle.

[general123]

thanks willk. by the way, I kept dithering about going solid floor or airdeck, but your feedback regarding your own airdeck has steered me more in the airdeck direction now I like the upsides to an airdeck, and I suspect the boat will be easier and quicker to use on those occasions when I go out on my own. (fishing).. cheers, Mark

[willk]

I should clarify somewhat - some engines have a internal tank AND a fitting for an external - I'm not sure how many there are in current ranges. To give you some idea of usage, my 9.8 typically burns about 5-6 litres during a busy day on the water. Not much, but several refills on a 1.1 litre engine.

I find my SIB fine for solo fishing, but passersby tend to have a right old larf at me - I guess I look like a garden ornament...

[LWman]

Its probably down to personal choice.. id personally go for an external as i know from the 4hp internal i had, that i had to carry spare cans of fuel anyway for a full day out. If the engines are brand new, it'll be pick whatever takes your fancy Though if second hand, id probably just look for the best condition one

[squiddy]

Originally Posted by willk

I should clarify somewhat - some engines have a internal tank AND a fitting for an external

Personally, i would only buy an engine with an internal tank IF it had a fitting for external as well.

[Fenlander]

If this for going to sea then it has to be an external tank to give the reserve capacity for a trip and it's so much easier to see how much you have left. Bending over an integral tank outboard in a chop to check fuel level or refill from a can is not a good experience.

[Stippolyte]

Something else to consider. I've always used external tank, don't fancy having motor full of petrol in the garage, can always drain external into car with a funnel - 4 strokes only though !

[general123]

appreciate the feedback guys, thanks. My thoughts were that the internal tank would be useful when on a river, but if at sea I'd use a small external tank as backup (the engine does have facility for connection to an external tank also). A negative though, I suppose, is transporting an engine with petrol in it back home after boating (the plan is to leave home with it empty and fill at my destination). I suppose I could siphon it empty after boating?

[thornbackflound]

Originally Posted by general123

thanks willk. by the way, I kept dithering about going solid floor or airdeck, but your feedback regarding your own airdeck has steered me more in the airdeck direction now I like the upsides to an airdeck, and I suspect the boat will be easier and quicker to use on those occasions when I go out on my own. (fishing).. cheers, Mark

Fishing off one i would recomend a hard deck,somewhere hard to place your weight and hooks,bad enough with soft tubes and a soft floor,no way i would.

[general123]

For fishing (and I doubt I'll be what one calls a serious fisherman), I was planning to plonk a piece of board or similar on the floor, and put something over the relevant part of the tube, such as old rug. Maybe that's naive

[Poly]

Originally Posted by willk

I find my SIB fine for solo fishing, but passersby tend to have a right old larf at me - I guess I look like a garden ornament...

You're only aware of it when in the SIB ?

Originally Posted by Stippolyte

Something else to consider. I've always used external tank, don't fancy having motor full of petrol in the garage, can always drain external into car with a funnel - 4 strokes only though !

Not sure what your worry about the motor full of fuel in the garage is (apart from it slowly going off). Turning a 4 stroke over to get fuel out the top is asking for sump oil in the cylinders I would think. Not sure if I jiggle syphon is practical at that scale but you should be able to rig something up with a modified fuel pump primer bulb and hose for the volumes involved [likewise if someone only has an internal tank and needs a "safe" way to refill at sea - it won't be automagic but it should work.

Originally Posted by general123

I was planning to plonk a piece of board or similar on the floor, and put something over the relevant part of the tube, such as old rug. Maybe that's naive

Someone on here uses some lino on a roll (with I think a batten to keep it all tidy - might even be Willk (if not he probably has the thread at his fingertips!)

[Turbodiesel]

The New Mercury/Mariner 6hp now has internal fuel tank.
FourStrokes 4 - 6 HP | Mercury Marine

[willk]

Originally Posted by willk

but passersby tend to have a right old larf at me - I guess I look like a garden ornament...

Originally Posted by Polwart

You're only aware of it when in the SIB ?

I do find that fellow seafarers tend to treat me with a little more sobriety when I'm putting 600hp down through 10 meters of military grey

I could get to like that....

[Poly]

Originally Posted by willk

I do find that fellow seafarers tend to treat me with a little more sobriety when I'm putting 600hp down through 10 meters of military grey

I could get to like that....

You just can't hear it over the roar! You should have bought a Honda BF2 for T/T TBD you'd be deaf and never notice everyone else