Damsal in distress!

[bobbingboats]

My husband has just purchased a zodiac 3.4- and left me to source the outboard!
Having problems finding engine- I'm looking for 15/9.9 hp ss 2 stroke. I understand that this is a very popular size and quite difficult to find. Have seen a few on ebay but have been advised not to purchase off there- where would you suggest looking and how much should I be looking to pay?? any other tips would be greatly appreciated
many thanks in advance

[Leapy]

Originally Posted by bobbingboats

My husband has just purchased a zodiac 3.4- and left me to source the outboard!

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by bobbingboats

My husband has just purchased a zodiac 3.4- and left me to source the outboard!

Hi, it would help the process if you were to post a pic of yourself. That way we could get an idea as to which outboard would best suit you.

[Poly]

Originally Posted by bobbingboats

Have seen a few on ebay but have been advised not to purchase off there- where would you suggest looking and how much should I be looking to pay?? any other tips would be greatly appreciated
many thanks in advance

You are looking for a small portable outboard. It needs to be second hand (because no 2 strokes new). Ebay is the obvious place to look. BUT IMHO ebay can be expensive for small second hand engines. As with anything on ebay the risk its a scam and the risk its not as good as described exist - so it would be much better if you can collect it to make sure you actually get an engine and see it running etc. Gumtree would be another option.

If you're not particularly mechanically minded (it would help to know your way around an engine and be able to do a compression test etc before buying) then you might prefer to buy from some sort of dealer (many will take tradeins which they sell on) - you'll probably pay a bit more but might get some sort of warranty in return.

[azzurro]

Here's a dealer and a first hand 9.9hp ultralight 4-stroke:
http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/o...ight-4t-SVV006

[9D280]

Welcome to Ribnet!

As Pol says, you won't find a new 2-stroke thanks to our emmissions friendly EU rules. I guess at 3.4M there is half a chance you might be towing it (as opposed to deflating & putting it in the back of the car) in which case a 4- stroke will be of no real consequence, as it will stay on the back of the boat, and you don't need to get a hernia each time to go out & come back in.

Other thing to remember about 4-strokes if you are transporting in the car- they are fussy which way up you leave them when on their side.

There are a few dealers I could suggest, but as they are all North of Brum, maybe not the best for you?

[chris123]

A lot depends on how / where you are going to use the boat, and how far out to sea you are going to go.

I took the view (rightly or wrongly) when I bought my SIB and outboard that reliability was important to me, so ended up buying a new 4 stroke Suzuki 9.9HP from Pacer Marine:

http://www.pacermarine.co.uk/products.htm

At the time they had a batch they were selling with a big discount. They also stock some used outboards.

I started out deflating / inflating the boat and carrying it in the back of the car (Ford Focus) with the outboard. The weight of the outboard was a bit of a hassle, but to be honest the fact that it made the whole car stink of petrol was more of an issue - that and the fact the boat took up the whole of the boot and back seats was more a factor in changing to a trailer.

I get my outboard serviced at Fairweather Marine in Fareham - he usually has a selection of second hand outboards:

http://www.fairweathermarine.co.uk/

Home Marine in Emsworth also has a good reputation (no website):

http://www.ihampshire.co.uk/profile/...h/Home-Marine/

Ron Hale Marine in Portsmouth has a selection of new and used outboards (I have heard mixed opinions of them):

http://www.ronhalemarine.co.uk/

There is also BHG Marine:

http://www.bhg-marine.co.uk/index.htm

Further afield, Seamark Nunn have a selection of used outboards:

http://www.seamarknunn.co.uk/download/usedob/used.pdf

Bill Higham Marine has a wide range of outboards - I have no direct experience of them, but reports I have heard have not been very flattering - prices may be a bit high:

http://www.billhigham.co.uk/

[Turbodiesel]

Or,

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...#ht_551wt_1139

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...#ht_627wt_1139

[bobbingboats]

Many thanks for all your advice- Home Marine had a 15hp mariner which my husband purchased yesterday. Will collect boat this weekend and try it all out!

[chris123]

Result

Should go very nicely with that outboard.

Cheers

Chris