What Outboard?

[JBL97]

I have purchased a 3.6m Bark dinghy and on the look out for a motor for it

Plan to take it along the sea coast and some lakes also.

Main use will be cruising about with family and fishing with a few mates.

What would you recommend?

HP size
Brand
2 stroke or 4 stroke.

I have no experience with any outboard engine but I am a quick learner

This is the boat I got, its 3.6m long and 70kg

https://bark.ua/en/barks/motor_boats.../bt-360sd.html

[Fenlander]

On another post you were thinking 8,10 or 15hp. Would that be new or used?

Your SIB is quite heavy and would be best with a 15-20hp motor, rated to max 25hp I see. I would discount the 8hp and say a 10hp is the absolute minimum and even that will be bogged down with more than you or you+1. I assume you prefer to be able to plane in most circumstances?

Definitely 20hp would be the safe bet to plane with family/mates.

If you are looking new or newish 4-stroke the 15 and 20 models (sometimes the 10hp too) weigh the same so forgetting cost for a moment might as well get the 20 not have 5/10hp less for the same weight to carry about.

2-strokes not legal to sell new since 2007 but are available through "flexible" channels. Usually a lot lighter and simpler to maintain than a 4-stroke of the same hp.

Used outboards are fetching crazy high prices at the moment... both new and used often hard to find in stock and sell quickly.

Just a few random thoughts to start the conversation.

[JBL97]

I heard 2 strokes are easier to manage and maintain and also with regards portability as they don't mind being left on their side but with 4 strokes they need to he transported in a certain position or it causes problems.

This advise (not sure how accurate) had me leaning towards a 2 stroke but honestly I have no idea what is better between 2 stroke and 4 stroke

Size wise, the prize of a new 8hp is approx 2200 but 20hp is approx 3300 so fair bit in the difference that's why I was consider the 8HP to keep the costs down but understand that comes at a price with regards to power on the water but trying to understand if I could manage with a 8HP

[Fenlander]

An 8hp will drive the boat to full displacement speed with all loads. It will probably only get on the plane with just you or you plus one very light other. It really depends what you are looking for re performance.

Yes in general 2-strokes are less fussy how they travel and very simple to maintain.

[JBL97]

What kind of problems are seen when transporting the 4 strokes?

I see 4 strokes are a lot more common so how do folks transport these in their cars without causing problems?

[pumpkinking]

Originally Posted by JBL97

What kind of problems are seen when transporting the 4 strokes?

I see 4 strokes are a lot more common so how do folks transport these in their cars without causing problems?

4 stroke outboard engines do not like being laid on certain sides, otherwise oil can get into the wrong places and/or leak out. They generally take a little more care to transport, whereas 2-strokes dont care as much due to them not containing engine oil, instead you mix oil into the fuel.

Not a huge issue but one to take on board. The main thing is weight - 4 strokes are heavier.

I have a 3.3m SIB (Excel Volante 330) which weighs roughly 50kg in its bag. I have a Suzuki DF6A 4-stroke 6hp outboard which weights roughly 27kg when wet, full of oil and fuel. I couldn't carry more than that weight for my use, so when i upgrade in the future I'll likely get a bigger boat (3.6-4m) bigger engine (20hp 4-stroke = roughly 50kg) and a boat or box trailer. People do launch from their boot with these setups, but most end up buying a trailer.

I agree with fenlander, my 6hp is fine to get just me in my 3.3m SIB on the plane nipping along, but with 2+ it's pushing us along at displacement speeds.

Everything's a compromise. I agree with fenlander's thoughts, get the biggest HP engine you can; afford + carry + transport + is within the limits of your boat.

That's the tricky bit!

[Wazzajnr]

Here you go!


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mariner-1...-127635-2958-0

[TmMorris]

Originally Posted by Wazzajnr

Here you go!


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mariner-1...-127635-2958-0

That would be my preference. 15 is enough to do the job and a good 2 stroke is light and simple. If going new then I'd skip 15 as the 20 is the same weight.

[JBL97]

Originally Posted by Wazzajnr

Here you go!


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mariner-1...-127635-2958-0

Looks good, unfortunately I'm based in Ireland so I'd need to find something here and not a huge amount of used equipment here.

So would I be better off starting with a 2 stroke as I have no experience with motors or does it make a difference?

[spartacus]

If you're looking for an engine you need to be prepared to travel. Demand is outstripping supply. Tohatsu 4-stroke 15-20hp new are €2,400 to €3000, with 7 year warranty.

2-strokes are available but you need to hunt them down.

1996 Evinrude 25hp is in Glasgow, from a dealer.
https://www.clyde-outboard-services....5hp-two-stroke

2003 Mariner 15hp, again a dealer.
https://seamarknunn.com/downloads/usedob/used.pdf

Or this sweet as a nut Mariner 15hp from Caley Marina, Inverness.
https://caleymarina.com/brokerage/bo...-15hp-2-stroke

[JBL97]

Originally Posted by spartacus

If you're looking for an engine you need to be prepared to travel. Demand is outstripping supply. Tohatsu 4-stroke 15-20hp new are €2,400 to €3000, with 7 year warranty.

2-strokes are available but you need to hunt them down.

1996 Evinrude 25hp is in Glasgow, from a dealer.
https://www.clyde-outboard-services....5hp-two-stroke

2003 Mariner 15hp, again a dealer.
https://seamarknunn.com/downloads/usedob/used.pdf

Or this sweet as a nut Mariner 15hp from Caley Marina, Inverness.
https://caleymarina.com/brokerage/bo...-15hp-2-stroke

I understand I have to make the effort to go find a good used motor as they are hard to come by but travelling from Ireland to mainland UK isn't feasible as I could probably buy a brand new motor for same cost with travel expenses across the water and back.

Thanks for the above links and recommendations though, I'll keep a look out for similar

[Wazzajnr]

Facebook marketplace might be your friend.
No idea where in Ireland you are but just found this.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...ok_story_share

[JBL97]

Originally Posted by Wazzajnr

Facebook marketplace might be your friend.
No idea where in Ireland you are but just found this.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...ok_story_share

Thanks for the link. I might be way off here as I don't know what to look out for but that looks very rough from the photos.

Do you think it's a good motor from the ad?

[Fenlander]

Yes it does look rough. But if it were smart and running nicely over here at the moment £1200 min... perhaps £1500 on a good day. So there's a bit of leeway if it were just cosmetics.

So not a bad spot from Wazz.

[JBL97]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Yes it does look rough. But if it were smart and running nicely over here at the moment £1200 min... perhaps £1500 on a good day. So there's a bit of leeway if it were just cosmetics.

So not a bad spot from Wazz.

Thank you for that info.

So how do you determine if a motor is worth going to look at based on photos if some if them look very rough for an untrained eye?

[Wazzajnr]

In my limited experience, don't worry too much about the cover or leg being a bit scratched on a portable. They get thrown around, they get scratched.
Should be clean under the hood. No signs of salt or gobs of sealant from poor repairs.
Check good water flow and easy to start. Check forward and reverse engage easily.
If possible, check compression.
Most of these type of motors don't do huge hours so if it looks hammered then probably best to pass.
My purchase for this year was a 1986 evinrude 9.9, it's scruffy but runs well and pulls like a train.
Far less likely to get nicked if it looks tatty!