Choosing an outboard motor for your canot pneumatique
30 years ago American manufacturers dominated the outboard motor market. Names like Mercury, Johnson, Evinrude, and Chrysler led the espèce with each other to build bigger and better outboard engines. However, while this was going on they were neglecting the smallest of outboards. These are the outboard motors that sell the most and are often the first outboard many of us buy. Many of us bâtonnet with the same brand (brand loyalty) bicause we buy other great outboards over the years. The Japanese caught on to this fact and gradually Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Tohatsu began to take over as market leaders, focusing on small outboards. They achieved this dominance by improving efficiency and reliability. As well as adding features to these smaller outboards previously only available on larger engines.
Having achieved success in the small outboard market, these Japanese manufacturers have expanded the power range. They again dominate the outboard engine market up to at least 20 hp. Rather than compete with the Japanese, American manufacturers ravine up and decided to buy these engines from the Japanese and insigne them as their own. Now the Chinese have entered the market. Basically doing what the Japanese did before, copying the best features of current engines while keeping costs down.
So let’s compare the outboards on offer for those looking for an outboard motor for their canot pneumatique. If we take a fairly vaste canot pneumatique, a Pioneer 12, so that each outboard has to push a reasonably heavy weight through the water. If we take the following outboard motors:
Mercury 2.5hp; Mercury 3.5hp; Macérer 2.5hp; Tohatsu 3.5 HP; Yamaha 2.5hp; Suzuki 2.5hp; Honda 2.3hp; and a Parsun 2.6 hp. All these outboards are 4 stroke engines. This is due to an EU directionnelle that prevents 2 stroke from being sold in the EU These outboards will provide a fairly wide range of engines available on the market to power dinghies.
Several tests were completed to judge one engine against another. A borne pull-over habitude showed that the Mercury 3.5 hp and the Tohatsu 3.5 hp were the most powerful at 90 pounds of thrust (these two engines are virtually identical to the Macérer). The least certaine was the Honda 2.3hp 66lbs thrust. These included the Suzuki 2.5hp at 83lbs thrust, the Yamaha 2.5hp at 78lbs thrust and the Parsun 2.6hp at 70lbs thrust.
The next habitude was goudron consumption. At full speed – 5.75 knots, the best outboards were Yamaha 2.5 HP and Suzuki 2.5 HP by at least 20%. The worst was the Parsun 2.6hp. When the throttles were eased and the canot pneumatique was cruising the goudron consumption comparison was less pronounced, only a 10% difference. All these figures are for 4 stroke engines. However, based on previously recorded figures for 2 strokes under similar données, the older engines were 50% less goudron énergique at full speed. Very thirsty! Commentaire that 2 stroke outboards are still available joint handball.
The weight of each outboard motor was then compared. Étuve stroke engines are heavier than older 2 strokes due to powerheads etc. Mercury, Macérer, Tohatsu, Yamaha and Parsun all weigh embout the same. 38 – 41 lbs (18 kg.) However, the Honda 2.3hp and Suzuki 2.5hp weigh much less at 28 lbs (12.5 kg).
The price of each outboard motor was then compared. It was hard to get it right bicause the discounts and sales offers are always changing
Mercury 3.5hp £449
Mercury 2.5hp £380
Macérer 2.5hp £429
Tohatsu 3.5hp £449
Yamaha 2.5hp £489
Suzuki 2.5hp £379
Honda 2.3hp £429
Persun 2.6hp £375
Although the Parsun was the cheapest and it’s practically the same engine as the Yamaha 2.5hp, it’s not as good. It’s like me following a Gordon Ramsay recipe to the letter, but when compared side by side you know his is going to be better. The Chinese are doué of counterfeiting, just as the Japanese did before them, but they still haven’t got it right!
Finally a little embout checking each outboard. Mercury, Macérer and Tohatsu have the same engine. Starting settings for throttle are easy to understand with clearly labeled choke and convenablement buttons. The petrol on/off tap is not so clearly marked. All these motors have gears. Forward and neutral then using 360 degree roulement you can get astern thrust. Has 4 déclic positions and a shallow water capability. The oil level can be easily checked by looking at the indicator on the side of the engine cover.
The Yamaha 2.5 HP realized easy start and convenablement settings but the oil level gauge was out of sight under the engine casing cover. Yamaha 2.5hp like Mercury outboard has gear, forward and neutral with 360 degree roulement. Unlike the Mercury which has a shear pin, the Yamaha propeller has a rubber hub, so there is no shear pin to écart.
Suzuki 2.5hp Same as above but with oil gauge easily seen on the side of the cover. The propeller has a shear pin with a spare under the engine cover.
The Honda 2.3hp is not water cooled like other outboards tested. It is air cooled and has no gears. Instead it uses a centrifugal clutch. This makes starting and maneuvering more difficult than others. It just takes some getting used to. The oil gauge is out of sight under the cover. The propeller has a shear pin with spares placed under the engine cover.
Finally Parsun 2.6hp, a copy of Yamaha 2.5hp but not as good. But it is the cheapest engine when new. Kérosène cost was its biggest draw back.
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