30 years ago American manufacturers dominated the outboard motor market.Names equivalent to Mercury, Johnson, Evinrude and Chrysler, led the field competing with one another to provide bigger and better outboard engines. However, while this was happening they were neglecting the smallest of the outboards. These are the outboard motors that sell in the best of numbers and are sometimes the primary outboard many people, buy. This being the case many people stick with the identical model (brand loyalty) as we buy other bigger outboards over the years. The Japanese seized on this truth and steadily Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Tohatsu concentrating on small outboards began to take over as market leaders. They achieved this domination by improving efficiency and reliability. In addition to including options to these small outboards previously solely found on larger engines.
Having achieved success in the small outboard market, these Japanese manufacturers expanded up the ability range. They again got here to dominate the outboard engine market up to at the very least 20 hp. The American manufacturers as a substitute of competing with the Japanese, gave up and decided to buy these engines from the Japanese and badge them as their own. Now the Chinese have entered the market. Basically doing what the Japanese did previously, copying one of the best features of the present engines and at the similar time holding costs down.
So let us examine the outboards which can be on provide for these searching for an outboard motor for their dinghy. If we take a reasonably bigger dinghy say, a Pioner 12, so that every outboard has to push a fairly heavy weight by way of the water. If we then take the next outboard motors :
Mercury 2.5hp; Mercury 3.5hp; Mariner 2.5hp; Tohatsu 3.5hp; Yamaha 2.5hp; Suzuki 2.5hp; Honda 2.3hp; and a Parsun 2.6hp. All these outboards are four stroke engines. This is due to an E.U. Directive that stops 2 strokes from being bought in the E.U. These outboards will present a reasonably wide range of engines accessible on the market, for powering dinghies.
To evaluate one engine in opposition to the another several exams were completed. A Bollard pull take a look at showed that the Mercury 3.5hp and Tohatsu 3.5hp have been probably the most highly effective at 90lbs of thrust (These two engines together with the Mariner are just about similar). The least efficient was the Honda 2.3hp at 66lbs of thrust. In between have been the Suzuki 2.5hp at 83lbs of thrust, the Yamaha 2.5hp at 78lbs of thrust and the Parsun 2.6hp at 70 lbs of thrust.
Subsequent check was Gas Consumption. At full pace - 5.seventy five knots, the perfect outboards were the Yamaha 2.5hp and the Suzuki 2.5hp by at the least 20%. The worst was the Parsun 2.6hp. When the throttles were eased and the dinghy was cruising the Gasoline Consumption comparability was much less evident, solely about 10% difference. All these figures are for four stroke engines. However, based on figures previously recorded for 2 strokes under comparable circumstances, the older engines have been as much as 50% less fuel environment friendly at full speed. Very thirsty! Keep in mind 2 stroke outboards are nonetheless available second hand.
Then the load of each outboard motor was compared. 4 stroke engines are heavier than older 2 strokes due to the powerhead etc. The Mercury, Mariner, Tohatsu, Yamaha and Parsun all weighed approx. 38 - 41 lbs (18 kg.). Nevertheless, the Honda 2.3hp and Suzuki 2.5hp weighed a lot much less at 28 lbs (12.5 kg.).
The value of each outboard motor was then compared. This was difficult to be accurate as discounts and sale affords are always changing.
Mercury 3.5hp £449
Mercury 2.5hp £380
Mariner 2.5hp £429
Tohatsu 3.5hp £449
Yamaha 2.5hp £489
Suzuki 2.5hp £379
Honda 2.3hp £429
Parsun 2.6hp £375
Though the Parsun was the most affordable and it is just about equivalent the same engine as within the Yamaha 2.5hp, it is not as good. It's a bit like me following a Gordon Ramsay recipe, to the letter, but compared side by facet you just know that his goes to be that much better. The Chinese are in a position to copy, just like the Japanese did earlier than them, however they haven't bought it right, yet!
Lastly a bit of about each outboard tested. The Mercury, Mariner and Tohatsu are the same engine. Beginning settings for the throttle are easy to understand with the choke and cease button clearly labelled. The petrol on/off tap just isn't so clearly marked. All these motors have gears. Ahead and neutral then utilizing the 360 degree rotation you may get astern thrust. There are four tilt positions and a shallow water ability. Oil levels can be simply checked by viewing the indicator on the facet of the engine cover.
The Yamaha 2.5hp also had easily understood starting and stopping settings but the oil degree gauge was out of sight under the engine casing cover. As with the Mercury outboard the Yamaha 2.5hp has gears, ahead and impartial with 360 diploma rotation. Unlike the Mercury which has a shear pin, the Yamaha has a rubber hub at the propeller, so no shear pin to break.
The Suzuki 2.5hp is as above however with the oil gauge easily seen together with the cover. The propeller has a shear pin with spares stowed underneath the engine cover.
The Honda 2.3hp is just not water cooled like all the other outboards tested. It is aircooled and has no gears. Instead it uses a centrifugal clutch. This makes beginning and maneuvering harder than the others. It merely takes a little bit of getting used to it. The oil gauge is out of sight below the cover. The propeller has a shear pin with spares stored beneath the engine cover.
Finally the Parsun 2.6hp, a copy of the Yamaha 2.5hp however not as good. Nevertheless it is the least expensive engine when new. Fuel consumption was its largest draw back.
