Small outboards

[daysailor17]

Hey all,

I need to start shopping for a small used outboard for my Isalnder Bahama. There is lots out there and subject to the right deal at the right price, but what do you have and why would you buy it again?

Basic requirements are
4-stroke, 6-8 hp long-shaft

It has to fit in a well, so a 9.9 4-stroke is too big. Others have chatted me up about adding an outboard mount off the transom so it can swing up under way, but I feel that both a boat and a womans transom should be asthetically pleasing. I would like to be able to remove it from the well if possible for long-sails, knowing that it is likely to be a pain in the a**. Again asthetics is worth some cost in speed.

[Tommy Bahama]

I have a Mercury 2004 long-shaft four-stroke that sits in the well. I pull it out and rinse it after every use and keep it on the cabin floor when I'm gone. Great little motor and moves the Islander at hull speed...6 knots...whoo, hoo!

Like the Johnson 10 hp two-stroker that I replaced, it just barely fits for "swiveling"...that's all you need. I'm not sure how I'll go about rinsing the motor out when I'm on the mooring though...maybe Install a davit on the transom and use it for the dinghy? I'd better use a safety cable so that I don't lose it! I can take the motor home with me and flush it out in the horse trough.

Tom

[A30_John]

I have a Suzuki 6 hp 4-stroke long shaft engine that I used on my previous 18' swing keel sailboat. It was a good engine for that boat, but it had more power than needed - it would probably be a good engine for the Islander. It's fuel efficient and reasonably quiet. It also has a 6 amp charger that was great for keeping the battery topped up. It hung on a transom bracket. I would not do that again if I had a choice. I didn't like hanging over the end of the boat to lift/lower, and start the engine. Plus the propeller comes out of the water in rough weather.