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Jfraser95
Deckhand

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8 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/09/2013 : 19:04:07

Hi All,

I've been a lurker for a few months now and have learned a lot from reading this forum. Due to a theft (sadly, the first night on my mooring after launching my new-to-me 1982 25 swing keel) I need to purchase a new outboard.

I had a Mercury 8hp which ran great, but I'm wondering the following:

1) I've been told that I can use a 6hp with a four bladed prop with a different pitch than the stock prop (not sure if it was a larger or smaller pitch) and get similar performance to the 8hp with the stock prop. True? I'm sailing in Narragansett Bay, and as a first time boat owner, am not planning on going out on bad days.

2) What is the best lock system for a 6 or 8hp motor? I'm looking at the Stazo Smartlock, which is expensive but seems to get good reviews. I really don't want to go through the experience of having my motor stolen a second time, so I want the best deterrent possible short of taking the motor with me each time I leave the boat on the mooring.

3) Used or new? I've been told that the newer 4-strokes aren't very good and that's why my older 2 stroke was taken. I guess on one level this is good in that it takes some of the theft attractiveness away from a new motor. I'm having difficulty in locating a used 2-stroke 6/8hp longshaft outboard in my area, so I'm leaning towards new, because I really don't want to waste precious sailing time waiting to find one used. That said, I also don't want to spend a lot of money on a junk motor, so I'd like to know if I'm being too impatient and should rather just hold tight and wait it out to find a used motor.

4) Any particular engine to look for or stay away from?

Any help you can offer would be most appreciated!

Edited by - on

awetmore
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1144 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2013 : 19:42:48

Tohatsu Sailpro is a 6hp motor with an extra long shaft, high thrust prop and small alternator that always seemed like a good match for the Catalina 25. We had the 9.8 equivalent (also with the high thrust prop and extra long shaft) and it was very reliable.

The motor on Lutra was held in place with a cable-style bike lock. Many motors will also allow you to put a padlock between the two wing nuts that are used to tighten the motor to the mount. I tried some after-market locks and they were far more annoying.

I also prefer used if I can find what I want in good condition for a good price.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9082 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2013 : 19:50:04

The current favorite here seems to be the Tohatsu (aka Nissan) 9.8 extra-long shaft (xls) 4-stroke, available from (among others) OnlineOutboards.com. Tohatsu also makes a 6 hp xls that's designed for sailboats, but for the Narragansett, I'm inclined to recommend the 9.8. That also gives you battery charging and (optionally) electric start. (The latter grows on you once you've had it, especially if you're within two decades of my age.)

Edit: You're not quite there.

Honda and Yamaha make some nice, but heavier, products--I had a Honda 8 high-thrust XLS that was a marvelous machine. "High thrust" means a larger diameter prop or more blades, with a lower pitch--designed for moving heavy boats at slow speeds rather than getting tiny boats on plane. It's in reverse, when trying not to collide with a dock, that you really feel the difference. (My Honda could stop the C-25 as it had run into a pillow.)

I can't speak to locks... I just had a padlock on the two clamps, but I never left her out on a mooring. I've heard of thieves ripping a bracket off the transom if they really want the motor. One thought is, whatever you get, spray-paint it with something that makes it look like something nobody would risk (or want) to take.

Just making it brandless might be enough to make it less attractive for the "resale market."

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 06/09/2013 19:56:33

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3473 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2013 : 20:30:31

As far as stealing an old 2 stroke vs a newer 4 stroke...me thinks that your 2 stroke was probably an easy or random mark. Heck, thefts sometimes are just for acquiring the portable fuel tank never mind the outboard. Anyway, rcmd get an outboard cover - Covers the top works and protects the finish from fading in the sun and maybe with the cover and not being able to identify the mfr...maybe they will just go past your outboard next time for one that has the mfrs name identified.

As far as locks go - All I can tell you is that I have one of those channels that fits over the outboard locking levers. The channel has a key lock at one end but what I like about the lock is that it not only ensures that the levers will not loosen up but the channel blocks the entire lock with exception of the key hole, so that it is very hard to get at the lock to snap it off. The channel would have to be hacksawed off and that would take some time and it is in an area that does not allow much freedom for working a saw.

Edited by - OLarryR on 06/09/2013 20:32:51

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2013 : 20:49:50

I would stick with at least an 8 XLS, but a 9.9, electric start XLS is pretty sweet. I have a Mercury Bigfoot, but it uses a Tohatsu powerhead. I wanted some Mercury features, but the Tohatsu 9.k9 was my second choice for Lake Erie and the Gulf. Most people swear by their brand, but all of the big names are solid motors with different feature sets. I use a 2 part lock that slides over the mounting clamps. The lock body is inside when assembled and the locking arm is recessed so you can't get a bolt cutter on it. My previous one was similar but with an integrated lock that you unscrewed with the key to open the unit. I lost the key for that one and spent a good hour with a bolt cutter, dremel and several other tools getting it off. A determined thief would just rip out a chunk of transom.

Edited by - Dave5041 on 06/09/2013 20:50:23

pfduffy
Captain

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USA
317 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2013 : 07:24:10

I purchased the Tohatsu 9.9 XLS electric start from OnlineOutboards.com last year and I could not be happier with the motor or with the service I received from Onlineoutboards. If fast delivery is what you really want, my motor was delivered to my door about 46 hours after I placed the order.

Edited by - on

Tim M
1st Mate

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60 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2013 : 09:48:47

I agree that even if you use the best locks, bolt the engine to the motor mount, swedge on an aircraft cable that is securely fastened to the boat, if someone really wants the motor they will get it - and probably with more damage to your boat. Get the 6hp Tohatsu and take it with you when you leave the boat. I had one and found it to be just light enough to be fairly easily handled. It's a great motor and adequate for your needs. I now have the Tohatsu 9.8 extra long w/high thrust prop which is better for the type of boating we do here in Northern Puget Sound and couldn't be happier with it. I know what the specs say but it seems at least 30lbs heavier and it's all I can do to put it on and off on dry ground. Tohatsu has been making and producing small motors as long as anyone and have excellant references by many on this forum as well. Good luck.

Edited by - on

hubbardbilly
1st Mate

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USA
44 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2013 : 12:34:55

Just curious, what mooring field were you in on the Gansett bay? I'm up in East Greenwich Cove. Hopefully it's not a problem there!

Although I did leave some bags and tools at the boat launch this weekend by accident and they were gone first thing in the am. I'll put the blame on myself for that. Oh, and my outboard is spray-painted black (by the PO). I was curious why he did that but now it's starting to make sense.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9082 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2013 : 12:49:02

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by hubbardbilly
 ...my outboard is spray-painted black (by the PO). I was curious why he did that but now it's starting to make sense.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Mmmmm hmmmm!

Edited by - on

Jfraser95
Deckhand

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8 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2013 : 14:16:51

Billy H, I'm up in Edgewood. Spoke to a DEM Detective a few days ago who said there have been a few outboard thefts at the northern part of the Bay in the last year.

I wouldn't let your guard down, but EG is probably a less theft-prone area compared to where I am. I'd say the closer one is to Providence, the more likely you are to have a problem with theft.

Edited by - Jfraser95 on 06/11/2013 04:00:33

Jfraser95
Deckhand

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8 Posts

Response Posted - 06/11/2013 : 04:06:59

Thanks for all the responses.....I'm tempted to go with the Tohatsu over a new Mercury for cost and warranty, but I just found out that the locks I ordered aren't compatible with Tohatsu motors. Ugh.....why do I feel that I'm going to spend more time this summer messing around with this motor issue than actually sailing?

Edited by - Jfraser95 on 06/11/2013 04:07:28

Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

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844 Posts

Response Posted - 06/11/2013 : 10:22:29

Have you considered just putting the motor inside the boat if you don't want to leave it on the mount instead of taking it home?

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 06/11/2013 : 10:35:17

I run tamperproof screws through the bracket and plate.

Edited by - on

Lee Panza
Captain

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USA
468 Posts

Response Posted - 06/12/2013 : 20:50:34

I dry-sail my boat, so it sits in a locked yard surrounded by chain-link fence. Nevertheless, I lost my first motor to a thief shortly after I moved the boat in there. I had padlocked the handles on the transom screws, but they cut through that. It was an old 2-stroke.

As a replacement, I bought a brand-new Tohatsu 9.8, and I could almost thank the thief for forcing me into that decision; it's a sweetheart of a motor.

Needless to say, I was quite concerned about discouraging another loss, so I looked into the security devices readily available. I settled on a couple of McGard locks: one on one of the two bolts I added to secure the motor to the bracket (through holes provided on the motor), and the other on one of the bolts holding the bracket to the boat. The other lock is a two-piece metal box that completely surrounds the handles on the transom screws. I started with a relatively poorly designed unit made by Master, that uses a conventional padlock to close-off one end, but I upgraded to a much sturdier stainless steel unit made by Panther (model #758201).

Well, a year or so later the yard was hit again. They cut right through the chain link fence, and they got away with several motors. But not mine! It's not that they didn't try; the scars are there from their attempts with apparently a serious pair of bolt-cutters, but they couldn't get through the Panther and they couldn't unscrew the McGards. They did unscrew an unprotected bolt holding the adjustable motor-mount to the transom before they realized that they wouldn't be able to get it off, so I subsequently ground the exposed heads round so that even a vice-grips won't hold. If I ever have to remove that bracket I'll have to do more grinding on those heads to be able to remove the bolts, but I feel a bit more relaxed about my continued ownership of that fine little motor.

It's really a shame that we have to take measures like this,but there will never be a shortage of thieves, especially so long as there are people willing to buy valuable used items without insisting on a verified chain-of-ownership. I'd just walk away from a "really good deal" if the seller won't accept a down-payment and hold the motor while I go check out the serial number (I don't know if there's any nation-wide police database for outboard motors like there is for motor vehicles, but just asking might be a tip-off if the seller refuses).

So that's my two-cents' worth. I'd been meaning to write this to start a thread on protecting our motors, for anyone in the future checking the archives for advice, but I haven't gotten around to it. This is - unfortunately - an important topic that most of us don't really appreciate until we become yet another victim.

Edited by - on

Jfraser95
Deckhand

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8 Posts

Response Posted - 06/13/2013 : 10:42:50

I went with the 8hp Tohatsu from onlineoutboards. I'm hoping that the Stazo locks will fit - I spoke to the seller of the Stazo locks who said that the list is somewhat in flux because of changes to the locks and to motor mounts, so I'm hoping for the best.

The Panther / McGard combination looks interesting, Lee, and I appreciate the suggestion. If the stazos don't fit, I'll check those out.

As to putting the motor inside, I'd be concerned with that for 2 reasons - trying to get it on and off the bracket could be a problem and it may be more secure on the bracket with good locks rather than inside because the locks, while good, probably wouldn't stop someone for long. I think the locks on the bracket might be stronger than the hatch lock.

Edited by - on

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