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Jeff_Clarke_bankone.com
Deckhand

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17 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/03/2005 : 15:09:16

I’m researching outboards for a new inflatable that I recently purchased and came across the 5HP 4 stroke air-cooled Briggs and Stratton. Its very reasonably priced compared to other 4 stroke water cooled engines with names like : Johnson, Mercury, Yamaha. Just looking to see if anyone has had any experience with that motor – possibly its loud since it air cooled – like your lawn mower…???

Hailey’s Comet # 5163 - 85’ FK, SR

Edited by - Jeff_Clarke_bankone.com on 02/03/2005 15:12:10

familysailor
1st Mate

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USA
38 Posts

Response Posted - 02/03/2005 : 15:47:07

I have had experience with the B&S 5 HP on a small aluminum boat. It is not terribly noisy and ran quite well. The one problem that would keep me from using one is that they vibrate like crazy. At an idle the whole unit shakes and at speed you can feel the vibration in the tiller. It is quite similar to what I get from my lawn mower, my hands start to throb after a few minutes of holding the tiller.

That said, they are reasonably priced and, if you don't mind the shaking, could be a decent motor, just not my cup of tea.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 02/03/2005 : 15:50:54

I am waiting to talk to someone who has one. The talk at the marine stores is of course to make fun of them, however, how many engines has B&S made? Lawnmower engines are hardly babied! I am guessing they would be ok for your application. Try it and let us know!

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 02/03/2005 : 20:41:09

Yes, like your lawnmower... and not to be used around salt water. No reverse gears.

Edited by - on

dbehling
1st Mate

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USA
68 Posts

Response Posted - 02/03/2005 : 22:06:26

We just posted last night a yamaha 4 stroke for sale on swap page, there is a picture of it too. Great little motor. We have to many toys, needing to downsize.

Edited by - on

lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 02/04/2005 : 11:16:15

There is one possibly serious issue with the B&S outboard: The design of this engine has the exhaust port and muffler right up at the powerhead, unlike standard outboard boat motors that exhaust through the prop or close to it, underwater. We have a Catalina 22 in our sailing club that had one of these B&S motors in 2003, and the owner told me that in a following breeze, the exhaust fumes blow right back into the cockpit, and she thinks she got a case of carbon monoxide poisoning from this motor at least once that year on a Lake Tahoe cruise. She also told me that some small molded-plastic parts in the throttle and choke linkages broke after only a few hours of running time, probably from vibration. I suspect that the vibration problem has to do with the fact that this is a lawnmower engine, and was designed to have a big steel mower blade bolted to the end of the crankshaft, where it acts as a flywheel/damper. Take that mass away, and it's no wonder that the engine vibrates. The single-cylinder Honda 5hp outboard, very popular on Catalina 22's at Folsom Lake, vibrates rather harshly at idle too, but I never had any problems with the one I had as long as I kept clean gas in it and changed the fuel filter regularly (the Honda 5 carburetor has tiny jets and is very sensitive to contaminated fuel).

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 02/04/2005 : 12:51:21

It is for a dink motor! The B&S is not for salt water. I bought a new Mercury 3.3 HP 2 stroke on eBay for $550. Has forward, neutral. Its quiet, runs great. 28 lbs. Rugged. I think a better choice.

Edited by - on

Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 02/04/2005 : 15:39:17

If you don't have to go fast consider a trolling motor.....quiet, light, cheap, no fumes....just a gelcel to charge. PS did some research a while ago and was pleasantly surprised. Me, I'm still rowing.....

Oscar
C42 # 76 "Lady Kay" (Ex. C250 WB #618 )
Georgetown MD/Fort Lauderdale FL

Edited by - on

lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 02/04/2005 : 16:17:06

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by JimB517
 I bought a new Mercury 3.3 HP 2 stroke on eBay for $550. Has forward, neutral. Its quiet, runs great. 28 lbs. Rugged. I think a better choice.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I want to get something like that in time for the next San Juans cruise, only in a 4-stroke version (2-strokes are now banned in California, you can't buy a new one here). I have an older 15" shaft Honda 10 that I used last time I went to the San Juans in 2001, but at almost 80#, it is way too heavy and produces a lot more power than I need for my little 10' roll-up dink. It would be perfect for a RIB-style dink that has it's own trailer, but it's just too heavy for a roll-up, and drags the transom of the dink down so much that I can really tell the difference in towing: it slows my cruising speed by at least a full knot towing it behind "Quiet Time", whereas towing the dink by itself without the motor mounted on it only costs maybe 1/4 knot in speed. I'd like something that weighs no more than 35#, but the only 4-stroke motors I've seen that are that light are the Honda and Yamaha 2/2.5 hp air-cooled models, and they want $850 for those, which seems excessive considering that a 4-hp, 4-stroke watercooled Tohatsu/Nissan is only $938. Unfortunately, the 4 hp Nissan weighs almost 60#, more than 20# more than the Yamaha 2.5, which puts it out of the "portable" range, as far as my aching back is concerned.

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 02/04/2005 : 17:59:10

My Mercury 3.3 2 stroke came from a place in FLorida via eBay. No regrets.

Here, you see us all in the $100 SeaHawke dink, with homemade motor mount and the 3.3 - seems trimmed down a little in the bow

BY THE WAY. When I had my Honda 8 HP in for service I still wanted to go sailing. I put the short shaft (15") 3.3 on the C25 motor mount. With me in the stern it was sufficently submerged to drive the boat. Wouldn't work in rough seas but enough to get in....makes a great backup! Get the lightest dinghy motor possible!

We had an electric motor plus battery on our first dinghy 10 years ago. There's a valid reason why everyone is not doing this....

Edited by - JimB517 on 02/04/2005 18:03:58

John V.
Admiral

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USA
559 Posts

Response Posted - 02/05/2005 : 07:07:25

A fisherman on a neighboring island has one and I can hear him coming for about 15 minutes. compared to other outboards it is terribly noisy. If I was in a quiet anchorage I would not be happy to see one coming.

Edited by - on

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.