15hp Outboards

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LCBrandt's picture
LCBrandt
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Joined: 6/26/07
Posts: 1282
15hp Outboards

A humble call for opinions here...on new 15 hp 4-cycle outboards. Looks like they're running about $2500, a little over 100 lbs. If we get that new dink we'll want some power for it; not the Yamaha 2 1/2 hp that we have now. 15 hp is the max rating for the rib we're contemplating.

Whaddaya think? Goods and bads about 15 hp? Honda, Yamaha, Nissan, Mercury, etc, etc? We're tending toward electric start, and possibly a power tilt up.

Thanks.

Larry Brandt
S/V High Flight #2109
Pacific Northwest, PDX-based
2002 C-36 mkII SR/FK M35B
 

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bakerha
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Joined: 7/23/10
Posts: 267

LC - I've always been a believer in enough power so I would opt for the 15 with Electric start. Only takes once to flood the engine and the cost of electric is well worth every penny. This is all at the cost of WEIGHT however. The 15ELH is about 34 lbs heavier than the 9.9 ELH and over 40 more than the 9.9 manual. You also have to carry the battery - another 45ish. My 9.9 2 stroke kicker always starts 1st or second pull but I've heard about and seen the 4 stroke engines being a little more finicky.

_____________
Harold Baker
S/V Lucky Duck
Duncan Bay Boat Club
Cheboygan Michigan - Lake Huron
1989 C-36 mkI TR/WK M25XP

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TomSoko
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Joined: 2/15/07
Posts: 978

Larry,
I'd vote for manual start and manual tilt. Either 10 or 15 are not that hard to start, and are very easy to tilt up. You do not want to start having to worry about a battery in a dink, RIB or not. IMHO.

Tom Sokoloski
C36/375IA Past Commodore
Noank, CT

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Gsmith
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Joined: 11/25/10
Posts: 117

Larry

Last year we purchased a Avon 310 Rib and put a 9.9 merc 4 stroke on it.

Observations:

1. while the boat planes easily when out by myself with top speed of 20+ mph by adding my wife and a few things like coolers etc it can take quite a while to get on plane. I'm not sure but think the 15hp would have helped, however it does weigh 39lbs more than the 9.9. I’m now checking to see if a cavitation plate will help with this scenario (easier than a diet)

2. We went with Mercury because of price, warranty, and convenience, Honda and Yamaha dealers are not as readily accessible for us.

3. Manualy tilting the motor while somewhat heavy feeling isn’t a problem.

4.We also have manual start and other than on a cold engine occasionally it starts 1st pull.

Gary Smith
93 MK I, Hull #1231
Std rig; wing keel
M35A Oberdorfer conversion
 

BudStreet
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Joined: 9/4/09
Posts: 1127

Small outboards from Nissan and Mercury are made by Tohatsu. We have a Tohatsu. It is a fine motor and often is cheaper than the others. What's in a name? Not much these days.

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LCBrandt
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Posts: 1282

Good comments.

I have a second reason for the elec start, and that is I'd like to have proper installed lighting (which I would do myself).

Larry Brandt
S/V High Flight #2109
Pacific Northwest, PDX-based
2002 C-36 mkII SR/FK M35B
 

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