honda or mercury?

[dryguy]

looking to get a 2 hp honda or 2.5 or 3.5 mercury for my small inflatable it's only rated for 3 hp though but the weight is the same between the 2.5 and the 3.5 mercury's is going over by.5 hp ok ? any advice on the better motor ? honda is air cooled and the mercury's water cooled thanks for any info..

 

[steelespike]

Re: honda or mercury?

I would make my decision based on a well qualified close servicing dealer.
Check for parts availability.I would bet there more new parts from more sources for a 50 year old Evinrude/Johnson 3 than either of those motors.
I do feel the water cooled motor will run longer before needing a rebuild but will likely be more complicated and heavier.

 

[robert graham]

Re: honda or mercury?

The 2HP Honda is air cooled, 4 stroke, centrifugal clutch, 27 lbs., 4 really great features for a small inflatable. That would be my choice!

 

[1979checkmate]

Re: honda or mercury?

YES.

meaning, i dont really think there are any new outboards out there that i would consider bad (with the excpetion of the chinese brands). Tohatsu makes the mercury's and they are a very good motor. The Honda has the weight advantage. IS this going on a rigid transom inflatable or a soft with a motor mount?

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: honda or mercury?

The 2HP Honda is air cooled, 4 stroke, centrifugal clutch, 27 lbs., 4 really great features for a small inflatable. That would be my choice!

You know it's funny how we all look at things differently. To me, being air cooled, having a centrifugal clutch and being a 4-stroke are all unfortunate things It could be worse though...It could weigh 41lbs.

 

[partskenn]

Re: honda or mercury?

I was faced with the same choice about a month ago, The Honda was lighter, simpler, but I worried about noise(was it much louder), and whether 2hp was enough. In the end, I bought the Tohatsu 3.5 for the extra power, and water cooling (quieter?). It's still too cold around here, so the vote is still out on my decision. I would like to hear what you buy, and if it's the Honda, how it worked out.

 

[robert graham]

Re: honda or mercury?

You know it's funny how we all look at things differently. To me, being air cooled, having a centrifugal clutch and being a 4-stroke are all unfortunate things It could be worse though...It could weigh 41lbs.

Air cooled(no water pump/impellar/thermostat/lighter weight), centrifugal clutch(disengages when you let off throttle/great for shallow water), 4 stroke(no mixing of gas/oil), What's unfortunate?

 

[dryguy]

Re: honda or mercury?

thanks everyone for your replies gave me a few more things to consider the main use of my intex mariner with motor mount is for fishing smaller lakes up here in alberta can. so the noise level is something to think about still have 2feet of ice on lakes so i'll have a little time to reserch further

 

[1979checkmate]

Re: honda or mercury?

in your case, the honda may be a better choice, those soft transom boats have an issue with digging the rear end deep if the motor is heavy.

 

[JB]

Re: honda or mercury?

In my not at all humble opinion no maker has even come close to building a small outboard that is as good as a Johnson JW from the 70s or its several descendants and Evinrude sisters.

About 30# & up, integral fuel tank (that will last all day), smooth and quiet even compared to a modern 4 stroke. Any part is easily available. Downside is that it is a carbed 2 stroke and is already banned some places with more to come.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: honda or mercury?

Air cooled(no water pump/impellar/thermostat/lighter weight), centrifugal clutch(disengages when you let off throttle/great for shallow water), 4 stroke(no mixing of gas/oil), What's unfortunate?

Air cooled(noisy and shortened service life), centrifugal clutch(has a tendency to develop metallic dispersion in an energetic manner with a sustained load) and 4-stroke(gutless wonder). Not that I dislike Honda, I liked the water cooled 2 hp they had before the air cooled thing came out. And I'm not picking an argument either. My feelings, in this case, or just an opinion based on the Honda 2from years ago and what they turned it into. The weight of the air cooled thing is a big plus if you have to carry it and the noise wouldn't bother me at all. But, I loathe the clutch and shortened service life.