Is an Electric Start worth waiting for?

[ngt]

looking to buy a new outboard. I can get one with pull start, which I've always had, but was wondering if it's better to hold off for the electric start. Not because I'm lazy, but I had a lot of trouble with my pull start and wondered which usually had more issues.

thanks

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: Is an Electric Start worth waiting for?

I wouldn't own a pull start. Mainly because my puller has a lot of age on it. Starters are like everything else, treat them well and they will treat you well.

 

[arks]

Re: Is an Electric Start worth waiting for?

+1 - I agree.
Save up for the electric start. You won't be sorry.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Is an Electric Start worth waiting for?

I would wait for the electric start, I am looking for the parts to add electric start to my old evinrude, not lazy, just darn tired of pulling!

 

[Vanover]

Re: Is an Electric Start worth waiting for?

You could get the pull and elect combo. Thats what i would have done on mine if i could have waited. Don't know what hp range you are shooting for. Electric is nice, but get a dead batt and the pull start is there to save you. Just my .02 cents though.

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: Is an Electric Start worth waiting for?

looking to buy a new outboard. I can get one with pull start, which I've always had, but was wondering if it's better to hold off for the electric start. Not because I'm lazy, but I had a lot of trouble with my pull start and wondered which usually had more issues.

thanks

If you were looking at a 50hp then I'd pay the extra for the electric start . Wouldn't want to be pull starting something like that

My dad has a 9.9hp Evinrude that he uses all the time for fishing. He got to the age that he could no longer pull start it so I installed an electric start system for him. Now he just pushes a button and away he goes.

 

[bassman284]

Re: Is an Electric Start worth waiting for?

While I don't think electric vs pull has any effect on reliability, if your motor is getting a little balky to where it takes 8-10 pulls to start it, that would be one press of the thumb with electric.

 

[snowtigger]

Re: Is an Electric Start worth waiting for?

Get the electric. I had a rectifier go out on an old Johnson 88 special. My partner and I were 70 miles up a narrow, winding river. I had to rope start it. Actually, it started very easily, but the pucker factor goes up when you hear that solenoid go click-click.
That motor even started the next morning, at 16 degrees F. I would not want to do it every time.

 

[Vanover]

Re: Is an Electric Start worth waiting for?

Elect. and pull start. Best of both worlds. I saw a 150 merc tiller steer that had both. Biggest and coolest tiller i have ever seen. Don't know if the pull start was factory or not. I turned my rig around about a mile from the ramp. Never seen a 150 tiller before. It does exist though.

 

[snowman48047]

Re: Is an Electric Start worth waiting for?

I bought my 2001 50hp Merc Bigfoot because it was the largest electric strart that still had a pull rope!

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Is an Electric Start worth waiting for?

A lot depends on the size of the motor, how hard that motor is to start, and do you want to have the added weight of the starter and battery onboard. Keep in mind that an electric start motor will require a battery, roughly about 45 lbs, and the starter and added parts ad about 20 lbs to a motor. That can be another 65 lbs in your boat.
Myself, I wouldn't want to be pulling anything larger than about a 15hp, my 18hp Evinrude had both manual and electric start but I've only used the pull starter a few times just to see if it worked. The motor pulls hard, your hand hurts after pull starting it due to the compression. Give the motor your looking at a pull and see how it feels.
If you run in cold weather, electric start may be a big plus on those cold days when your fingers are numb and the motor don't want to fire right up. (If you've ever been out fishing when it's 25 degrees out and the old two stroke only wants to sputter you know what I mean). If your running in cold weather, and buying a four stroke motor, keep in mind that the crankcase oil will also thicken at colder temps, making pull starting the motor a real challenge at times.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Is an Electric Start worth waiting for?

I say, anything under 25 should be a pull start, and then you don't need the battery and its weight. Keep it simple.
But if you are getting a battery anyway for other toys, may as well.
Now if you have physical limitations, cold weather, etc. it's different.

For me growing up, and the children, they couldn't take the boats out until they were big (strong) enough to pull start. If they can do that, they can handle other stuff--shoving off a sandbar, paddling, docking in current/wind, etc. Of course we're talking about <20 hp.