I found a very clean 1996, 3.3 hp Evinrude for my grandson to use on his 10' skiff. Problem is, it has no neutral (or reverse). Can live without reverse but how do you operate with the darn thing in gear the minute you pull the starter rope.
Basically, you adapt...always have the bow pointed to open water before you fire it up...keep some good paddles in the boat so you can turn the boat the way you want...slow down sooner so you can coast into places.
I had one of those some time ago and I had the same question. I did as tmcalavy posted. I thought it was crazy at first but it becomes easy to handle after awhile. Mine would start on the first pull, I hope yours does too. I loved that little motor. You should have reverse by spinning the motor around backwards.
Doesn't it spin 360' on the mount? That's your reverse.
I havena 2hp that I used to use on a 14ft Jon boat. At the recommended starting speed I had plenty of time to react and steer at the speed it pushed that boat.
A 3 HP engine is not going to launch you into the middle of the yard when it starts because there is so little thrust. To back up you spin the engine 180 degrees -- no reverse or neutral needed. At idle, a 3 HP motor would hardly move the boat.
I learned to boat in a 13' whaler, 18 hp, with no reverse, so I learned to coast to a dock. It is far better to approach that way than to use a motor as a brake--though I do sometimes do that now.
A good way to learn is to have him practice approaching a soft surface like a marsh bank. Then have him nose up to a pole (or a float if you're nervous) from all directions so he experiences the effects of wind and current.
