MacGregorSailors.com

As I've posted before, I love my little cruiseNcarry GAS powered dinghy motor. It is only 1.5 HP but weighs in at a featherweight 12.5 pounds!!! Of course, it sounds like a weed wacker on the back of my dinghy, but it does have an adjustable shaft length (which I change depending on whether I'm using my fiberglass dinghy or one of my two rubber rafts (super caravelles) that can use the same motor mount). It does push the dinghies around just fine, but once I start putting more than 4 people in a dinghy, it will start to cavitate a bit at high throttle...simple solution to that though, just go slower. I've used mine to go up and down the canals around here...lots of casual fun really. I get some funny looks when I'm out in my tiny 2 man rubber raft with the tiny gas motor on the back.

you might want to look at the yamaha gens.Before I bought mine I was all set to buy the honda then I compared the specs. Weight and noise and the yamaha 1000 was blue.

Or for another gen option, the KIPOR line, whcih is manufactured in China.
Sold in Europe for some time, but pretty new to N.America, they're lower cost option but still inverter technology, so reduce speed, noise and fuel consummed as load drops, using a smart throttle approach.
I've been looking into this alternative. It really depends on how large a generator you want to go to.

kenny I like the specs on the kipor line you mentioned. the 2000 and the 1000 weigh the same so If I went with their line I would opt for the 2000
the price is about 100 dollars less then the yamaha I bought.

http://www.kipor-generator.net/kipor-35 ... erator.htm



I bought the 1000 but more is better. If its the same size. [/url]

I looked at both the Yamaha and the Kipor, then on the advice of several here, I bought the Honda.

I found the Honda on ebay for $595, including shipping - no tax.

Harbor Freight sells the Kipor for $499, before shipping and tax.

I couldn't find the Yamaha any cheaper than about $650.

For me, the Honda was the best deal, since I was kinda gun shy about saving that less than $100 for an offshore 'disposable' generator. I say 'disposable', since I bet you'd catch hull trying to get it repaired...

Also, do some searches for comparisons between the Honda and the Yamaha. I found several that said the Honda was actaully quieter than the Yamaha...

Yes, the Yamaha is a bit smaller, but no more than 1 inch in any dimension. I think the Yamaha might run longer on a tank, but I hope I don't have to run it for more than 4 hrs anyway... If I find that I do need to, I'll plumb it into one of my boat tanks...

Finally, you can't string two Yamaha's together like you can with the Honda...

To be honest, the price was probably the biggest driver for me, and I just use these other issues to reinforce the decision...

Yes, nothing at all wrong with a Honda if you can access it in your area at those competitive costs. Where I'm at, the differences are about $300 US for the 1000 and almost $ 450 US at the 2000 size, hence my earlier suggestion.

Thanks for lots of added info. I looked at the Kipor website pretty closely and it leaves me slightly nervous. As Mike observed, if weights were identical I'd be going for 2,000 watts. BUT ... looking at the detailed specs down lower on the webpage, the 2kw is shown with a different max engine speed, different decibel rating and heavier weight at 48 lbs (versus 31 lbs. specified in the product outline).

Upshot is ... seems they're still very young in the USA market. The 2kw has MSRP at $750, not savings enough to push me back from a Honda at ~ $900. Similar issue for the 1kw ... only a hundred bucks lower street pricing.

Still need to study the Yamaha vs. Honda. Thanks.

Question everyone! In all my newbyness. . . all this talk about dingy motors and current leaks got me looking at many electric trolling motors. I've been seeing fresh and salt water models. . . what's going to be the difference for the two in electric trolling motors? I'd think current leak is going to be bad for either one?

Thanks,
Harrison

Harrison wrote:Question everyone! . . . I've been seeing fresh and salt water models
. . . what's going to be the difference for the two in electric trolling motors?
I'd think current leak is going to be bad for either one?

Thanks for asking Harrison - I'm needing that answer too! What's special about a salt water troller?

1) If the troller is stowed on the aft berth, there's surely no issue, right?
2) If the troller is stowed on aft rail, above the water line - again no issue?
3) Risk of electricity leaks is good reason to keep the outboard tilted up?
4) Other risk points: CB pivot frame, CB cable to compression post, ballast gate?

3) Risk of electricity leaks is good reason to keep the outboard tilted up?

THis is true, but many motors (My MERC BF among them) have the tilt up pump and gear sitting in the water even with the motor tilted up.

These are usually grounded to the motor directly with a wire or through metal-to-metal contact so even with the motor tilted up, electrolysis can occur if any part of your motor touches water.

My tiltup pump has a big zinc on the bottom of it.

Im always amazed how the zincs are shiny in fresh, and look chewed on in one day in Salt water....

Salt versions are potted electronics and other improved seals I think.
..
And I am sure it does matter even if not left in salt water, salt air is very bad on electronics.

Frank as far as electrical problems you will notice right away.. The boat I saw the damage on had the ground and positive attached to the same battery as the trolling motor. The trolling motor wasnt a salt water version as they didnt have them then. But I believe the big diff. between the salt and regular version is the stainless steel shaft on the electric motor.
A motor you leave unpluged and stored wont cause you any problems and
My biggest naaay vote was the weight and underpowered problem. Plus a stinky noisy outboard is so much more manly.

aya16 wrote:My biggest naaay vote was the weight and underpowered problem. Plus a stinky noisy outboard is so much more manly.

Got it ... I understood about the weight & power issues,
but now I got the whole picture!

Thanks guys.

---Harrison