Two years of experience on my - excellent choice. It pushed Beija-Flor at hull speed, and had plenty of power to tow in a stern-drive runabout whose engine failed in Dogue Creek. If I hadn't gotten a Honda 50 with Bossa Nova, I'd have bought a Tohatsu without a second thought.
Mostly. My main sailing ground is Smith Mountain Lake and Kerr Reservoir. I would like to spend some time in the Albemarle sound and that water is brackish. I'm thinking if I rinse off the motor quickly after use I should be able to get 5 or more years out of it if I do end up in the Albemarle and at 25% the price of the other OBs I will still come out ahead.
Thanks all for a lively discussion.
C-ya on the water. My new OB arrived Wednesday and the plywood & paint is in the shed waiting for me to finish the interior.
Also, don't forget, after running in salt water or brackish, you want to run the motor for at least 5 minutes in fresh water to rinse the cooling system. ( just in case you hadn't thought of that )
JoeVacs wrote:Also, don't forget, after running in salt water or brackish, you want to run the motor for at least 5 minutes in fresh water to rinse the cooling system. ( just in case you hadn't thought of that )
Right! Well the Briggs & Stratton is air cooled. So there is no impeller and all of that. In their owner's manual they say to rinse it off after use in salt water implying that it is okay... and later they say that use in salt water voids the warranty. Go figure!
- excellent choice. It pushed Beija-Flor at hull speed, and had plenty of power to tow in a stern-drive runabout whose engine failed in Dogue Creek. If I hadn't gotten a Honda 50 with Bossa Nova, I'd have bought a Tohatsu without a second thought.