[Rhodes22-list] motor ruminations ..... again (I know)

[Mike Cheung]

Sorry to start a new thread, but the "Re: Rhodes22-list ...." tag on the
other one was not very good indexing ...

I've dug through the archives and am still conflicted about what to do about
a motor .... 

To recap, I'm researching a motor to hang on a recycled 1993 R22.  We're
planning, at this point, to not go with the UPP but rather the 6:1 or 7:1
manual engine lift.  I would prefer to get a motor to Stan and let him do
the install on the boat, hook it up to the electrical system, etc.  Not to
mention it would be nice if there were a motor on the boat when we picked it
up so that a short test sail were more possible.  We've only been looking at
4 stroke engines, mainly as a matter of preference and a sense that they're
"greener".  

Stan recommends we get the 8 hp Yamaha (T8ELH), but the buggers are pricey,
hard to find, and the dealers aren't supposed to ship them.  I guess the
dealers are actually supposed to do the installation and first start for
warranty purposes; at least that's what one dealer told me.  The T8ELH does
look like a great motor.  It has a gear ratio of 2.4:1 for "high power", the
gear shift on the motor tiller, and a longer than usual motor tiller.    The
only other motor I've located with a similar arrangement for the gear shift
on the motor tiller are the 8 and 9.9 hp 4 stroke Mercury engines
(interestingly not the Bigfoot variety though).  The problem with these (so
far anyway) is that they don't have the high power gear ratio.  Instead
they're geared at the more common 2:1 or 2.1:1.  The argument runs that this
is less efficient for a slow moving boat than the high power ratio of 2.4:1. 
Even if the cost were not an issue, getting one to Stan by taking delivery
of the motor, driving it to Edenton, having Stan hang it, but not start it,
and then taking the boat and motor back to a Yamaha dealer to do the initial
start for warranty purposes seems, frankly, nuts.  The alternative of
picking up the boat without a motor (and foregoing any test sail), then
taking her to a Yamaha dealer for the install, first start, etc. is better,
but still strikes me as sort of silly.  Plus there's the worry of who did
what wrong if the install doesn't go right.  Yeah, I guess it should just be
bolts, fuel, and two wire connections, but ...

If one gives up the gear shift on the motor tiller, then the Tohatsu's and
Nissan's, which have gotten some good press here, are attractive based on
cost and weight and availability.  It sounds like the internet shops will
get one out the door real quick and ship them pretty much anywhere.  So
getting one to Stan sounds like a slam dunk.  And I trust that between us -
Stan, Elton, and even I are bright enough to put oil in the motor, grease in
the lower unit and maybe even follow the first start / break-in
instructions; well, I *know* Stan and Elton are.  The downsides are the gear
shift placement, in front which is better than on the side though not
optimal and they are also geared at 2.1:1 so there is the "not high power"
issue.  

I briefly looked at the Suzuki's - they look to have the shift in front and
appear to be geared at 2.1:1, like the Tohatsu's and Nissan's.  I also
briefly looked at the Honda's and they are closer to "high power" gearing at
2.33:1, but also have their controls in the front.  I haven't gotten far
enough to make a cost/availability/crazy dealer "rules" check yet for them.

For those with the Tohatsu's with the front gear shift:  how easy is it to
get to during motoring operations?  Does the "not high power" have any
practical limitations you've noticed?  

For any who have bitten the bullet and gotten the Yamaha T8ELH (or the
T9.9ELH):  how smitten are you with having the gear shift on the motor
tiller?  Has the "high power" been an advantage that you've noticed?

Are there any other motors that I'm forgetting - especially 4 stroke, high
thrust, gear shift on the motor tiller types?

Thanks!  Mike Cheung
-- 
View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/motor-ruminations-.....-again-%28I-know%29-tp18268737p18268737.html
Sent from the Rhodes 22 mailing list archive at Nabble.com.