MacGregorSailors.com

Sarge1572 wrote:Thanks very much for your reply. I am looking at the Briggs and Stratton air cooled 5HP 4 cycle. In the ads they recommend them for fresh water so I have to find out why. Perhaps a marketing ploy. I believe I want a 4 cycle because of the restrictions many marinas and fresh water facilities are placing on the 2 stroke engines because of pollution and I understand they are quieter.

Thank you very much for your input. Now all I have to do is start saving for a motor. My wife will be SO surprised when she gets it for her birthday. I should have the boat done by then so I'll have a place to sleep!!

Jeff

Absolutely don't buy a Briggs and Stratton. They are junk!!! I bought the 5hp motor once and it almost ruined my vacation. They are air cooled lawn mower motors and are incredibly noisy. Mine would stall in the worst circumstances. The forward/neutral switch constantly need adjusting. I was on an island 30 miles from the mainland when the drive shaft went out. Briggs agreed to refund most of my money for that piece of crap.

For that size motor, Invest a little more and get a 4 stroke 6hp Tohatsu or Suzuki. The Tohatsu is the same as a Nissan but a little cheaper. I bought a Tohatsu to replace my Briggs and Stratton. The Tohatsu is engineered like rocket science compared to the Briggs.

The Tohatsu is nice but it has a separate tank. You might consider a Suzuki. The Suzuki has a build in tank.

Look at this picture with the Briggs on the back of my dinghy. The motor is tied in the up position. The motor is built so cheaply that it doesn't even have a latch to keep it in the up position. You'll also have to tie it so it goes straight when mounted. There is no control to keep it in one position so it goes straight as you steer with your boat's rudder.


The Tohatsu will cost $1185.00 and the Briggs and Stratton outboard will cost $699.95. The difference is $485.05. That is a significant difference but very worth it! The Briggs will end up as scrap anyway.

Mark, can you or any one else tell us anymore about the Suzi 6 hp outboard? The link to the website says that little motor is a two cylinder 138cc, doesn't say how much it weighs but if it's a two cylinder with a built in gas tank, it's got to be heavy. The Tohatsu-6 is a single cylinder 123cc, 55lbs makes sense to me as and outboard for the dink.

Terry Chiccino wrote:Mark, can you or any one else tell us anymore about the Suzi 6 hp outboard? The link to the website says that little motor is a two cylinder 138cc, doesn't say how much it weighs but if it's a two cylinder with a built in gas tank, it's got to be heavy. The Tohatsu-6 is a single cylinder 123cc, 55lbs makes sense to me as and outboard for the dink.

The Suzuki is a 4 stroke. Specs

I looked at 6hp Suzuki once. Even though it had a built tank, there was a connection for an extra tank.

Mark, I see it says 2 stroke but on the front page at their web site it says two cylinder, seems like it should be a single cylinder in the 4 or 6 horsepower size. Maybe someone out there has got one and can answer my question. Thanks, Terry

Terry Chiccino wrote:Mark, I see it says 2 stroke but on the front page at their web site it says two cylinder, seems like it should be a single cylinder in the 4 or 6 horsepower size. Maybe someone out there has got one and can answer my question. Thanks, Terry

Could there be an advantage to the two cylinder configuration? I notice the Tohatsu only has one cylinder.

had a 84 ,4 hp yamaha, thing was still running when i sold it 20 yrs and one water pump was only repair needed great little motor

Mark, I'm sure our motor Guhru, Moe can explain the differences (advantages) of a small two cylinder vs. a small single cylinder motor. I would think the two would be smoother running but produce less torque with more moving parts. That little motor with two cylinders must be heavier. Some Mac owner has to have a 6hp Suzi. Terry

Mark, I'm sure our motor Guhru, Moe can explain the differences (advantages) of a small two cylinder vs. a small single cylinder motor. I would think the two would be smoother running but produce less torque with more moving parts. That little motor with two cylinders must be heavier. Some Mac owner has to have a 6hp Suzi. Terry

Any idea how much the Suzuki goes for? I like the idea of having the built in tank.
Does anyone know if laying a small 4-stroke outboard down to for an extended time can create a problem? I would think they are designed to lay down in at least in one position for transport and storage.

Thanks
Greg

Greg, my Honda 2hp can be stored or transported on it's side with no harm to the motor.

Greg wrote:Any idea how much the Suzuki goes for? I like the idea of having the built in tank.
Does anyone know if laying a small 4-stroke outboard down to for an extended time can create a problem? I would think they are designed to lay down in at least in one position for transport and storage.

Thanks
Greg

My Tohatsu can be layed down on one side and one side only. In my case, the manual depicted which side to lay it on.

Terry Chiccino wrote:Mark, can you or any one else tell us anymore about the Suzi 6 hp outboard? The link to the website says that little motor is a two cylinder 138cc, doesn't say how much it weighs but if it's a two cylinder with a built in gas tank, it's got to be heavy. The Tohatsu-6 is a single cylinder 123cc, 55lbs makes sense to me as and outboard for the dink.

Terry,
If you already have the Honda 2hp, and you're shopping the Suzi 6 hp .... means the little one is too little?

Follow up

Dont buy MACGREGOR Lawn Mowers!!

(Mark to insert good graphic here)

There...Im a a manager!!!!

MacGregor Lawn Mowers? Well, I dunno.



humm

Frank, it's not that my honda is too little, the 2hp came with my Mac as a package with a WM (Zodiac) 285SB dingy. The Honda is a long shaft and mounts on the transom of my Mac (it will push the Mac to 3 mph). Using the Honda on the dingy sort of works, one really needs the motor with a short shaft. I can putz around the local harbor at 5 knots but the dingy's nose wants to stay up in the air. So I'm just kicking the tires, so to speak! Terry