Why do you think the Honda is "junkie"? Mine was always bullet-proof.
Bullet proof? Actually a quick search turned up a post by you regarding a spinning prop problem on your Honda 50, so I'm not sure that counts as bullet proof, but whatever.
"Crappy" to me means harder than average to maintain and more expensive than average to fix. About any new motor will do fine for the warranty period. Mine's 10 with extremely low hours, but time has taken it's toll.
Search "Honda" and "carburetor" here and you'll see my original clogged carburetor post. Having owned one I see no sense in having carbs when EFI is available, especially at inflated Honda prices.
Yes, if you look after it like your only male offspring and run it dry and store it vertically every time and bla bla bla bla it might start next time. But search on here and you'll find everything from "won't start" to idle or power circuit problems and they all relate to the dang infintessimally tiny jets in the Kei-Hin carbs. Next size up Honda motor is EFI, they just chose to save money on the 50.
The Honda is as good as any triple carb 50hp ob IMHO, Only not really, if as in my case, noone in the area wants to service them and parts have to be ordered from Atlanta, and they're expensive as all getout because Honda doesn't let just anybody sell their parts. Ooooo, I love that. I'll take Skip's noisy but "starts every time" 2 stroke any day.
The biggest asset I thought my boat had when I bought it was the Honda.
It's proven the biggest liability. It's the thing I've thrown more money and time at than anything else. So far: 3 impellers, (one my fault!) 1 water pump assembly, 1 carb rebuild x 3, done myself because I don't have $1300 to throw around, 1 spun prop, intake manifod seals (yep, the manifold comes off to service the carbs), 1 trim motor from hull and miscellaneous trim pump o-rings, anodes for the water jacket and motor bracket, new battery wiring, and the rest normal stuff like plugs, oil, and filters. Every honda parts costs more than a comparable Merc or Yammy part, which by the way can be had anywhere along with willing mechanics. The factory service manual doesn't even include part numbers.
In a high duty cycle environment like a fishing fleet they're probably fine, and a fleet maintainer can stock parts. I just think they are less than optimal for a trailer sailer used 3-5 times a month a few minutes at a time.
As alternatives there are 4 stroke 50s with 4 valves per cylinder, timing chains instead of belts, direct port electronic fuel injection, high output at low rpm alternators (Honda's is 10A), with widely available (read competetively priced) parts and plenty of certified mechanics. Other motors are lighter, cheaper, and more powerful. There are also 2 strokes with oil injection that are light weight and as fuel efficient as the 4 strokes.
Knowing what I know after two years now, the Honda name means zero to me in the outboard motor world.
and is that a roller blind over the v-berth?
