Repowering a Tinnie

[Wandering Sagebrush]

I’m still looking for a nice 16 cruiser, but thinking about repowering my Gregor 14.5 skiff for use on the local ponds and Snake River impoundments. After talking to Larry Bigbee at Sportcraft about a 25 or 30 horse tiller engine, I’m undecided about going with Honda, or with a Suzuki. Both are roughly the same cost.

Any thoughts about reliability, maintenance needs,corrosion resistance, etc. for these motors?

Thanks,

Steve

[jkidd]

I think you could go either way. You know I like Suzuki but, the lower gear ratio I think is less fuel efficient not by much. The hole shot will be better though. The Honda will be easier to get parts for. I just stock my own parts for the Suzuki. Here is the link to Suzuki's brochure looks like they have made a few changes
https://assets.suzukimarine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/21100820/14DF25A30APIB.pdf

[thataway]

Going mostly by specs in the Internet: Honda is 10% more displacement than Suzuki. Suzuki has fuel injection; Honda Carburetors. Because of this alone I would favor the Suzuki. What Jody saids is similar to my experience. However, the top end speed with Suzuki will most likely be more than the Honda.

Injection wins.

[B~C]

I would opt for which ever one has the better parts available and support in your area.

[kevinnuckles@icloud.com]

I went down this road a few years ago. I liked the Yamaha 25 for the power to weight ratio and efi. That said, if you don't have a good dealer to go to for
parts and service, you might as well buy some good oars.

[T.R. Bauer]

I wouldn't get anything with a carb. I'd get the brand with the most local dealer support, but I don't think you have a "bad" one on the list.

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Thank you all for the input! I hadn’t realized the Hondas were still carbureted, and Dr. Bob made the choice easy, I’m staying in the Suzuki camp.

I hope all have a wonderful 2024. Thanks again!

[Hunkydory]

I have & like both my Honda & Suzuki motors. You seem determined to purchase through Sportscraft & I can see why, having purchased my Honda 60’s from there, so I agree with Bob, go with the Suzuki with fuel injection.

For others perhaps thinking of similar new motor purchase some thoughts. I don’t have local dealer access for maintenance or parts & do 99% of my own maintenance & parts for the most part on line from Boats.net, so my personal first choice for a 25 to 30 hp outboard would be the Tohatsu. They are fuel injected & much lighter then any of their 4 stroke competitors & the Tohatsu outboards have a great reputation. As much, as I like my present twin Honda 60’s, if the new at the time Tohatsu 60’s would have been available then, they would have been & still would be my 1st choice. Though important to many, not having close dealership support for parts & maintenance in the last 20+ years & many thousands of miles & operating hours, has had extremely minimal effect for me, as not yet having to resort to oars😉

[thataway]

If the Tohatsu is available where you are looking, I would agree with Jay and put that in the running. I agree that if you do your own service, or have a good outboard mechanic locally, the lack of a nearby dealer is not as much as an issue.

I am at a place where I do little more than change liquids and perhaps change an impeller. We had a close by Suzuki where I could get in in a day. But they went out of business (probably Covid did them in). Now I have the son of a neighbor who is a head mechanic at a nearby large dealer, but works at night and weekends on "Private Projects". Plus he gets me parts at dealer's costs.

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Jay, thanks for reminding me about Tohatsu! That they are lighter than others would be great. I may need to do a little more research.