I was fortunate enough to trade my 2-stroke short shaft 18 Tohatsu for a 20" 9.9 2013 model Mercury High thrust electric start tiller. It has a 3-blade prop that I plan on replacing with stock. It weighs 100Lbs and I have a DF70 (335Lbs) installed. What are my best options for mounting brackets? I haven't completely committed to using this engine as a smaller 4-6 would easily fit on the port side of the engine and allow for full maneuverability of both. It could also easily be stowed away for emergencies. I am sure that I could easily trade down.
I personally try to avoid “portable” motors I can’t easily move myself. 20” means you won’t necessarily need an articulating up/down mount, but it does mean it’ll need a sturdy one. My 22 came with a Panther mount that moves up or down and is rated for 35hp (no idea why the prior owner bought that and hung a 5hp on it). I sold the long shaft 5hp so I could get a short shaft that would double duty on my dinghy— the mount allows for the depth. I presently have an electric on it and removed one of the torsion springs from the mount so it doesn’t fight as hard being rated for more. It seems well made, so perhaps check out the Panther brand. Adds I want to say 15lbs of weight, maybe it was more.
Another consideration is that the 10hp won’t move the boat past displacement/hull speed anyways, but will do a better job of it in bad conditions with heavy loads compared to a 6, 5, 4, or 2. You go from facing into the wind to tacking to actually getting yourself home— or trolling along using it should you want to save the big one. Speaking of, you can tie some of them together for steering in the cabin, if that’s a feature you want. Throttle too in some cases. I’d look for an independent fuel tank filled someplace different than the main’s tank, but I do see the appeal in the first world of connecting it right to the main tanks.
I’d add a four blade prop to it, not three, since you want slow speed torque and maneuverability rather than top end speed which most 3 blades are for. If swapping to a dinghy back and forth, it’s a coin toss probably.
