Best very small dinghy motor

Rock-C":34i4o0xv said:
I just came across a post on the TrailerSailer web site under the Montgomery Forum about a 2.5 and a 5hp outboard that runs on propane. It uses the 16oz bottles or can be connected to a bulk bottle.
Looks interesting, but they said it is about a year from hitting the market.
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Saw a flier on this unit from one of the manufacturer's reps at the Seattle Boat Show. Interesting concept. The photos show engines that are Yamaha models with modified cowls. Internal modifications aren't specified, but the engine specs matched up with Yamaha products. Both models are shown with the capability to hook up to larger (5 gallon) LPG tanks as well as the small spin on cylinders.

Could be interesting....
 
Matt Gurnsey":1c4exho4 said:
Rock-C":1c4exho4 said:
I just came across a post on the TrailerSailer web site under the Montgomery Forum about a 2.5 and a 5hp outboard that runs on propane. It uses the 16oz bottles or can be connected to a bulk bottle.
Looks interesting, but they said it is about a year from hitting the market.
Click to expand...

Saw a flier on this unit from one of the manufacturer's reps at the Seattle Boat Show. Interesting concept. The photos show engines that are Yamaha models with modified cowls. Internal modifications aren't specified, but the engine specs matched up with Yamaha products. Both models are shown with the capability to hook up to larger (5 gallon) LPG tanks as well as the small spin on cylinders.

Could be interesting....
Click to expand...

Lightens up the fuel load, considerably!

Would also eliminate the liquid fuel spill issue and clean up.

New motors ought to come with a small fire extinguisher, just in case!

We've had propane generators for a while now, too, so there should be some design issue solutions.

I like it! :idea

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
I've had the 3.5 hp Tohatsu and absolutely loved it. Thought it was the best small motor I ever had. Quiet, smooth, and started on the firs pull. I had it on a little tender that one summer I kept on my sailboat. I would flush the outboard out in a little 2 gallon bath room trash bin that I had on the boat. I could hold it upright with one hand and pull-start it with the other. When I would run the carburetors dry I would close the fuel valve and it would run for at least 10 minutes just on the fuel in the tube from the valve and what was in the carburetor. Instead of having a dream boat I have a dream engine, a Tohatsu 115 TLDI and the boat to go with that, a Marinaut 215.
 
Chuckpacific I've always wondered about using it for blended margaritas.... Honda.....trun it on said:
Some do come with that option. Big Johnson in use at one of the Lake Powell Shad Rallies.

:D :D

BigJohnson.sized.jpg
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After buying and using a 2.5 Suzuki all last season I would highly recommend it! This little gem is inexpensive, reliable, lightweight, has fwd and neutral not that lame clutch like the Honda and uses the same fuel as any other 4 stroke. :thup
 
We use the 2hp Honda. It's a trade off between the clutch, which I do not like, and the fact that it is air cooled, which I like very much. I spend enough time flushing the big engines that it is nice not to have to worry about flushing the dink motor.
 
Will-C":1p68h3i9 said:
We have a 2.5 HP Yamaha and although it is a tad heavier than the Suzuki it has been great little motor...
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I have the 2.5 Yamaha as well and love it, but "tad" in this case means 7+ lbs. (37.5 versus 30.1 if my brief search is correct). Given the awkwardness of mounting - dismounting the motor with the dinghy floating next to the boat, I think the lighter motor would be more convenient and less likely to be dropped in the water.
 
So, is anyone out there considering being a local dealer for these new propane engines? Matt? Les? Anyone have a clue how the prices will compare to gasoline equivalents? Anyone ask at one of the recent shows?
 
Aurelia":2mcmkm77 said:
So, is anyone out there considering being a local dealer for these new propane engines? Matt? Les? Anyone have a clue how the prices will compare to gasoline equivalents? Anyone ask at one of the recent shows?
Click to expand...

Greg - the prices for the 2.5 and 5 were given in a post on the previous page. They seem close to the cost of the gasoline equivalent.
 
The Lehr 2.5 looks like the current generation Yamaha, and the 5 looks like the previous generation Yamaha 4/6 based on the units from the cowl down and the engine specs.

If West Marine is handling them I doubt we would be interested- but I never say never. It would all depend on what dealer cost is, what kind of dealer support the company provides to name just a few variables.

However, if their business model is to market through big box retailers with no service departments, that probably isn't a good fit for us. The pre delivery service we provide adds to the cost of the unit, which means we may charge more than an online or big box retailer. If Lehr is going with no service, volume sales of motors in boxes and minimum orders of pallets of motors, that's probably not our market.

We'll be doing some more research on them before we make a definitive decision. I mean, we figured there would never be a day when we were a Mercury Outboard dealer, and we've placed our first order of almost 30 units.
 
I suggested earlier than an electric trolling motor might be an alternative for some limited applications (where strong currents and long distances were not a obstacle to be overcome).

I have a small Sevylor electric trolling motor specifically intended for inflatables that weighs less than 7 pounds and has 14 pounds of thrust.

You need a small battery for one of these such as the battery for a riding lawn mower, etc. A U-1 Model 35 AH battery weighs 26 pounds, for instance.

Not sure how long or how far you can go, though, and I can't find power consumption specifications, but the trolling motors tend to use a little less than 1 Amp of current for every pound of thrust produced, e.g., a 42 pound thrust motor uses 36 Amps at full throttle, so the 14 lb. thrust model should use about 12 Amps. Take the battery amp hour capacity x 50% (usable discharge) and divide by 12 for full throttle hours of operation.

By this method, the 35 AH U1 battery above should provide

35 AH x 50% = 17.5 AH, and

17.5 AH divided by 12 AH = 1-1/2 hours at full throttle, probably 2-3 hours at varied settings.

The newer models have 18 pounds of thrust, as shown here, and should use 15-16 Amps as above. (Looks like these are being discontinued, and available for around $100, now.)

Using the same math, this should use up the U-1 battery in a little over 1 hour, and give 2-2-1/2 hours at varied speeds.

I wouldn't want to try to cross the Strait of Jaun de Fuca with one of these, but for some other limited applications, why not?

What would be nice is an inflatable covered with flexible solar photo-voltaic cells, one of these motors, and a battery.

The full sunlight (at least here in Redding and places south, not sure about PNW ! ) ='s about 1000 Watts/square meter, and an inflatable with 2 square meters on it's sides should produce up to 83 amps (@100% conversion efficiency) !

Also, since 757 Watts ='s one horsepower, there's about 3 hp of energy available on the skin of the inflatable, minus any conversion losses.

Fun to play around with, anyway!

Oh well, maybe I'll just rig up a sail and do it the easy, Old School, way! :lol:

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Oh, I thought they were still not quite on the market and those links were just existing gas examples. Read too fast. With reasonable prices and the fact that many boats carry propane of some sort, I'll bet these take off a lot faster than overpriced electric alternatives.

Just avoiding gas storage/smell is a big deal for many folks.
 
I'd think an exclusive dealership for those propane powered motors in a area like Puget Sound, the San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, or the equivalent would be a great business opportunity, if it could be had, although the Internet and West Marine could be tough competition.

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
I wonder with the higher compression ratios due to the higher octane propane, if the engines will last as long. I assume they are using existing gasoline engine blocks.
 
Not many modifications are necessary to many small engines to convert from gas to propane. My Honda 5KW generator simply needed the carb replaced by a pressure reducer and diffuser.
My Generac houshold generator runs on propane. While they hopefully do not get the same usage as a primary engine there are many critical applications.

I wonder if anyone has reliability figures for long term usage ?

M
 
My three cents worth. Have had some experience with the Honda 2 (both short and long shaft) including immersion. They are almost bullet proof and very economical. Will push a heavy loaded 19' cargo canoe at around 5 mph getting over twenty (20) miles to the gallon) But they are noisy little buggers (being partially deaf helps me) without provision for remote tank. and relatively expensive. Will move the 22' at three (3) mph Twenty nine (29) pounds of usefulness. Yellowstone
 
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