Question: Removing swim step to mount kicker

Just a note to follow on with Casey's suggested outboard. Tohatsu makes outboards for Mercury and Nissan, so shop around for the best price for any of these three branded outboards and have the same outboard, but with different decals. All of these new (Tohatsu made) outboards have both internal tanks and external connections for external tanks (best of both worlds). The 4, 5 and 6 are the same except for carb jetting. You can buy the jets at Boats.net, or buy an entire carburetor at Defender and have a 6 HP outboard, if you already have a 4 or a 5.
Lastly, to get a high thrust engine, using any of the outboards, buy the elephant ear prop that Tohatsu sell on their outboards that they sell for displacement sailboats and get the power that you need without overworking this tiny engine. The high thrust prop (that fits these outboards), is Defender part number 303262 ( http://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?pa ... id=1243089 )
 
Great information from Steve. ...and he should know. When we visited Steve earlier on our ICW trip I was amazed at the extent/breadth of his boat knowledge. He's a retired USCG Commander and an engineer, so you can take what he says to-the-bank. I was amazed when he showed me his collection of small outboards ... as I recall, his current inventory is about 12 or 15!!!!!! Wish I'd known the Tohatsu 6hp was available with an internal tank.

Steve - is an internal tank modification for the Tohatsu 6 a possibility?

Best,
Casey&Mary
 
Casey,

Thanks for the Brat pat on the back, but I find out every day that I know less then I did before. Fortunately my children still know more than I do...

In answer to your question, the 5 and 6 hp Tohatsu/Merc/Nissan 4 strokes can be converted. There are only a few parts involved (fuel tank assembly, tank mounting hardware, petcock and cowling). The cowling you have could also be modified (hole cut for the tank fill). I probably would just use a 3 gallon portable tank, as they are easy to carry, take little space and you would still have to carry a jerry jug, if you only had the internal tank.

I gave one of my sons 7 outboard engines to sell with the stipulation, that all $$$ from the sales went to his children's camps and school expenses. He sold them all within 4 days. Now I only have 12 engines left (including a Nissan 6, Merc 5, and a Merc 6).
 
.... It does not have an OFF button. When running the OB, to shut it off you've got to pull the clip on the emergency kill switch(lanyard), then reinsert the clip to restart. Seems like a silly (cheap) arrangement to me.

Casey,
on other branded outboards i have had you can just push and hold the button with the clip in it and that will shut it off without removing the clip...
 
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