Ya i notice suzuki has no stainless bolts and come back in rusty but are cheaper, i just installed a optimus joystick on twin 350 suzukis and its pretty cool the technology out now. people at the dock were like what you just parked that 32 footer sideways.
Traveler III
Traveler III
We have a 12’ Carolina Skiff / w 25hp Yamaha 2 stroke, I usually carry 2- 6 gal tanks which give me a range of around 100-110 miles. Its rigged with a Raymarine Color Sonar, Standard Horizon VHF radio and Garmin GPS. It has been thru the Everglades on the Wilderness Waterway. Lake Fontana in N.C exploring the lake and hiking into the Smoky Mountains N.P. traveling up Hazel and Eagle Creeks. Lake Watauga in Tenn., Lake Jocassee in S.C, this is where they filmed Deliverance. All thru the Keys and backwaters. Almost every lake, inlet and river in Florida. Even on the reefline in the Keys thats 5 miles out in the ocean. 4k miles logged on Gps. Never a mishap or breakdown, its been a great little boat that can get us anywhere and back to camp.
Traveler III
So, if I needed to do a 60-70km round trip on a small boat with a 4hp 2 stroke motor, I should be more than good with a 25L tank, I would guess?
Lots of factors, RPM, wind, current,tides, load, even prop pitch,draft, hull type. You shoud be good but I would take extra. I would fill your tank with a premeasured amount, run the boat in normal conditions, measure your mileage and do the math, then I would factor in + or - 5 miles.When I plan to go into territory where rescue would take more time, like the Glades, I always go by the rule of thirds with the fuel. 1/3 out, 1/3 back, 1/3 backup.Safety gear and a FAK, extra prop, tool kit. Always extra food and water. The Radio has DSC, distress hailing and location feature, and I have a 2m handheld in each backpack. Deep trips, I will leave a float plan in the truck.
Pathfinder I
2385
Allways carry a spare , tidal currents etc play a big part in are waters Better safe than sorry , i was cast adrift in an open necked shirt
Traveler III
The electronics sure made my life easier. especially drilling holes for gauges for 3-4 engines, and pulling cable. Now its one wire and everything is on the GPS screens. Im with you on the non stainless on the Suzuki. We had one where the seal failed and the drive shaft rusted into the block so they couldnt drop the outdrive. The Suzuki Reps finally came up with the idea to fire the engine and stick a hacksaw blade on the end of vicegrips, put the blade against the shaft while the engine was running and the shaft was turning and cut it off.
Traveler III
I would be very leary buying older outboards. Part availibility is going to be the main issue. Carb kits and carb floats can be tough to find. I would definately run non-ethanol. And would stick with Yamaha. If they lived their life in salt water forget it. Sierra will be a good place for aftermarket parts, water pumps etc. The shop where I worked, wouldnt work on anything that was 10 years or older, especially Mercury. Reed issues with old ones.Some of the old mercurys even had Yamaha blocks because Mercury couldnt get their sh!t together. Im a big 2 stroke guy but the 4 strokes get fantastic mileage and are super quiet, to the point where you can even hear them running.. Drawback weight/size. My 2 stroke 25 weighs exactly the same as a15 4 stroke.
Traveler III
Weight is an absolutely critical factor in my case, so it has to be a 2 stroke - the lighter the better. 5hp is the max I can use, 4 is probably better.
no problem, a reed is sort of like a valve in a 4, a strip of thin metal flaps , think harmonica, when they get old they crack and sometimes break off. A new Yamaha 4 hp 4stroke weighs 59 lbs, around $1200, also excellent resale value. Thats why used ones are hard to find. People tend to buy them and hold on to them. A new Suzuki would be ok, probably less expensive than a Yamaha. There becoming really popular down here in Fl. 4 hps are probably going to come with a internal tank, get an external if available or your going to be filling the tank a lot. There is probably not going to be that much of a weight difference with the 2.5, 4, and 6, 2and 4 strokes. The 6 and 8 are the same engine, you start seeing the weight jumps in the 15, 25 and up.
Traveler III
Pathfinder I
Pathfinder I
2385
Pathfinder I
It weighs a 105lbs, or 47.5kg, so it is very manageable to load or unload from the rig or rope up or down a river bank. You can find their info on YouTube if you type in FlyCraft.
Traveler III
