Dinghy Engines?

jrirvine1

jrirvine1

Member
Dec 3, 2006
747
Chester, MD
Boat Info
2005 420 da
Engines
Cummins 480 CE's (Rocket Sled)
Who really makes most of the small dinghy engines? :smt017

The Tohatsu, Mercury and Nissan small four strokes (5,4,3.5,2.5 HP) all look virtually identical, except for the color and name and all have the same specifications. The Tohatsu dealer stated they make them all, which is why the others are typically a little more expensive. If this is accurate, then there would be no reason to purchase the Mercurys or Nissans.

Does this make Honda the only small good 4 stroke that is not a Tohatsu?
 
there's always our friends north of the border, who also dabble in snowmobiles, PWC and NYC subway cars...

http://www.defender.com/category.jsp?path=-1|215570|218947&id=320445
 
jrirvine1 said:
Who really makes most of the small dinghy engines? :smt017
The Tohatsu, Mercury and Nissan small four strokes (5,4,3.5,2.5 HP) all look virtually identical, except for the color and name and all have the same specifications. The Tohatsu dealer stated they make them all, which is why the others are typically a little more expensive. If this is accurate, then there would be no reason to purchase the Mercurys or Nissans.
Does this make Honda the only small good 4 stroke that is not a Tohatsu?
Click to expand...
Jim, for what it's worth, we bought a 13' Boston Whaler with a Mercury 40 HP, 4-stroke. A mechanic (not at the dealer) informed me that it is actually a Yamaha engine, with Mercury graphics. He said that Mercury could not get into building the small 4 strokes fast enough, so they had Yamaha build them for the time being. Maybe another member could shed some more light in the subject.
 
Rondds, thanks for the tip about Johnson, I had forgot about them.

The issue is, whenever I need to make a purchase, I always start by trying to buy American, but it seems to be getting more and more difficult to do so as time goes by.

Apparently, if you purchase a Mercury small 4-stroke, you will pay over $100 more for the Mercury label and actually be getting a Tohatsu or a Yamaha. It seems we have decided not to compete with the Japanese and others because we can’t match their quality or it’s just not cost effective to try.

The same problem arose last month when it was time to replace my “Admirals†car. She wanted something nice, small, comfortable and luxurious. We looked at several American cars, and it’s clear they have come a long way from the Vega and Gremlin, but they just don’t really compare with some of the imports. To shorten the story, we ended up with a Volvo.
Try not to chastise me too much for the slightly off topic post. Perhaps we could institute a quota system, where members get by default, two off topic rants.
 
volvo is owned by ford, so dont feel that bad! ford also has a large stake in mazda as well. certainly a global economy these days.

word is daimler is trying to unload chrysler and the buyer might be nissan.
 
4 HP Mercury 2 Stroke

I looked long and hard when I purchased my dingy last year. I was not too happy with the 4 stroke engines and the extra care required in storing them. I had several friends lay them on the side and the oil ran into the head. One friend tipped his motor up like mine in the photo and oil leaked all over his platform. I found the new motor and boat from Busters Marine Service 900 bucks for the motor and 1200 for the Hypalon Airdeck boat, it was a great deal. http://www.bustersmarine.com/
My only suggestion to anyone looking for a dingy and motor is know what you want and how you are going to transport it. A big motor is heavy and will require a tank storage, mine is built in. Check out the photos, as I said I did my homework on this package and am very happy, I can pull it up on the davits by myself and lower it in no time.
Good luck
Alan
 

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last winter i went out of my way to find a 2 stoke leftover (nissan 3.5hp) for precisely the three reasons that were mentioned by ajones:

1. weight, 2. horizontal storage 3.built in gas tank

i know several people who dont bother using their dink b/c the motor is too difficult to store and lug around.
 
I just purchased a new Achilles 9'6 inflatable. I just realized that the boat is rated for 8HP max. I have a newer Mercury 9.9HP engine. Will this be a problem for me? Its a 2 stroke and the weight is less than the newer 4 stroke 5HP models. Should I be conserned for any reason?
 
I'm guessing it would not be a weight issue but more a force and torque issue as it relates to the boats transom. Wood and the boats fabric held together by glue. :huh:
 
Alan, looks like a great combo, how has it held up underway? I would have great reservations keeping an engine up in the air like that. Frankly I dont see how it could possibly stay put. Its the trunk for mine, along with its tank.

Dave
 
jim

i have a 2003 LSR achilles 9'6". i run a 3.5hp nissan. comparably sized pvc boats all allow a 10hp engine. i could be wrong by i suspect it is more a weight issue. due to weight restrictions, a heavier boat requires a lighter engine??? my achilles weighs in at 94lbs.

i always wanted to slap my buddies' merc 9.9 on my boat, which, BTW, he puts on a mercury 270 PVC airdeck, which weighs 81lbs. just never got around to it!

your achilles is a BEAST, with bigger pontoons and heavy duty design. if you are not reckless and dont overload the dink, you should be fine.
 
Dave,
I have had mine up for a year now with no problems at all. The 2 stroke engine is light enough to pull it off. Being on Lake Champlain in Vermont we dont see rolling seas, I have had this combo out in 4-5 foot waves pounding without any issues and I am confident with the package. I have a friend with a 340 Mercury dingy, a 4hp, 4 stroke Yamaha with a motor swivel mount on his Mainship. This package is much heaver by 50lbs and is supported the same as mine, on Weaver davitts. His has been up on his boat for 3 years now without issue.
For me it is the only way to go.
Alan
 
Alan:

The more I look at your setup, the more I like the idea. Do you remeber what size standoff's you used?

I have the 5 HP 2 stroke merc outboard. With the 5 HP I have the option of internal or external gas tank. I've yet to use the internal tank and I always run the engine dry of fuel, so this setup may be just what I need... :thumbsup:....I would just store the tank in the trunk for normal use, and in heavy sea conditions, I would put the engine in the trunk also.

With the standoffs, can you still use the swim platform to get on off the boat?
 
Good Morning Dominique
They are Weaver Davits http://store.weaverindustries.com/merchant.cfm?step=4&pid=36
I ordered them to fit the boat and platform 4" out and 4" down. As you can see they can be ordered in any size. I have added grab handles to my platform so the 4" out cleared the handles and the 4" down aligned with the dingy.
The 5hp 2 stroke engine is a perfect motor, I could only find a new 4hp 2 stroke last year when I bought mine.
Alan
 
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