Repowering a Tinnie

Wandering Sagebrush

Wandering Sagebrush

Free Range Human
Joined
Jan 21, 2005
Messages
2,792
Reaction score
2
Location
North East Oregon
C Dory Year
2005
C Dory Model
22 Cruiser
Vessel Name
Constant Craving
I’m still looking for a nice 16 cruiser, but thinking about repowering my Gregor 14.5 skiff for use on the local ponds and Snake River impoundments. After talking to Larry Bigbee at Sportcraft about a 25 or 30 horse tiller engine, I’m undecided about going with Honda, or with a Suzuki. Both are roughly the same cost.

Any thoughts about reliability, maintenance needs,corrosion resistance, etc. for these motors?

Thanks,

Steve

 
I think you could go either way. You know I like Suzuki but, the lower gear ratio I think is less fuel efficient not by much. The hole shot will be better though. The Honda will be easier to get parts for. I just stock my own parts for the Suzuki. Here is the link to Suzuki's brochure looks like they have made a few changes
https://assets.suzukimarine.com/wp-cont ... 30APIB.pdf
 
Going mostly by specs in the Internet: Honda is 10% more displacement than Suzuki. Suzuki has fuel injection; Honda Carburetors. Because of this alone I would favor the Suzuki. What Jody saids is similar to my experience. However, the top end speed with Suzuki will most likely be more than the Honda.

Injection wins.
 
I would opt for which ever one has the better parts available and support in your area.
 
I went down this road a few years ago. I liked the Yamaha 25 for the power to weight ratio and efi. That said, if you don't have a good dealer to go to for
parts and service, you might as well buy some good oars.
 
I wouldn't get anything with a carb. I'd get the brand with the most local dealer support, but I don't think you have a "bad" one on the list.
 

Thank you all for the input! I hadn’t realized the Hondas were still carbureted, and Dr. Bob made the choice easy, I’m staying in the Suzuki camp.

I hope all have a wonderful 2024. Thanks again!

 
I have & like both my Honda & Suzuki motors. You seem determined to purchase through Sportscraft & I can see why, having purchased my Honda 60’s from there, so I agree with Bob, go with the Suzuki with fuel injection.

For others perhaps thinking of similar new motor purchase some thoughts. I don’t have local dealer access for maintenance or parts & do 99% of my own maintenance & parts for the most part on line from Boats.net, so my personal first choice for a 25 to 30 hp outboard would be the Tohatsu. They are fuel injected & much lighter then any of their 4 stroke competitors & the Tohatsu outboards have a great reputation. As much, as I like my present twin Honda 60’s, if the new at the time Tohatsu 60’s would have been available then, they would have been & still would be my 1st choice. Though important to many, not having close dealership support for parts & maintenance in the last 20+ years & many thousands of miles & operating hours, has had extremely minimal effect for me, as not yet having to resort to oars😉
 
If the Tohatsu is available where you are looking, I would agree with Jay and put that in the running. I agree that if you do your own service, or have a good outboard mechanic locally, the lack of a nearby dealer is not as much as an issue.

I am at a place where I do little more than change liquids and perhaps change an impeller. We had a close by Suzuki where I could get in in a day. But they went out of business (probably Covid did them in). Now I have the son of a neighbor who is a head mechanic at a nearby large dealer, but works at night and weekends on "Private Projects". Plus he gets me parts at dealer's costs.
 
Jay, thanks for reminding me about Tohatsu! That they are lighter than others would be great. I may need to do a little more research.
 
Back
Top