Outboards for lake boats: electric or gas?

Lionhill

Lionhill

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South Okanagan
I need a small engine for lake fishing. 3 or 4 Hpw max. I want something that comes off the boast easily, stows inside the vehicle, and is low maintenance. The boat is a light car topper, and the use could be a weekend, or longer.

Gas or electric.

Thanks if you have any advice.

Lionhill
 
Depends some lakes have restrictions on motors and you should check if you plan to go to one paticular spot.

The new small gas motors are pretty nice, small clean and quiet.
 
Lionhill said:
I need a small engine for lake fishing. 3 or 4 Hpw max. I want something that comes off the boast easily, stows inside the vehicle, and is low maintenance. The boat is a light car topper, and the use could be a weekend, or longer.

Gas or electric.

Thanks if you have any advice.

Lionhill
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some things that you should take into consideration:
If you are going to use it and no power available, you will need xtra batteries (heavy)
I don't know the size of lake you will be fishing on. Is there any waves on your lake ? if yes, your electric motor may not have the power required.

However, it is prohibited to your gas motors on certain lake.

Are you a tree hugger? :p ? just kiddin
 
If AT ALL possible, I would go with GAS!!! I have a 3.0 hp Mercury on my 10 foot flat bottom and couldn't imagine running out of "juice" with an electric...

Cheers
Jay
 
On our local bass lake we are not allowed to run a gas motor. I have an 8' plywood jonboat powered by a 28lb thrust electric. With just me and gear in the boat I can fish about 8hrs on a battery charge IF I don't troll the whole time or have to run against a strong wind. Add weight (ie second person in the boat) and you use up the charge faster. Since you say you will be using it for a weekend or longer, this will probably not be enough for you unless you have a spot to plug into to recharge every night. For your purpose you will likely be better off with gas.
 
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I know you said 3 or 4 but I have a 5 hp 2-stroke Merc. Internal fuel tank with an external adapter. Reasonably light, around 60 lbs IIRC. It pushes my 12' aluminum around with ease. Very low maintenance. It has been a good motor for me.
 
Jay said:
If AT ALL possible, I would go with GAS!!! I have a 3.0 hp Mercury on my 10 foot flat bottom and couldn't imagine running out of "juice" with an electric...

Cheers
Jay
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How does it handle being moved around? Ie: laying on its side when traveling: Leaks? How much gas would you use in a weekend of 4 hours a day?

LH
 
Lionhill said:
How does it handle being moved around? Ie: laying on its side when traveling: Leaks? How much gas would you use in a weekend of 4 hours a day?

LH
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The 2 strokes are better for carring and puting down than the 4 strokes due to the carbs in the 4's being more tempremental. I have a 70's Merc. in 7.5 that will give me a whole weekend on the water on 2 1/2 gallons.
 
I use a 2hp Evinrude on a light 14' alum and on my canoe. I fill the internal tank, take an extra 1 gal and I'm good for a weekend. Its a little faster then my 36lbs thrust Minn Kota. I generally like to use the electric when I can, cause its got reverse, its quiet and I don't have to start it!

The electric is nice and quiet and it will last all day on the water as long as I don't run at full speed. I use a 5.5W solar panel to keep the charge up when its not in use.

If I have a long distance to travel or if its windy, or if I have a portage to do, I like to use the 2hp. A battery is too heavy to carry any distance.
 
Lionhill said:
I need a small engine for lake fishing. 3 or 4 Hpw max. I want something that comes off the boast easily, stows inside the vehicle, and is low maintenance. The boat is a light car topper, and the use could be a weekend, or longer.

Gas or electric.

Thanks if you have any advice.

Lionhill
Click to expand...

Oars are environmentally friendly and improve your cardiovascular health as well.:evil:
 
DLC said:
Honda makes a 2 hp 4 stroke that is wourth about 1000.00 new


DLC
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The 4 stroke motors are fantastic for trolling. I have a 9.9 Honda and you almost can't hear it running at idle. Only drawback is that they are a bit heavier. I have seen the 2hp Honda and it is almost as small and light as a 2 stroke.

Go 4 stroke gas if you can.
 
Lionhill said:
How does it handle being moved around? Ie: laying on its side when traveling: Leaks? How much gas would you use in a weekend of 4 hours a day?LH
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I bought it used, and it came to me with a small crack at the top of the gas cap... So mine leaks IF laid on it's side. I transport mine standing in the back seat of the vehicle... But, if there was NO crack, I'd say it would not leak on it's side...

Gas usage is VERY reasonable. I bring one premixed 10 liter gas can and one unmixed 10 liter gas can for every trip. I don't believe that I have EVER had to mix up the second jerry can of gas... Even for 4 day weekends that we fish EVERY day!!! My guess is that the motor is running for 2 to 4 hours a day, but that is a guess. We are always chasing trout, so we motor and stop or let the wind push us about...

GAS is the only way to go IMHO, unless regulations prevent you from using gas...

Cheers
Jay
 
I would look at a used Nissan 3.5 HP two-stroke going at around 29 lbs. I just missed a 1999 (new) on e-bay yesterday - went for $562 USD.

They're probably hard to find as Nissan has gone to 4 strokes with a significant increase in weight - around 58 lbs for the smaller motors.

I'm still looking for one for my 17 ft aluminum flat stern Grunman canoe that I use for moose hunting.

Duke1
 
I would be getting a 2-4 hp gas with an internal fuel tank. I've used electric, but when you consider the weight of the motor plus battery, it isn't any less than a small gas motor. I have used both a 2hp Honda and a 4hp Yamaha four stroke without issues. I just carry a one gallon can of gas with me when using them. The tanks only hold a liter or so, but are quite efficient.
 
Next week I'm buying a "new model for 2007" 3.5 Merc 4-stroke, best balance of weight vs power that I've found. I had and sold a 2 hp 4-stroke Honda, it was worthless for fishing with it's centrifugal clutch - had to be at half throttle or more before the clutch kicked in. couln't run that motor slow enough. A direct drive Honda might be OK, but I didn't try that model. My old 2 hp Evinrude is very noisy and vibrates a lot. (exactly the same manufacturer as the 2 stroke Merc, Johnson and Yamaha, near as I can figure) I wouldn't consider electric unless for very short outings, they are nice and quiet though.
 
You'd have a hard time beating the small 2 and 5 hp Honda's. They're very quiet, they don't smoke and smell like a 2 stroker and they don't break....ever. They are pretty pricey though, but I think most folks'll tell ya that the extra coin is worth it. Good luck.
 
I run a 9.8hp Mercury 110 on my 12ft. v-hull, it's perfect for my size of boat, but, like previously mentioned, I would not trust an electric motor on the lake (Lake Winnipeg), because in just a few minutes the weather can go from glass calm to 4-ft. chop, and you have to be prepared for the worst once the wind picks up. It isn't a good feeling when the waves are big enough that when you're idling, water starts coming over the bow!
 
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