Si touched on an important aspect, the weight of an engine. Always look at the spec data because manufacturers use the same block for several engines with sometimes just a different carb to produce extra power as is often the case in smaller engines.
I would agree with an earlier comment regarding 2 stroke, cheaper, lighter and more bottom end grunt which means there is better initial thrust to get on the plane than a 4 stroke but no difference at full throttle. To give an example an average 15hp 2 stroke is around 37kg whereas a 4 stroke is around 53kg so a big difference in handling the engine in and out of the car etc.
If the boat will take a max of 15hp as an example, I would buy a 15 because it is the same weight as a 10hp in most cases and you have the extra power if you have a full load or need to get back to shore fast but of course you don't HAVE to use the power available, you can just potter if you want and a short/standard shaft 10/15hp 2 stroke will always be in demand, just see how quickly they go on ebay.
I have two 15hp and a 2.5hp which gets plenty of use on fresh water venues, I know it is spending more dosh but consider this, buy the most expensive engine you need/afford and at some time later pick up a much lower cost baby outboard as a back up engine or simply to use at certain venues. I have in the past had a 4hp 2 or 4 stroke as my fresh water engine but to be honest with an F-Rib, I don't need a 4hp as the 2.5hp is good enough.
Some food for thought perhaps.
Phil
How many HP?
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Martin
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Re: How many HP?
Pop It in the for sale section buddyneil h wrote:By the way, I now have a Mercury 10XR to sell if of any interest... 2001 if I remember right, and really clean under the hood.
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blootac
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Re: How many HP?
Always better to have excess power and to never use it than to wish you had it and suffer because of it. Also, a larger engine that's not being ragged to death will last longer and use less fuel.
As has been said, check the other models in the ranges as a lot are the same engine just with smaller carbs. 2 strokes tended to be 9.9 and 15 were the same, 4 strokes tend to be 8 & 9.9 and 15 & 20. This means that for the same weight and normally only a few hundred £ more you can have a greater power output.
As has been said, check the other models in the ranges as a lot are the same engine just with smaller carbs. 2 strokes tended to be 9.9 and 15 were the same, 4 strokes tend to be 8 & 9.9 and 15 & 20. This means that for the same weight and normally only a few hundred £ more you can have a greater power output.
