Looking for advice on new light-weight 4hp for my Core Sound 20

[JeffM]

Not sailed since before Covid, but getting Beatrice Ann back into the water with her new rig this year.  I'd always sailed engineless -- not as purist, but just cheapskate.  Being a lousy sailor, I've often gotten into kinds of trouble that I'm getting too old to get out of reliably anymore.  So I'm counting on a motor to help out.  I am no mechanic, so decided to go new.  (I briefly owned an antique 5hp that would only start when I didn't need it too badly.  I specified light-weight and 4hp because my Core Sound's stern gets depressed easily.  (Therapy hasn't helped.)  Cheaper is of course better, as long as motor is reliable, but I do think neutral would be nice to have.

 

Suggestions and experiences welcome!

[Andy B]

I have a CS-20 and the Honda 2.3; not because I chose it, but because it came with my other boat.  I believe it is the long shaft model; that is important because even then it doesn't stick far into the water (I don't have a transom cut-out).  

The 2.3 is enough to push the boat.  I don't have currents or tides in my area, but I have had it push the boat with a number of passengers.

A neutral would be nice, but I have the "aft cockpit" version of the boat, so the tiller is right there, and most times it's easy to swing the motor around.

The light weight of the 2.3 is nice.  It also runs forever on a liter of gas (that's about what the tank holds).

It is noisy for its size.

 

I think others like the Suzuki for the neutral and it is quieter.

 

PS--you might want to post this in the B&B section of the forum, more traffic there.

[Peter HK]

I had the Suzuki 2.5 on my CS17 and it worked well. I liked neutral after a 2 hp, 2 stroke Yamaha that you had to spin for reverse. Pretty quiet and went for ages on the tank. I really noticed when I flushed the motor after use that it would run for about 5 mins after the fuel was cut off compared to about 30 secs when flushing the little 2 stroke.

You have to be careful with positioning it especially in the back of the car- I had oil get into the cylinders despite correct positioning. Probably going around corners too fast!

Cheers

Peter HK

[JeffM]

Thanks, Andy, Peter.  I'm going to post it on B&B, and not specify 4hp.