Looking for opinions on new small outboards

[capt_nemo]

Billy,
With regard to carb problems in the outboard - if you are not using gasoline Sta-Bil in your outboard you should. It not only stabilizes the fuel but keeps varnish from building up and gumming up the carb. EVERY ounce of fuel that has ever gone in to all the outboards I've ever owned was treated with Sta-Bil, and like I said earlier I never had a problem with my Yamahas. Also, use the smallest fuel tank possible and add fresh treated fuel when needed.
capt_nemo

[curtisv]

Ray,

First ask yourself why you need an outboard.

If you sail in CT and plan to sail on any of the lakes (all small and with light to no wind) or on Long Island Sound (notorious for dead calm evening to next morning) the likely answer is "in case the wind dies".  If your answer was "for when the wind is too strong", think again.

When the wind is strong, without the long shaft (25") the prop won't be in the water enough to go to windward.  With the long shaft it will spend about half the time out of the water so you have to keep the throttle way down to keep the outboard from racing when its out.  That's why for strong wind add reef points to the sail and get a second smaller headsail.  For "no wind" consider an outboard (and get the long shaft anyway since waves can persist after the wind has died).  I sail engineless but I think if I were sailing on the unreliable winds of Long Island Sound I'd reconsider (or at least finish the oar I've been threatenning to build for years).

Curtis

btw - a sculling oar never fails to start and is much easier to winterize each year.

[rdcvsmith]

My CP19 will be in a slip in a nearby marina, I just need that motor to get me out till I can hoist those sails! (and back in later). Hoping never to have to rely on the outboard to much but I am at least smart enough to know that "stuff" happens out there (including in the Long Island Sound) and I want an outboard there when I need it, to move me where I need to go, whenever that may be, to wherever I need to go to. Reliability. Dependability. I plan to look strongly at the Honda & Yamaha (I have both dealers nearby, ....we'll see if and how much each will give me for a trade for the '83 Evinrude 7.5 (2 stroke) that came with the boat.

All comments have been great!
Happy Holidays!
-Ray

[curtisv]

Good point.  A slip is also a good reason to have an outboard.

I keep forgeting since I'm on a mooring and can sail on and off the mooring no matter what the wind direction is.  And there is no real current to speak of near the mooring.

Curtis