Top 6 outboard motors

[Craus]

Continuing the selection of the best marine equipment. Today we will tell and show you a few outboard motors for your boat. Among them there are motors for lovers of "green" energy, and for connoisseurs of classic motors

ePropulsion Spirit 1.0 Plus

The Chinese company ePropulsion is a (relatively) new player in the electric motor market. The Spirit 1.0 Plus has a slightly less powerful 1.0 kW motor, but a more durable 1276 Wh battery.

Weight - 19.3 kg, but most of it comes from the removable battery, and the motor and shaft weigh 10.6 kg. Throttle lever permanently attached to shaft Charging takes 8.5 hours with standard 240V charger or 3.5 hours with optional quick charger. Solar and 12V DC chargers are also standard, as is the travel bag.



The assembly is simple and straightforward. The throttle grip folds in, the battery is locked in place with a spring loaded grip, and only one threaded power cord is required to connect. But it will take two straight arms to install the battery.

There is no built-in GPS, so the display shows the cruising range, the remaining driving time at the current speed, and the battery level. It is not very convenient if you want to know if there is enough charge to get to a certain place, but most trips on such a boat are short enough not to need it. Plus, the large battery means the range is acceptable anyway: ePropulsion offers 22 miles at around 3.5 knots.

The maximum speed is 4.3 knots. The engine is quite quiet and easy to use.

Price: £ 1,650

Torqeedo Travel 1003C

The German company Torqeedo first noticed the potential of a cleaner and quieter electric alternative to a gasoline outboard motor in 2005 and has gained in popularity ever since. The Travel 603C is the equivalent of a 2 hp gasoline engine. and costs £ 1,499, but we chose the 1103C, which costs £ 2,109. It is powered by a 1.1 kW electric motor and a 915 Wh lithium-ion battery, which is the equivalent of 3 hp. gasoline engine.

Although assembled it weighs almost as much as the heaviest gasoline counterpart (17 kg), the engine is divided into three parts, making it much easier to lift and install on board.

It is a beautifully engineered motor, stylish, well-built, although the assembly is a bit trickier than the ePropulsion Spirit.



It is a pleasure to use it: the only sound you will hear in motion is the sound of water. The maximum speed is 4.7 knots. The declared cruising range is 18 miles at a speed of about 3 knots.

It is more than double the price of a gasoline engine, but for its cleanliness, sophistication, ease of use and simple pleasure, we think it is worth it. Whether it justifies the £ 369 premium over ePropulsion is more difficult to say.

Price: £ 2,019

Honda BF2.3

The reason this motor is still sold today is because of its popularity and performance. Thanks to its light weight (13.6 kg), compact size and Honda's reputation as a reliable manufacturer, the engine has become an indispensable partner for many. The commendable simple air-cooled 57cc single cylinder 4-stroke engine is certainly less susceptible to overheating from a clogged water intake or a failed impeller than its water-cooled competitors, and without circulating salt water through the powerhead, there is less risk of corrosion or frost damage.



Unlike other gasoline engines, it uses a centrifugal clutch rather than a mechanical gear lever. It is also the only engine to boast a six-year warranty instead of the usual five.

But the good news ends there, as the BF2.3 is quite finicky to operate.

In operation, it turned out to be the slowest of all gasoline engines in tests and, by far, the most noisy - 106 dB at idle. It emits a characteristic idle noise that turns into a sharp roar at full throttle.

Verdict: Simple, reliable and lightweight, but average in performance and too noisy.

Price: £ 720

Selva Guppy 2.5hp

The Italian company Selva boasts a wide range of outboard motors from 2.5 hp. up to 300 hp, a five-year warranty and a very competitive pricing structure. At the time of writing, this engine is over £ 100 cheaper than any of its Japanese competitors. And its technical specs look pretty convincing too: the 87cc 4-stroke single-cylinder engine. The water-cooled cc has the largest volume of all, but weighs the same 13.5 kg as the Suzuki.



It doesn't look or feel as solid as the Yamaha, but that's hardly surprising given the weight difference. It is closer to Honda and Suzuki in this regard, with some elements, such as the plastic transom clamps, actually easier to use than either.

Again, the engine can only be installed with the throttle down, so when not in use it rests on the throttle lever.

Verdict: Not as sleek and well-designed as the Yamaha or Suzuki, although in terms of value for money it is on par with them.

Price: £ 579

Yamaha 2.5hp

It is the heaviest gasoline engine, weighing 17.0 kg and the largest. The upside of this is that everything about it seems bulkier, better and more logically designed, and more reliable.

It also has a more powerful 72cc single-cylinder engine compared to Honda's 57cc, so it should have more torque.



To cope with the extra weight, Yamaha has added a padded carry handle on the rear of the engine, but you still feel that extra 3.5kg, especially when you lift the engine onto the transom.

It is the quietest and smoothest of all gasoline engines, and also the fastest. With one man on board, it had enough power to lift the small F-RIB into the air and accelerate it to 9.5 knots.

Verdict: Heavy and expensive, but definitely one of the best in terms of build quality, engineering, performance and finesse.

Price: £ 760

Suzuki BF2.5

Despite being a water-cooled 68cc single-cylinder 4-stroke, it weighs less than the smaller air-cooled 57cc Honda (13.5kg versus 13.6kg) - and a whopping 3.5kg less than Yamaha. However, this weight saving comes into play in places. The transom clamps are the thinnest and least comfortable of the group and are nothing more than sliding metal pins that can easily snag on the sleeve or leg of your trousers.

The throttle grip is also thinner, with a separate cable in the sleeve rather than an integrated one. Like the Honda, it can only be stowed on one side to avoid oil leaking into the cylinder - in this case, the throttle side.



Like all gasoline engines, it has an offset throttle lever on the left side, but the raised release latch is hidden under the left side of the cowl making it difficult to find and use from a natural seated position.

The engine starts easily and naturally, with a handy indicator light to let you know that the cooling system is working. Idling is smooth and quiet, but on the move it is not as playful as the Yamaha, and could not get the F-RIB for planing with one person on board.

Verdict: If you crave a quieter, water-cooled engine, this is a good compromise.

Price: £ 685

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