Infuriatingly my outboard has been stolen from SEAL. It was a Mariner 2 stroke 4hp. 2strokes dont appear to be made any more and are replaced by 4stroke, heavier and more expensive. My question is, whether a 3.5hp 4stroke would be enough to push her against a spring tide. I have been told that 4strokes are more powerful than 2stroke. Also it would be a lot newer. Does anyone have any information please? Murlo Primrose

Murlo Primrose

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Hi Murlo,

To be honest if you are talking about Exmouth, I think a 3.5 would be a bit marginal. A sail drive prop would help, but not all that much I think. I use a Mercury 6hp four stroke on my Seal, but I know others use larger ones. My 6hp is fitted with a saildrive prop and it works much better driving a displacement hull than the standard prop.

I think you would be better looking for a 4 or 5 hp at least. There are quite a lot about second hand, if you look on Boats & Outboards, you might find something that will suit. Four strokes are not more powerful than two strokes, they just have more grunt at lower revs. They are a bit quieter mind, which is a blessing if you have to do a lot of motoring![:)]

Cheers Ray.

Seal 22 MK3 "Morveren" Number 384
(the last one built by John Baker)

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