Used Honda 15HP Outboard Reliable?

daesal

Hi, I'm looking at changing my Mariner 8hp 2 Stroke Short shaft. Its a great reliable engine but i really need a LS . I came across a Honda 15HP LS. Its 1999 year so fairly old but has been serviced and they say little used but there's no way of telling that bit! I've never had a used a 4 stroke so I haven't a clue if this is the right way to go ,or should I wait and find a ling shaft 2 stroke mariner or similar?
There seems to be lots of different opinions on different forums , is there a bigger service cost? Are parts more expensive? How reliable is a Honda 15hp 4 stroke? Is a 4 stroke a lot quieter than the 2 stroke equivilant?
Thanks in advance

fergal.b

As with all engines you can never tell what ones are better sometimes it's just a case of better the devil you know going from a short shaft to a long shaft is a big jump are you sure it will work on your boat. A 4 stroke will be quieter but I find 2 strokes easier to repair yourself.

pedroeibar1

I thought 2-strokes were being phased out? The big question about any engine is its history - service/usage and if it was used in salt or fresh water. Personally I would not buy a second-hand hand as my main engine.

daesal

fergal.b wrote: »

As with all engines you can never tell what ones are better sometimes it's just a case of better the devil you know going from a short shaft to a long shaft is a big jump are you sure it will work on your boat. A 4 stroke will be quieter but I find 2 strokes easier to repair yourself.

Really handy illustration, thanks Fergal.
In this case I'm definite it's a long shaft I need. The short shaft doesn't reach the water under certain conditions! ...and it's what Orkney recommend. Its a real shame because the Short Shaft I have is a great engine

fergal.b

8 hp is a small enough engine maybe you could keep it in the bow as a backup engine and fit an aux bracket low enough so that it will work with your boat.







.

nokiatom

what make and size boat is it ?

nokiatom

What you should do is borrow an 8hp long shaft and see how it will perform. It could make a big difference.

pedroeibar1

fergal.b wrote: »

8 hp is a small enough engine maybe you could keep it in the bow as a backup engine and fit an aux bracket low enough so that it will work with your boat..

I'd be wary of that Fergal; fine on the canal/river but at sea when the boat is pitching a short-shaft on a bracket could easily get a dunking. I have a bracket mounted long-shaft 6HP on the back of my boat and when beating in heavy weather and using the engine as a help, the sea scarily often nearly reaches the head.

nokiatom

Is it an Orkney 16ft?

daesal

nokiatom wrote: »

Is it an Orkney 16ft?

Yes, Orkney Longliner. I just traded in the mariner 8 yesterday and have a new (old) Honda 15 waiting to go on. Fingers crossed it will all work out ok. I know the LS is what's needed and 15hp should be good for the boat too. Its more the reliability of 4stroke I'm not so sure about. , never having had one this is not based on fact or experience,im hoping someone else has had good experience of honda 4 stroke!
Fergal, good idea about having a spare auxiliary engine. I have a 3.5 tohatsu that I plan on using for this.

pedroeibar1

daesal wrote: »

I have a 3.5 tohatsu that I plan on using for this.

Fergal will probably correct me on this but I always understood that the two-stroke 2.5 Tohatsu, the Mercury and the Mariner were the same engine just made in different factories and badge engineered accordingly. Also the 2.5 is a de-tuned version of the 3.3HP.

fergal.b

pedroeibar1 wrote: »

Fergal will probably correct me on this but I always understood that the two-stroke 2.5 Tohatsu, the Mercury and the Mariner were the same engine just made in different factories and badge engineered accordingly. Also the 2.5 is a de-tuned version of the 3.3HP.

No you are right I believe between 92 and 98 Yamaha and tohatsu made all the small two stroke's for mercury

nokiatom

http://www.worldseafishing.com/forums/threads/orkney-longliner.1254424/

daesal

nokiatom wrote: »

http://www.worldseafishing.com/forums/threads/orkney-longliner.1254424/

Lots of good info there.
Just in case it helps anyone. The Mariner 8hp was good on the longliner,never had any complaints except the shaft was too short. They are a good solid boat.