Ultimate 2.5hp Outboard test

If you're looking for a small outboard for your tender that is light enough to carry, store and take on and off your dinghy transom, you need to be looking at the 2.5hp mark. At around 17kg these outboards are as portable as four-strokes come. The next step up - 4hp - adds another 10kg, which is too heavy to be considered truly portable. So which brand should you go for? On the surface there is very little between them. They all have similar features, weigh about the same and some even look suspiciously similar too. There is, however, a decent array of prices so this is probably how you will make your choice. But, while the cheapest will always be attractive, will it be a false economy? We put four 2.5hp outboards from the leading established manufacturers up against two relative newcomers and one that doesn't use petrol at all. Yamaha 2.5hp outboard - from £662 Features: The Yamaha is the most expensive of the petrol outboards on test but it's packed with clever, innovative features. We really like the tell-tale deflector that stops the boat filling with water when the engine is spun around for reverse and the mechanism that stops the engine potentially flopping onto the wrong side when tilted. It also has useful access panels in the cowling for the spark plug and sump drain, and you even get free RNLI Offshore membership thrown in. Performance: It was the quietest petrol outboard on test but its bollard pull was among the lowest. It reached a similar top speed to the others in the equivalent time, it felt balanced when being carried, although a chunkier handle would improve comfort. While it's not the lightest unit and it's the most expensive, it is the best all-round performer. Suzuki 2.5hp outboard - from £583 Features: At 13kg, the Suzuki is the winner in the weight stakes, and it's also a good price for a mainstream brand. We don't like the way that the top cowling stays attached by the start cord when checking under the hood, although we have to admit it does offer protection against losing it in the water. The Suzuki has a chunky and comfortable handle, making it the easiest to carry by a distance. We also like the external sump oil indicator that makes checking the oil so simple. Performance: When underway, the engine suffered from some vibration, was rather noisy and took a while to reach a decent top speed, despite having a very good bollard pull. In fact, so much longer, we had to run the test numerous times just to be sure. But the low weight, brand and good price are hard to beat, so the Suzuki gets our best buy. Honda 2.5hp outboard - from £619 Features: The Honda is the only air-cooled engine on test and the only unit without a forward and neutral gear, instead relying on a centrifugal clutch to engage the propeller when the revs start to climb. In theory this system could work well, but unfortunately our test engine had a tendency to stall when the revs dropped low enough to disengage the clutch. The Honda has a useful external oil level indicator and a comfortable carrying handle. Performance: Although the Honda has a slightly smaller output than the others on test, you wouldn't know it looking at the figures - it had a respectable bollard pull, top speed and acceleration. While noise levels were similar to other engines, the air-cooled engine produced a lawnmower sound. We found the cowling rather fiddly to replace after removal due to the requirement to locate the fixing lugs through slots in the lower cowling and, like the Suzuki, it was retained by the starter cord when removed. Mariner 2.5hp outboard - from £581 Features: On paper this engine is no heavier than the Yamaha but on the day it definitely felt the heaviest and we can only put that down to a slightly larger fuel tank and an extra half a kilo of petrol. Physically, it's quite a large motor but it's worth noting that you can have the same size engine in weight in a 3.5hp guise, which is useful if 2.5hp just won't cut it. This 2.5hp engine is also available in Mercury or Tohatsu livery should you prefer. Performance: We particularly liked this engine's chunky gear shift, tiller, throttle and cowl latches, and the way the engine idled smoothly. Its extra capacity provided good thrust, top speed and acceleration without any appreciable increase in noise levels. One downside was the recessed fuel filler that we had trouble getting a grip on after it had been tightened. Hidea 2.5hp Outboard - from £450 Features: It is no coincidence that the Hidea looks like the Yamaha and has very similar stats and results - it is a Yamaha copy produced in China. To be fair, Hidea has done a reasonable job and has even included the Yamaha's clever features, such as the tell-tale divert in reverse, the tilt lock to stop the engine flopping and the access panels in the cowling for the plug and sump drain. Performance: Unfortunately the attractive price does come with some pitfalls. The engine doesn't have the quality feel of the Yamaha, the cowling fits very poorly, and the test result figures just don't reach the same levels either. Although the noise levels were not the highest on test we all agreed the engine sounded terrible, being likened by one of the team as sounding like "a bag of spanners". Vector 2.5hp outboard - from £469 Features: The Vector 2.5hp is practically the same engine as the Hidea and is therefore another Yamaha copy. It even has a symbol that cheekily nods it head at Yamaha's tuning fork logo. Features wise, it is practically identical to the Hidea and most of the test figures we managed to achieve were also identical. Performance: Unfortunately we were unable to obtain a complete set of test results for this outboard as it kept stalling, refused to restart or wouldn't remain running. What we can say though is that it also shared the sound qualities of the Hidea. Bear in mind it's the same engine, so there is no reason that we can see for the slightly higher price, one that pushes the Vector very close to Suzuki money, especially because we found the Suzuki online for £499. Torqeedo T1003 electric outboard - from £1449 Features: As a left-field alternative, we also looked at the T1003 electric outboard from Torqeedo. It is significantly more expensive than any of the petrol outboards on test but if you want lightweight, near-silent running and no fuel storage issues, then this is the way to go. This motor comes with a built-in 18Ah battery which should give a range of up to 20 miles, and a 480W motor that is said to be the equivalent to a 3hp outboard. The tiller has a useful built-in display that includes a GPS to provide speed, battery capacity, range to empty and power used. This is the only motor to feature reverse gear selected by twisting the throttle in the opposite direction, but you need to remember to engage the reverse lock first. Performance: We were pleasantly surprised by how the Torqeedo performed. Underway it had lots of torque but it took a little while to get going, hence the average acceleration figures, and being electric it is infinitely controllable to just a few RPMs. It is awkward to carry because it's so long. On the plus side, the battery disconnects, so you can spread the load among two hands. The only real downside is its lengthy 15-hour recharge time. Conclusion: In reality, the prices are much closer together than indicated, as they can all be found online for much less. So when considering your next purchase it pays to do a little research first. Most of the engines have something going for them. The Mariner seemed the smoothest, the Yamaha the best specd, the Suzuki the lightest and the Honda has its air-cooled technology. Theres no doubt the Hidea and the Vector are cheap, but we still feel the quality of these engines is letting them down. The biggest surprise was the Torqeedo, which we absolutely loved for its ease of use, portability and very quiet running, but its high price means it is unlikely to appeal to the masses. However, its 20-mile range proves that electric outboards can be a viable alternative. So which petrol outboard is going to take the honours? We were really torn between the Yamaha and the Suzuki. Although the Yamaha is the best engine, in this market price and weight are king, so the Best Buy award has to go to the Suzuki DF2.5hp. Ultimate 5hp Outboard test 2.5hp outboard review If you're looking for a small outboard for your tender that is light enough to carry, store and take on and off your dinghy transom, you need to be looking at the 2.5hp mark. At around 17kg these outboards are as portable as four-strokes come. The next step up - 4hp - adds another 10kg, which is too heavy to be considered truly portable. So which brand should you go for? On the surface there is very little between them. They all have similar features, weigh about the same and some even look suspiciously similar too. There is, however, a decent array of prices so this is probably how you will make your choice. But, while the cheapest will always be attractive, will it be a false economy? We put four 2.5hp outboards from the leading established manufacturers up against two relative newcomers and one that doesn't use petrol at all. Read the full review in the January 2013 issue of MBM. See our 5hp outboard review here Ultimate 5hp Outboard test Yamaha £662 Contact: Yamaha Motor (UK) Tel: 01932 358000 Web: www.yamaha-motor.co.uk Features The Yamaha is the most expensive of the petrol outboards on test but it's packed with clever, innovative features. We really like the tell-tale deflector that stops the boat filling with water when the engine is spun around for reverse and the mechanism that stops the engine potentially flopping onto the wrong side when tilted. It also has useful access panels in the cowling for the spark plug and sump drain, and you even get free RNLI Offshore membership thrown in. Ultimate 5hp Outboard test Yamaha performance It was the quietest petrol outboard on test but its bollard pull was among the lowest. It reached a similar top speed to the others in the equivalent time, it felt balanced when being carried, although a chunkier handle would improve comfort. While it's not the lightest unit and it's the most expensive, it is the best all round performer. Ultimate 5hp Outboard test Suzuki £583 Contact: Suzuki GB PLC Tel: 01243 378203 Web: www.suzuki-marine.co.uk Features At 13kg, the Suzuki is the winner in the weight stakes, and it's also a good price for a mainstream brand. We don't like the way that the top cowling stays attached by the start cord when checking under the hood, although we have to admit it does offer protection against losing it in the water. The Suzuki has a chunky and comfortable handle, making it the easiest to carry by a distance. We also like the external sump oil indicator that makes checking the oil so simple. Ultimate 5hp Outboard test Suzuki performance When underway, the engine suffered from some vibration, was rather noisy and took a while to reach a decent top speed, despite having a very good bollard pull. In fact, so much longer, we had to run the test numerous times just to be sure. But the low weight, brand and good price are hard to beat, so the Suzuki gets our best buy. Ultimate 5hp Outboard test Honda £619 Contact: Honda UK Tel: 0845 200 8000 Web: www.honda.co.uk/marine Features The Honda is the only air-cooled engine on test and the only unit without a forward and neutral gear, instead relying on a centrifugal clutch to engage the propeller when the revs start to climb. In theory this system could work well, but unfortunately our test engine had a tendency to stall when the revs dropped low enough to disengage the clutch. The Honda has a useful external oil level indicator and a comfortable carrying handle. Ultimate 5hp Outboard test Honda performance Although the Honda has a slightly smaller output than the others on test, you wouldn't know it looking at the figures - it had a respectable bollard pull, top speed and acceleration. While noise levels were similar to other engines, the air-cooled engine produced a lawnmower sound. We found the cowling rather fiddly to replace after removal due to the requirement to locate the fixing lugs through slots in the lower cowling and, like the Suzuki, it was retained by the starter cord when removed. Ultimate 5hp Outboard test Mariner £581 Contact: E P Barrus Tel: 01869 363636 Web: www.marineroutboards.co.uk Features On paper this engine is no heavier than the Yamaha but on the day it definitely felt the heaviest and we can only put that down to a slightly larger fuel tank and an extra half a kilo of petrol. Physically, it's quite a large motor but it's worth noting that you can have the same size engine in weight in a 3.5hp guise, which is useful if 2.5hp just won't cut it. This 2.5hp engine is also available in Mercury or Tohatsu livery should you prefer. Ultimate 5hp Outboard test Mariner performance We particularly liked this engine's chunky gear shift, tiller, throttle and cowl latches, and the way the engine idled smoothly. Its extra capacity provided good thrust, top speed and acceleration without any appreciable increase in noise levels. One downside was the recessed fuel filler that we had trouble getting a grip on after it had been tightened. Ultimate 5hp Outboard test Hidea £450 Contact: Velocity Marine Tel: 0845 5194685 Web: www.velocitymarine.co.uk Features It is no coincidence that the Hidea looks like the Yamaha and has very similar stats and results - it is a Yamaha copy produced in China. To be fair, Hidea has done a reasonable job and has even included the Yamaha's clever features, such as the tell-tale divert in reverse, the tilt lock to stop the engine flopping and the access panels in the cowling for the plug and sump drain. Ultimate 5hp Outboard test Hidea performance Unfortunately the attractive price does come with some pitfalls. The engine doesn't have the quality feel of the Yamaha, the cowling fits very poorly, and the test result figures just don't reach the same levels either. Although the noise levels were not the highest on test we all agreed the engine sounded terrible, being likened by one of the team as sounding like "a bag of spanners". Ultimate 5hp Outboard test Vector £469 Contact: Vector outboards Tel: 0121 323 2333 Web: www.vector-outboards.co.uk Features The Vector 2.5hp is practically the same engine as the Hidea and is therefore another Yamaha copy. It even has a symbol that cheekily nods it head at Yamaha's tuning fork logo. Features wise, it is practically identical to the Hidea and most of the test figures we managed to achieve were also identical. Ultimate 5hp Outboard test Vector performance Unfortunately we were unable to obtain a complete set of test results for this outboard as it kept stalling, refused to restart or wouldn't remain running. What we can say though is that it also shared the sound qualities of the Hidea. Bear in mind it's the same engine, so there is no reason that we can see for the slightly higher price, one that pushes the Vector very close to Suzuki money, especially because we found the Suzuki online for £499. Ultimate 5hp Outboard test Torqeedo £1449 Contact: Torqeedo Tel: 01502 516224 Web : www.torqeedo.com/uk Features As a left-field alternative, we also looked at the T1003 electric outboard from Torqeedo. It is significantly more expensive than any of the petrol outboards on test but if you want lightweight, near-silent running and no fuel storage issues, then this is the way to go. This motor comes with a built-in 18Ah battery which should give a range of up to 20 miles, and a 480W motor that is said to be the equivalent to a 3hp outboard. The tiller has a useful built-in display that includes a GPS to provide speed, battery capacity, range to empty and power used. This is the only motor to feature reverse gear selected by twisting the throttle in the opposite direction, but you need to remember to engage the reverse lock first. Ultimate 5hp Outboard test Torqeedo performance We were pleasantly surprised by how the Torqeedo performed. Underway it had lots of torque but it took a little while to get going, hence the average acceleration figures, and being electric it is infinitely controllable to just a few RPMs. It is awkward to carry because it's so long. On the plus side, the battery disconnects, so you can spread the load among two hands. The only real downside is its lengthy 15-hour recharge time. Ultimate 5hp Outboard test Conclusion In reality, the prices are much closer together than indicated, as they can all be found online for much less. So when considering your next purchase it pays to do a little research first. Most of the engines have something going for them. The Mariner seemed the smoothest, the Yamaha the best specd, the Suzuki the lightest and the Honda has its air-cooled technology. Theres no doubt the Hidea and the Vector are cheap, but we still feel the quality of these engines is letting them down. The biggest surprise was the Torqeedo, which we absolutely loved for its ease of use, portability and very quiet running, but its high price means it is unlikely to appeal to the masses. However, its 20-mile range proves that electric outboards can be a viable alternative. So which petrol outboard is going to take the honours? We were really torn between the Yamaha and the Suzuki. Although the Yamaha is the best engine, in this market price and weight are king, so the Best Buy award has to go to the Suzuki DF2.5. Read the full review in the January 2013 issue of MBM

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