Top 10 Tips for Choosing a PVC Boat Motor

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Mercury

Sailor

SeaPro

HDX

Honda

Yamaha

marlin

Mikatsu

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The power of the outboard motor is the main parameter that you pay attention to in the first place. It is measured in horsepower or kilowatts. There is no difference here, but the forces look the most familiar, so we will analyze them. An approximate calculation scheme tells us that five forces must be laid on each passenger of the boat. This is partly true, but it should be understood that even if your boat is single and you plan to move against the current of a large river, such an engine is unlikely to cope. In addition, there is always additional luggage on the boat, which also needs to be taken into account.

If you do not want to run into any problems, take an 8-9.9 hp motor for a single-seat design. Engines with a parameter higher than 10, as a rule, cost much more. In other words, you should always stock up. Approximately 3-4 forces per person.

Load capacity is a parameter partly related to power, but there are a number of differences. It shows at what load the engine will be able to bring the boat to the glider. A glider is a state in which the front of the boat is lifted off the water, reducing drag and increasing speed while reducing fuel consumption.

The calculation scheme is approximately the same as that of power. For every 100 kilograms of weight laid on 5 forces. But in reality this is not enough.For a boat to plan, you need a minimum 8 forces with a single-seat design and no luggage. We take this value as a basis and look at the carrying capacity parameter of our PVC boat. It can be double, but at the same time with a carrying capacity of 400 kilograms. It turns out that we do not calculate from the number of passengers, namely from the maximum weightwhich the structure can carry.

There are several options for how the motor moves the boat: screw and jet. The screw design is more familiar and affordable. At the end of the deadwood there is a screw, the rotation of which sets the boat in motion. The option is excellent, but you should always remember about the depth. To run into bottom obstacles means to damage the propeller, after which you will have to row manually further.

The jet engine does not have a propeller. He moves the boat due to the ejection of the sucked water. It doesn't matter how deep you go. You can only run aground with the very bottom or the bottom of the engine, but due to the lack of movable modules, you will not cause significant damage to them. For fishing, this is just a great option, but expensive and difficult to maintain. By the way, the propeller can be replaced right on the water. It will take no more than five minutes.

The most familiar outboard motor works on gasoline. Previously, there was no alternative to it at all, but modern technologies make it possible to create high-capacity batteries with relatively small dimensions. electric motor quieter, cheaper to maintain and does not create harmful emissions. Ideal for fishing when you don't want to scare away all the fish within a kilometer radius. But here it should be understood that even the most economical electric motor requires a charge. The autonomy of such systems is small. As a rule, only a few hours of work, no more.

In addition, the electric engine will not take you to the glider and will not be able to please you with high power. This is rather an option for a single PVC boat with a minimum load. Gasoline models have much more variety and opportunities, so they are more preferable, despite all their shortcomings (loudness, heavy weight and high cost of maintenance).

Gasoline engines are 2- and 4-stroke. We will not go into the principles of their work, we will only say that in order to refuel a 2-stroke engine, you will have to add oil to the fuel yourself. In 4-stroke models, it is poured separately into a special container.

But there are also purely technical nuances. For example, a 2-stroke is easier to maintain. Even if you accidentally drowned the outboard motor, just drain the water from it and it will start again. With a 4-stroke, such a trick will not work. In addition, a 2-stroke is cheaper, which is its main advantage, but the number of hours will be lower, and this must also be taken into account. 4-stroke engines weigh more, cost more, but due to a more advanced fuel system, they consume less gasoline, make less noise, and their toxicity is lower than that of two-stroke counterparts. It is impossible to say which option is better or worse. Everyone has their own preferences and financial possibilities.But we note that almost any manufacturer offers both 2- and 4-stroke models.

The boat motor can be controlled from tiller or rudder. In terms of convenience and practicality, the steering wheel looks more attractive, but by default it is rarely installed on PVC boats, unless we consider the most expensive options from top manufacturers.

If you have a large PVC boat for 6-8 people, you can always buy a steering console for it. Accordingly, the engine should provide for such control. Note that most popular models allow you to work with both the steering wheel and the tiller, but not all, which means that this point should always be kept in mind. For small one- or two-man boats, steering is not practical. They are much easier to control from the stern through the tiller, which all motors have.

Deadwood is the "leg" at the end of which is the propeller. Its size must be taken into account in order not to choose a design in which your propeller will be above the water.As a rule, the size of the deadwood is indicated in the boat configurations. If this is not the case, you just need to measure the distance between the top of the transom and the bottom of the boat, after which add 30 centimeters. Most often, the size of the deadwood is not indicated on boats without their own transom, in other cases it can simply be found in the documents.

Unfortunately, modern technologies, despite their advancement, do not allow creating a powerful motor, for example, 40 forces, and at the same time it weighs some 5 kilograms. The stronger the engine, the larger its size and weight. It should be understood: if you have a unit weighing under 50 kilograms, you are unlikely to install it alone. It is necessary not only to move the motor to the boat, but also to fix it in a certain position. You can't do it without outside help. Therefore, if you are used to fishing in splendid isolation, take a motor whose weight does not exceed 20 kilograms - then you will be able to install it yourself. There is no specific connection with power here. Different manufacturers offer different options. Engines with the same force can weigh differently.

The outboard motor, like any other, can be started both manually and electronically. Of course, the easiest way is to press a button and start the engine, but this also has its drawbacks. Electronics extremely sensitive to damage. She is very afraid of water. And it will definitely not work to fix it in the "field" conditions.

Manual start more practical. In outboard motors, it looks like a rope wound around a rotor. You just need to pull it to make the engine work. In old or low-quality models, you will have to pull for a long time and hard.Reliable manufacturers do not have this problem. A well-tuned engine starts in half a turn, so there is no need for electronics. In addition, you will have to pay for just one start button, and often a lot. Therefore, which option to choose is up to you. From a technical point of view, there is no difference. Just personal convenience.

The Japanese are the market leaders in outboard motors. Yamaha and Honda, as well as an American manufacturer Mercury, whose name has long become a household name in certain circles. All of them boast high quality, reliability and excellent performance. But the price will also be very high. And partly you pay for the brand.

If the issue of saving is in the first place, you can always pick up a decent Chinese counterpart. Firms perform well Sail and Troll, as well as the most budget option - Sailor. Not without flaws, but quite having the right to exist. In addition, it should be understood that even the most famous firms in most cases produce their goods in China. For example, today it is almost impossible to find a non-Chinese Mercury. At least outside the US.