I am starting this thread because I actually own the engine
The boat that I am using it with is a Zodiac Cadet Fastroller 325 (approx 11ft long)
The boat is rated for a 5-10HP engine
They match together perfectly
This boat is NOT on a trailer
Everything is broken down and carried in a car or a truck
The primary use of my boat is to fish in the creeks and rivers of the Chesapeake bay
The reason for the purchase of the engine is because the regular 87 octane pump gas in the mid-Atlantic area has 10% or more ethanol in it and the formular that they are using clogs small engines if not used all the time.
The Propane engine has so far been trouble free
I got 5hp over 9hp for a couple of reasons
1. The 5 hp can run on any size tank or a 1lb bottle.
The 9hp can only use the tanks.
2. The 5 hp is very light. It's about 10lbs lighter than a gas engine
3. Propane is a lot cheaper than gas
Did I mention that there is no gas smell and that my 20lb propane tank(4 1/2 gallons)
is much lighter than my 6 1/2 gallon gas tank.
It also takes up less room
What I have discovered so far is that
If running a 1lb bottle at full throttle it is good for about 30-45 minutes (depending on the conditions)
At half throttle it is good for about 120-150 minutes (2hrs- 2 1/2 hrs)(depending on conditions)
If running a 5lb tank at full throttle that would translate to 150-225 minutes (depending on the conditions)
At half throttle that would translate to 10hrs-12hrs (depending on conditions)
I have discovered that for the 5HP motor and my boat that a 20lb (4.5 gallon) tank is over kill
Yesterday I went looking for a 10lb/2 1/2 gallon composite tank
Based on my typical usage carrying 10 pounds (2 1/2 gallons) of propane and a 1lb bottle for an emergency should get me through anything
I also saw some people who were only using bottles and they told me that they were re-filling there bottles
I need to investigate that some more.
Time to go play with the boat
btw
Another side benefit of going propane is that you use your boat more due to the convenience factor :joyous:
The boat that I am using it with is a Zodiac Cadet Fastroller 325 (approx 11ft long)
The boat is rated for a 5-10HP engine
They match together perfectly
This boat is NOT on a trailer
Everything is broken down and carried in a car or a truck
The primary use of my boat is to fish in the creeks and rivers of the Chesapeake bay
The reason for the purchase of the engine is because the regular 87 octane pump gas in the mid-Atlantic area has 10% or more ethanol in it and the formular that they are using clogs small engines if not used all the time.
The Propane engine has so far been trouble free
I got 5hp over 9hp for a couple of reasons
1. The 5 hp can run on any size tank or a 1lb bottle.
The 9hp can only use the tanks.
2. The 5 hp is very light. It's about 10lbs lighter than a gas engine
3. Propane is a lot cheaper than gas
Did I mention that there is no gas smell and that my 20lb propane tank(4 1/2 gallons)
is much lighter than my 6 1/2 gallon gas tank.
It also takes up less room
What I have discovered so far is that
If running a 1lb bottle at full throttle it is good for about 30-45 minutes (depending on the conditions)
At half throttle it is good for about 120-150 minutes (2hrs- 2 1/2 hrs)(depending on conditions)
If running a 5lb tank at full throttle that would translate to 150-225 minutes (depending on the conditions)
At half throttle that would translate to 10hrs-12hrs (depending on conditions)
I have discovered that for the 5HP motor and my boat that a 20lb (4.5 gallon) tank is over kill
Yesterday I went looking for a 10lb/2 1/2 gallon composite tank
Based on my typical usage carrying 10 pounds (2 1/2 gallons) of propane and a 1lb bottle for an emergency should get me through anything
I also saw some people who were only using bottles and they told me that they were re-filling there bottles
I need to investigate that some more.
Time to go play with the boat
btw
Another side benefit of going propane is that you use your boat more due to the convenience factor :joyous:
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