Hoosiercamper
Cadet
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2017
- Messages
- 23
So, I purchased a cherry condition 15HP 2 stroke Mercury short shaft with a 6 gallon tank for my Mercury 340 Air Deck and while I kinda dig it I gotta say it might be more than I need. It can be a bit scary if you let er rip. And I have found that learned that this thing can drink the fuel and I prefer the 3 gallon tank size over the 6 gallon due to space being at a premium.
The wife is tiny so I keep her up front on the cooler to get me on plane, but she does not let me open the throttle up on a lake (it's always choppy) and going slow in an idle zone is still noisy and we seem to do that a lot. Would a smaller 4 stroke be quieter? Also, I doubt we ever use it on a flowing river. So I am thinking it's overkill for my needs.
We do like to spend time in Florida and we like to Christmas in Fort Myers and park our camper right at a boat dock. We have rented boats there in the past and figure the 340 SIB is bigger than a lot of dinghy's we see being used by the full timers on the sail boats and after bangin around on a flat bottom skiff last year this boat will do fine to go to the bars and get dinner, the dog beach (Boston Terriers love the water) and a few other beaches, I plan on doing some fishing out just a little ways and also in the back bays etc..
The boat is rated for a 20HP and this 15 weighs in at somewhere in the mid 70# arena, I found a smaller 6hp Tohatsu 4 stroke that weighs 55lbs and also has an internal .29 gallon tank for short trips with the option to use an external tank, (I don't know if I can swap back n forth with the gas tanks however?) and I would think that my 3 gallon external with the little 6hp 4 stroke would last as long as my 6 external gallon on my 15hp 2 stroke and save me some space and weight? Thoughts on the fuel consumption? Do you think I can get the boat on plane with the 6hp 4 stroke with about 350 lbs in the boat? And what are your experiences with the brand?
Thanks folks.
Alex
The wife is tiny so I keep her up front on the cooler to get me on plane, but she does not let me open the throttle up on a lake (it's always choppy) and going slow in an idle zone is still noisy and we seem to do that a lot. Would a smaller 4 stroke be quieter? Also, I doubt we ever use it on a flowing river. So I am thinking it's overkill for my needs.
We do like to spend time in Florida and we like to Christmas in Fort Myers and park our camper right at a boat dock. We have rented boats there in the past and figure the 340 SIB is bigger than a lot of dinghy's we see being used by the full timers on the sail boats and after bangin around on a flat bottom skiff last year this boat will do fine to go to the bars and get dinner, the dog beach (Boston Terriers love the water) and a few other beaches, I plan on doing some fishing out just a little ways and also in the back bays etc..
The boat is rated for a 20HP and this 15 weighs in at somewhere in the mid 70# arena, I found a smaller 6hp Tohatsu 4 stroke that weighs 55lbs and also has an internal .29 gallon tank for short trips with the option to use an external tank, (I don't know if I can swap back n forth with the gas tanks however?) and I would think that my 3 gallon external with the little 6hp 4 stroke would last as long as my 6 external gallon on my 15hp 2 stroke and save me some space and weight? Thoughts on the fuel consumption? Do you think I can get the boat on plane with the 6hp 4 stroke with about 350 lbs in the boat? And what are your experiences with the brand?
Thanks folks.
Alex