Re: 4 stroke 2-3hp outboards
Honestly, unless you've got local environmental restrictions that necessitate it, I would stay away from the really small 4 stroke motors. They are normally much heavier than the equivalent 2 stroke, and of course being new more expensive. Furthermore, a single-cylinder 4 stroke will probably have a lot more vibration than a 2 (since there is a power stroke only every other time the piston travels up the cylinder). We just got a '56 Evinrude Lightwin working again. We got this little motor for the price of a 12-pack of really cheap beer, plus about $50 in parts to replace the ignition system. It is not only a 2 stroke, but twin cylinder, and is probably smoother than my almost brand new, 20hp 4stroke Tohatsu on the other boat. It weighs the same as that 2hp air-cooled Honda, but is water cooled.
Even from an environmental POV, it's hard to justify the 4stroke since that size of motor burns so little gas anyway - what's 0.4 gallons/hour vs 0.3!
-dm
