Island Hopper Small Outboards

[ontariosailor]

Anyone out there with any experience with the outboards sold by Island Hopper? I think their website is smalloutboardengines.com. I'm looking for a little something to use on a small sailing dinghy. Any feedback is appreciated.

JM

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Island Hopper Small Outboards

they are a weedeater motor. noisey. get a 2 hp johnson/evinrude.

 

[ontariosailor]

Re: Island Hopper Small Outboards

Thanks for the feedback. Is there a long shaft version of that 2 hp Johnson?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Island Hopper Small Outboards

if not there is in the 4 hp. johnson.

 

[musttroll]

Re: Island Hopper Small Outboards

Hello

I own an island hopper for 3 years and it's the 4 cycle 2hp, I can attest to its surprising performance. I can tell you that it runs as quiet as my old cruise n carry.

Much respect to the guys in the earlier post, i don't want to make enemies on this forum, but I have to say my piece, I don't think they know what they're talking about nor read up on it, just like to talk smart, calling it a weed eater when it aint, noisy, expensive, yeh you see the lower unit and think you got it figured out, now you can trash it to make yourself sound important.

Now how many 4 cycle 58cc weed eaters have you seen or held in your hand? none, cause they don't make them, they're too heavy and too powerful to hold in your hands for hours. I know cause I own a lawn mower service and in business 35years.

I am defending this jewel of an outboard, because it's getting a bad rap by some who never owned one , nor read up on it, know nothing about it, and I like the sales people of Island hopper, cause they spent several hours over at least 6 phone calls that I made to them asking them the usual questions about their motor before I bought it, and even after I got it, I called them to make sure I was doing things right, not once were they impatient with me.

I am like everyone else looking I like to read fishing and boating forums for entertainment and information from trusting members and sure hate to read important information, to learn latter that it just bull###t and they're less knowledgeable than the person asking the question and too me that is recless and they blemish this forum period.

Enough ranting, now about this motor, I made a sound check and it puts out 89db two feet from the muffler and 83 db at nine feet
I get about hour and 20 minutes of running on one tank full which is about 34oz at trolling speed.
My GPS tells me at full throttle I am at 5mph and 2mph at mid speed that's the orange locking button trolling.
I use 71/2 oz of synthetic oil in the crank case, cause if I put more, she'll spit out the difference from the breather hose.
I change the oil every 20 hours of running time.
Weight 20lbs 2oz on my bathroom electronic scale.
when I lay her down in my truck, I make sure she lays on gas tank side.
I own a 14ft town and country canoe and when loaded it weighs around 450lbs.
I use premium gas and when not using it over the winter I add about 2 spoon full of stabil to prevent carburetor problems.
I go fishing in lakes mostly,and when on vacation, I head south TX area and I use it in salt water, now the propeller will lock up if I left it to dry without hosing it, so I carry a can of wd40 and spray around and behind the propeller if I can't hose it off, and that's a tiny price to pay to keep it running good.
Please feel free to contact me about that motor and I'll be happy to help you out with your questions.

 

[mullett]

Re: Island Hopper Small Outboards

I bought one and it does work ok. It is a functional 20 lb - 2 HP, air cooled 4 stroke motor.

 

[nestone]

Re: Island Hopper Small Outboards

I'd avoid these outboards like the plague! At least the 2 cycle ones. They are very fragile and noisy. They might be OK for powering a canoe on an infrequent basis. However, to be used regularly such as to power an inflatable, they are not worth the money. Find yourself a used Nissan or something similar. My personal experience has been a nightmare. The original power head failed after about 5 hours. It was covered by warranty. I used the replacement for less than 5 hours and it failed again. Now the dealer is alleging I ran it without proper lubrication. I've owned and operated 2 cycle engines for over 30 years. I know how to mix gas & oil and used the recommended lube oil.
I made a $400 mistake. I hope I can help you avoid my mistake in buy the piece of junk!

 

[Samthetech]

Re: Island Hopper Small Outboards

Island Hopper sells a quality brand motor and is committed to serving its loyal customers even after the warranty has long expired

I am a service tech for Island Hopper, responsible for servicing and helping customers with any technical questions or issues.

Nestone bought his motor in early 2007 and burnt his original motor within the first 5 hours or so of use. Nestone did not add enough oil to the gas mixture. Since the motor was under warranty, we gave him the benefit of a doubt and replaced it free of charge.

Two years later, he once again burnt the replacement motor.

I requested Nestone to send us the motor for inspection to rule out manufacture?s defect. Along with his motor, he sent us a repair estimate invoice from his local repair shop. The invoice stated that the engine had low compression and was beyond repair.

I contacted the repair shop listed on the invoice, gave them the name and invoice number of that engine/repair slip and requested a call back.

The owner pulled his mechanics invoice and as per his findings, he stated ?the engine did not have adequate lubrication or synthetic oil was used, which was not designed to be used on this motor.?

I took the motor apart and went over it carefully, discovered that the motor had little to almost no oil residue at the exhaust port, nor any carbon soot or any sludge, which should have been found in a two cycle motor that had been run for an hour or more.

The piston and cylinder were bone dry and scored, discolored (black/blue ) with longitudinal lines scored on the piston and cylinder wall, A compression test revealed the motor had 65psi, which is extremely low compression.

In my experience synthetic 2 cycle oil or a synthetic mix was used, due to the inside of the cylinder wall being polished like a mirror finish and that is consistent with synthetic oil usage. The owner's manual warns against using synthetic oil or synthetic blends.

Island Hopper?s product is reliable. It is neither fragile nor loud. It is a putt-putt and designed to deliver years of service when used and maintained properly.

We graciously replaced his first motor even though he burnt it. Based on our findings, the replacement motor was not a manufacturer?s defect and no longer under warranty.

Nestone?s claims are false and without merit.
www.smalloutboardengines.com
Sam Daniels
Service Tech

 

[outacontrol41]

Re: Island Hopper Small Outboards

I like the looks of this line of motors and am researching them to possibly own one in the near future. I wonder how they compare to a Honda 2 hp 4 stroke which weighs in at 27 pounds? Honda claims to have the world's lightest 4 stroke...a false claim?