by Guest » Sat Apr 28, 2001 6:15 pm
I have used 3 different outboards on SUNBIRD, I started out with a short-shaft Johnson 2.3hp and found it worked ok, not perfect..but ok. The basic problem was that there were only 2 choices of propeller for that motor, and neither really allowed the motor to operate at it's designed rpm. I have since replaced the 2.3 with a long-shaft Johnson 4hp. This motor has the additional feature of a neutral clutch, a VERY worthwile feature. It also can run on either it's built-in fuel tank (1.9 qt) or a remote tank. A long-shaft is not mandatory on the DS I or II, but it does help. I have always mounted my outboard directly to the transom, an accessary bracket is not needed, although using one will make a short-shaft more viable.
The third motor I have used was a one time borrowing of my Dad's 1984 2hp Johnson, surprisingly..this motor actually seemed more powerfull than the 2.3hp, I suspect this is due to a better match of propeller size. The 2hp was designed to push a typical overloaded dinghy, and so is propped to do so.
Rod Johnson (rjohnson24-at-juno.com)