big_yellow
New member
"I was hoping you guys could p
"I was hoping you guys could provide some feedback.
I work for a marine construction company that does barge based work on the ocean. We utilize heavy 16' long wooden skiffs in combination with steel pushboats to move our barges around on job sites.
Currently we are running two and three cylinder Mercury 40hp outboards (2 stroke, tiller handle, pull start, 20" shaft) on the wooden skiffs. The engines are run hard - going from not running to full throttle to shut off, running wide open against a barge, shifting from forward to reverse before the engine comes to a complete stop, running in sand, run with bad props with broken/worn blades, run and then set on the barge for weeks at a time without flushing, crushed between barges, run with bad fuel, etc. Essentially everything that shouldn't be done to an outboard and every type of condition they shouldn't be run in they are. We typically end up rebuilding the lower units multiple times over the life of the engine as that seems to be what fails first. The engine size/weight is pretty good although we have run up to a 60 hp before but the overall size of the engine did not make it as suitable as the 40hp or even 50 hp engines that we have run.
We are thinking about upgrading some of our outboards as they are reaching the end of their serviceable life. The question I have is what is your opinion of the most rugged engine available today?
The 40 hp Mercury's work great but since they don't offer a two stroke anymore we are thinking we might have to switch brands. We have discussed switching to four strokes but are not sure if they are suited for our needs. Ideally the engine would be pull or pull/electric combination start, not weigh too much more than the engines we run now as the weight is important, have real good get up and go as that's what we need most to get the barges moving and be rugged as snot.
Your opinions are appreciated."
"I was hoping you guys could provide some feedback.
I work for a marine construction company that does barge based work on the ocean. We utilize heavy 16' long wooden skiffs in combination with steel pushboats to move our barges around on job sites.
Currently we are running two and three cylinder Mercury 40hp outboards (2 stroke, tiller handle, pull start, 20" shaft) on the wooden skiffs. The engines are run hard - going from not running to full throttle to shut off, running wide open against a barge, shifting from forward to reverse before the engine comes to a complete stop, running in sand, run with bad props with broken/worn blades, run and then set on the barge for weeks at a time without flushing, crushed between barges, run with bad fuel, etc. Essentially everything that shouldn't be done to an outboard and every type of condition they shouldn't be run in they are. We typically end up rebuilding the lower units multiple times over the life of the engine as that seems to be what fails first. The engine size/weight is pretty good although we have run up to a 60 hp before but the overall size of the engine did not make it as suitable as the 40hp or even 50 hp engines that we have run.
We are thinking about upgrading some of our outboards as they are reaching the end of their serviceable life. The question I have is what is your opinion of the most rugged engine available today?
The 40 hp Mercury's work great but since they don't offer a two stroke anymore we are thinking we might have to switch brands. We have discussed switching to four strokes but are not sure if they are suited for our needs. Ideally the engine would be pull or pull/electric combination start, not weigh too much more than the engines we run now as the weight is important, have real good get up and go as that's what we need most to get the barges moving and be rugged as snot.
Your opinions are appreciated."