By JohnJr on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I am looking to buy a new 5 HP outboard motor for my 8x8 Argo and was wondering what people's thought are on the 2 storke vs 4 stroke issue. I am going to be using this motor for trolling as well on my boat. I am leaning towards a 4 stroke because of this issue. The other important feature is it has to have a gas tank on top of the unit so that a gas tank does not take up space in my argo. The other issue is if the motor has to be a long shaft or can I get away with a short shaft?

By Wild Dog Machinery on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Hi John Jr.

I use a five horsepower Honda four stroke long shaft on my Response 8x8 and it works quite well.

I think any less power would be a problem - difficulty in pushing the less-than-efficient Argo hull through the water - and any more may cause cavitation, especially if you ever put the Argo on tracks when using the outboard, without going to a less aggressive propeller.

The long shaft is needed if you are using the stock Argo outboard motor bracket, so that the outboard is positioned into the water to the correct depth to get sufficient water to cool itself.

You may use a parallelogram-retracting type mount that will enable you to vary the immersion depth, handy if you are changing the load in the back of your Argo during the course of your activities (they are nose-heavy empty and sit progressively more level in water as the rear compartment is loaded, thus immersing the outboard as load increases and vice versa).

Most of the outboards that I know of only offer the integral fuel tank in small – less than three – horsepower. However, four strokes (of any size to 9.9HP max. for the Argo) offer another benefit that few people consider, and one that addresses an issue for you better than a stinky two stroke can.

If you put a Tee-piece in the Argo fuel line (downstream of the filter, if the filter location suits – varies on different models) you can run the outboard from the Argo fuel tank and do away with the irritating won't-fit-in-the-Argo-floor tray auxiliary fuel tank that most outboards come with, and which you will inevitably step on, curse or even fall over, depending on what you are doing at the time. I've run the Argo motor and the outboard at full throttle without problems using this configuration.

Choose for yourself if using the Tee-piecing of the existing fuel is for you. Route the fuel line safely, away from chafe points and heat sources, always carry appropriate fire and personal safety gear when boating in any sort of floating full-powered vessel, keep the load within the Argo water load limit – don’t forget the outboard I’ve mentioned here weighs in the order of ninety pounds - low and evenly distributed, work hard and be kind to your mother.

Regards
Jim Deering