Which should I buy 1974 15 Evinrude Lighttwin or 1999 5hp Mercury

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Author Topic:   Which should I buy 1974 15 Evinrude Lighttwin or 1999 5hp Mercury

Timt posted 10-28-2009 05:38 AM ET (US)
A non-whaler question about my other boat, a 25 year old 12'6" Avon Inflatable that I use with my kids (or plan to). Boat is in super shape and I can buy the 15 HP motor for 450 or the 5HP for 350. Both original owner motors well cared for. I have never run the boat (weighs a total of 130 pounds) with either motor but I'm trying to decide which to purchase. 90% of use will be on waterways with a no wake regulations. Specific questions. Would the 5HP push the boat well with good pep? Will the newer 5HP be significantly quieter (both are two strokes)?
Any input opinion appreciated.
By the way, my other boat is a 1979 17' Newport.
Cheers
Tim
adlert posted 10-28-2009 08:25 AM ET (US)
Hello Tim, I think that your decision should be based somewhat on the ages, experience level, and sizes of your kids. If relatively young, inexperienced and small (currently) I think I would go with the 5 for safety reasons. 5 HP usually approximates a breaking point engine size for just being able to reach a sloppy plane on a small, light craft when at wide open throttle. This may be all your kids need or should have for lots of fun. 15 hp will definitely scoot with that light boat and presumed light payload. Sharp turns with the 15 at higher speeds could toss an unprepared child out. Also, the 5 hp will be easier to pull (start) though depending on the model, some 15's are extremely easy to pull too.
Difficult to say which engine will be quieter without knowing the specific brands and model years. Safe to say they'll both be louder than a good strong electric trolling motor which can also be a hoot for kids and have some real advantages.
Tim
Tohsgib posted 10-28-2009 10:06 AM ET (US)
Having owned a 11' Achilles, I am not sure if a 5 would plane it but probably would with 1 or 2 kids. Mine had a 1978 15hp Evinrude and that thing was downright scary. There is a reason they have those pontoons on the stern...keeps it from flipping over backwards...about every 100 yards or so.
No Respect posted 10-28-2009 12:02 PM ET (US)
Tim,
I had a 10'6" Zodiac with wood floor and inflatable keel.
First powered by a 5hp. I could just get on plane with 2 people and a light load. Later hung a Merc 15 on it and it was very quik to plane and more power that I ever needed.
With a 12 footer I would go with the bigger motor for sure.
The 5 will not plane that boat.
Matt
Buckda posted 10-28-2009 12:16 PM ET (US)
I agree with Matt -
I have an 8' West Marine (by Zodiac) inflatable with the wood floor and inflated keel. Running my 1974 Johnson 6 HP motor, it will plane with one person aboard, but no dice with two. I'm about 185 lbs, and had to shift my weight forward to make it get out of the hole.
For whatever reason, these little inflatable boats really "stick" to the water.
Once on plane, it zipped around pretty well.
The only thing is that you mentioned much of your time in no-wake waters. If you plan to use the vessel in inland lakes that have HP limits, that limit is often 10 HP.
Just a thought to consider as you evaluate your options.
Also, the newer motor is probably more likely to last longer...endure the current fuel (ethanol), etc...
Dave
contender posted 10-28-2009 02:31 PM ET (US)
No brainer for me I would go for the 15, you can put a governor on the gas, when the kids get older you can remove it...
Tohsgib posted 10-29-2009 10:35 AM ET (US)
Not sure where you live due to lack of info in profile but deals like this are common down here.
http://sarasota.craigslist.org/boa/1442476126.html
How old are kids?
adlert posted 10-29-2009 01:11 PM ET (US)
Now that the engines are precisely identified I'll make another judgement. My memory isn't perfect but I feel about 90% certain that the initial 9.9/15 hp engines (1974 - 1977 series) contained some design flaws that usually need to be addressed.
I remember the ignition system was less than desirable - more troublesome than most. It was originally termed "low tension" and employs breaker points along with a "low tension" coil. It was changed withing a few years to the modern breakerless magneto CD system; a large improvement.
Additionally, stator plates on these engines frequently became too wobbly to accurately maintain the breaker point gap. Some fixes were made available but they were costly, imperfect, and we don't know if the engine you are looking at has had them done.
On top of all this, I seem to remember an exhaust passage carbon fouling problem associated with these first engines. Not sure if it affected the 15 but quite sure I remember having to deal with the problem on a 9.9. Modifications could be made but it was a real PAIN to correct. All of these deficiencies should be documented in OMC service bulletins available for perusal from a long-time dealer.
Regardless of the HP you ultimately decide on, I would recommend that there are better choices than the early (1974 - ~1977) OMC 9.9/15 engines. Ultimately they turned out to be reliable and amazingly compact machines. They have also always been more difficult to work on though IMO because they are so compact.
Tim
Timt posted 10-29-2009 06:50 PM ET (US)
Thanks to everyone for the replies so far. I was pretty sure the 15 would be a good call until that last post which confirms something I heard from one other person about the early years for that motor. The seller took extremely good care of his stuff (I bought my boat from him) but I am not an outboard expert and the best I can hope for is to have him run it in a barrel to confirm good starting, idle and the ability to shift into forward and reverse.
A 9.9 would be great but I have not located one in my price range.
Tim
frontier posted 10-29-2009 08:00 PM ET (US)
Try to find a late 1990's or early 2000's 9.8 HP Tohatsu or Nissan 2-Stroke.
Excellent power to weight ratio. Only weighs 59#.
Great quality is a bonus.
One of the best motors we've ever owned.

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Author	Topic: Which should I buy 1974 15 Evinrude Lighttwin or 1999 5hp Mercury
Timt	posted 10-28-2009 05:38 AM ET (US) A non-whaler question about my other boat, a 25 year old 12'6" Avon Inflatable that I use with my kids (or plan to). Boat is in super shape and I can buy the 15 HP motor for 450 or the 5HP for 350. Both original owner motors well cared for. I have never run the boat (weighs a total of 130 pounds) with either motor but I'm trying to decide which to purchase. 90% of use will be on waterways with a no wake regulations. Specific questions. Would the 5HP push the boat well with good pep? Will the newer 5HP be significantly quieter (both are two strokes)? Any input opinion appreciated. By the way, my other boat is a 1979 17' Newport. Cheers Tim
adlert	posted 10-28-2009 08:25 AM ET (US) Hello Tim, I think that your decision should be based somewhat on the ages, experience level, and sizes of your kids. If relatively young, inexperienced and small (currently) I think I would go with the 5 for safety reasons. 5 HP usually approximates a breaking point engine size for just being able to reach a sloppy plane on a small, light craft when at wide open throttle. This may be all your kids need or should have for lots of fun. 15 hp will definitely scoot with that light boat and presumed light payload. Sharp turns with the 15 at higher speeds could toss an unprepared child out. Also, the 5 hp will be easier to pull (start) though depending on the model, some 15's are extremely easy to pull too. Difficult to say which engine will be quieter without knowing the specific brands and model years. Safe to say they'll both be louder than a good strong electric trolling motor which can also be a hoot for kids and have some real advantages. Tim
Tohsgib	posted 10-28-2009 10:06 AM ET (US) Having owned a 11' Achilles, I am not sure if a 5 would plane it but probably would with 1 or 2 kids. Mine had a 1978 15hp Evinrude and that thing was downright scary. There is a reason they have those pontoons on the stern...keeps it from flipping over backwards...about every 100 yards or so.
No Respect	posted 10-28-2009 12:02 PM ET (US) Tim, I had a 10'6" Zodiac with wood floor and inflatable keel. First powered by a 5hp. I could just get on plane with 2 people and a light load. Later hung a Merc 15 on it and it was very quik to plane and more power that I ever needed. With a 12 footer I would go with the bigger motor for sure. The 5 will not plane that boat. Matt
Buckda	posted 10-28-2009 12:16 PM ET (US) I agree with Matt - I have an 8' West Marine (by Zodiac) inflatable with the wood floor and inflated keel. Running my 1974 Johnson 6 HP motor, it will plane with one person aboard, but no dice with two. I'm about 185 lbs, and had to shift my weight forward to make it get out of the hole. For whatever reason, these little inflatable boats really "stick" to the water. Once on plane, it zipped around pretty well. The only thing is that you mentioned much of your time in no-wake waters. If you plan to use the vessel in inland lakes that have HP limits, that limit is often 10 HP. Just a thought to consider as you evaluate your options. Also, the newer motor is probably more likely to last longer...endure the current fuel (ethanol), etc... Dave
contender	posted 10-28-2009 02:31 PM ET (US) No brainer for me I would go for the 15, you can put a governor on the gas, when the kids get older you can remove it...
Tohsgib	posted 10-29-2009 10:35 AM ET (US) Not sure where you live due to lack of info in profile but deals like this are common down here. http://sarasota.craigslist.org/boa/1442476126.html How old are kids?
adlert	posted 10-29-2009 01:11 PM ET (US) Now that the engines are precisely identified I'll make another judgement. My memory isn't perfect but I feel about 90% certain that the initial 9.9/15 hp engines (1974 - 1977 series) contained some design flaws that usually need to be addressed. I remember the ignition system was less than desirable - more troublesome than most. It was originally termed "low tension" and employs breaker points along with a "low tension" coil. It was changed withing a few years to the modern breakerless magneto CD system; a large improvement. Additionally, stator plates on these engines frequently became too wobbly to accurately maintain the breaker point gap. Some fixes were made available but they were costly, imperfect, and we don't know if the engine you are looking at has had them done. On top of all this, I seem to remember an exhaust passage carbon fouling problem associated with these first engines. Not sure if it affected the 15 but quite sure I remember having to deal with the problem on a 9.9. Modifications could be made but it was a real PAIN to correct. All of these deficiencies should be documented in OMC service bulletins available for perusal from a long-time dealer. Regardless of the HP you ultimately decide on, I would recommend that there are better choices than the early (1974 - ~1977) OMC 9.9/15 engines. Ultimately they turned out to be reliable and amazingly compact machines. They have also always been more difficult to work on though IMO because they are so compact. Tim
Timt	posted 10-29-2009 06:50 PM ET (US) Thanks to everyone for the replies so far. I was pretty sure the 15 would be a good call until that last post which confirms something I heard from one other person about the early years for that motor. The seller took extremely good care of his stuff (I bought my boat from him) but I am not an outboard expert and the best I can hope for is to have him run it in a barrel to confirm good starting, idle and the ability to shift into forward and reverse. A 9.9 would be great but I have not located one in my price range. Tim
frontier	posted 10-29-2009 08:00 PM ET (US) Try to find a late 1990's or early 2000's 9.8 HP Tohatsu or Nissan 2-Stroke. Excellent power to weight ratio. Only weighs 59#. Great quality is a bonus. One of the best motors we've ever owned.