Even if the driving licence regulations only require a licence to drive from 15 hp, a 5 hp motor has not immediately lost its raison d'être. To summarise the most important points in favour of the little ones, they are still portable, do not take up too much space and can do their job well as an auxiliary motor.
All the well-known manufacturers were called, and they all turned up,The two newcomers, Honda and Suzuki, meet old acquaintances: Mercury, Selva, Tohatsu and Yamaha.
Motors in this class are perfect for aDinghyor asReserve units. Thanks to their dimensions and mass, they are still acceptable to handle on a bathing platform. Dinghies are mainly designed for a short shaft, but a long shaft is also possible if necessary.
You will then be travelling a little slower and it could splash because the underwater part is deeper in the water. As an auxiliary motor, however, the longer version should generally be the first choice so that it does not catch air at the stern when the large boat moves through the waves.
As far as carrying the motors is concerned, all models have a sturdy handle at the front or rear or a recessed grip in the motor trough opposite; the one in the canopy should not be used for this purpose. Each motor can be carried by one person, even if two make life easier.
The difference between the heaviest (Yamaha, 29.01 kg) and the lightest (Selva, 25.2 kg) is 3.81 kg. If you want to put the engine down, you need to know which side to put it on so that nothing happens and the engine oil stays where it belongs.
With the exception of Selva, every test candidate has one or more prescribed bearing positions. While Honda, Mercury and Tohatsu have a sticker on the engine explaining this, Suzuki and Yamaha do not. This bothered us because you then need the operating instructions.
You can read the full engine test in the May issue of BOOTE, which will be available in stores from 17 April 2018. For Subscribers sooner, of course. Or you can download the PDF below.
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