Outboard Comparison

Outboard Comparison

Posted by WalterH on Jun 14th 2018

I'm wrapping up the research stage prior to beginning my Malahini build.  My concerns included the size and make of the outboard motor I'll use, some motor installation issues, and some other design questions.  So I went to the Houston Boat show to get some information.

Outboard decision

I compared the size, weight, horsepower, and cost of several outboards. That led me to decide to use a new Mercury 60 hp four stroke motor.  The 60 hp is 112 pounds lighter than the 90 hp, which I had originally considered, and it costs about $1,800.00 less. That is about the cost of the controls, wiring harness, smart gauges, and a stainless steel prop. I met the local Mercury outboard dealer, who gave me the data I'll need to fabricate the transom with the proper cut-out depth and width.

Design decisions

Walking around the show, I saw a variety of techniques used to rig outboard control, wiring harness, and fuel lines through the side of the outboard well.  I now know what technique I'll use. I also saw how different models of GPS/depth finders are mounted in boat dashboards, as well as a variety of gauge display designs. This helped me make some final dashboard design decisions.

Conclusion

The Houston Boat Show was a great place to learn about local vendors, technical information, and design options. Based on the information I learned, I'm ready to get started.