Can't paddle like I used to - is a small outboard the answer?
Tony

Tony:
You will have to put up with the noise. A friend who used to paddle a lot
got a deal on a two HP o/b. Can go all day on a gallon but he does not like
the loss of serenity and neither do I when I paddle beside him.

I have an electric motor. Quiet. but the battery weighs about 60 lbs. Motor
is havy too. Range is about 10 miles.

Could/Would you switch to a kayak? I find canoeing which i used to do a
lot, hurts my back so I use a kayak which is more balanced. Still it is
peaceful and less work in the wind..

FWIW
John
"Tony Roberts" wrote in message
...
Can't paddle like I used to - is a small outboard the answer?
Tony

I like the quiet too, but I can't paddle - back problem like John. I
imagine, for me, a kayak would not do either. I'm thinking of the Honda 4
stroke 2.3 hp outboard. This is alleged to be "quiet" - is it any good?

"John" wrote in message
...
Tony:
You will have to put up with the noise. A friend who used to paddle a lot
got a deal on a two HP o/b. Can go all day on a gallon but he does not
like
the loss of serenity and neither do I when I paddle beside him.

I have an electric motor. Quiet. but the battery weighs about 60 lbs.
Motor
is havy too. Range is about 10 miles.

Could/Would you switch to a kayak? I find canoeing which i used to do a
lot, hurts my back so I use a kayak which is more balanced. Still it is
peaceful and less work in the wind..

FWIW
John
"Tony Roberts" wrote in message
...
Can't paddle like I used to - is a small outboard the answer?
Tony

"Quiet" is a relative term Next to a 140 hp the 2.3hp is dead "quiet", but
compared to a paddle it's still noisier than heck. I understand that your
back problem makes canoe paddling difficult if not nigh onto impossible, but
I gather from your query that you are only assuming that the problem will
also make kayak paddling difficult. If I'm correct then why not actually
try a kayak just to be sure? There's a world of difference between paddling
the two types of craft and, with the proper seat arrangement - Wilderness
Systems Phase 3 seat, for example - you may be quite comfortable.
"Tony Roberts" wrote in message
...
I like the quiet too, but I can't paddle - back problem like John. I
imagine, for me, a kayak would not do either. I'm thinking of the Honda 4
stroke 2.3 hp outboard. This is alleged to be "quiet" - is it any good?

"John" wrote in message
...
Tony:
You will have to put up with the noise. A friend who used to paddle a
lot
got a deal on a two HP o/b. Can go all day on a gallon but he does not
like
the loss of serenity and neither do I when I paddle beside him.

I have an electric motor. Quiet. but the battery weighs about 60 lbs.
Motor
is havy too. Range is about 10 miles.

Could/Would you switch to a kayak? I find canoeing which i used to do
a
lot, hurts my back so I use a kayak which is more balanced. Still it is
peaceful and less work in the wind..

FWIW
John
"Tony Roberts" wrote in message
...
Can't paddle like I used to - is a small outboard the answer?
Tony

I'll give it a go.

"Alan Smith" wrote in message
...
"Quiet" is a relative term Next to a 140 hp the 2.3hp is dead "quiet",
but
compared to a paddle it's still noisier than heck. I understand that your
back problem makes canoe paddling difficult if not nigh onto impossible,
but
I gather from your query that you are only assuming that the problem will
also make kayak paddling difficult. If I'm correct then why not actually
try a kayak just to be sure? There's a world of difference between
paddling
the two types of craft and, with the proper seat arrangement - Wilderness
Systems Phase 3 seat, for example - you may be quite comfortable.
"Tony Roberts" wrote in message
...
I like the quiet too, but I can't paddle - back problem like John. I
imagine, for me, a kayak would not do either. I'm thinking of the Honda
4
stroke 2.3 hp outboard. This is alleged to be "quiet" - is it any good?

"John" wrote in message
...
Tony:
You will have to put up with the noise. A friend who used to paddle a
lot
got a deal on a two HP o/b. Can go all day on a gallon but he does
not
like
the loss of serenity and neither do I when I paddle beside him.

I have an electric motor. Quiet. but the battery weighs about 60 lbs.
Motor
is havy too. Range is about 10 miles.

Could/Would you switch to a kayak? I find canoeing which i used to
do
a
lot, hurts my back so I use a kayak which is more balanced. Still it
is
peaceful and less work in the wind..

FWIW
John
"Tony Roberts" wrote in message
...
Can't paddle like I used to - is a small outboard the answer?
Tony

I also have back problems and the Wilderness
Systems Phase 3 seat made a world of difference when it came to paddling my
Kayak.

Just thought I should give my two cents.
Steve

--
Steve Bennett
Freelance Web Developer

"Tony Roberts" wrote in message
...
I'll give it a go.

"Alan Smith" wrote in message
...
"Quiet" is a relative term Next to a 140 hp the 2.3hp is dead "quiet",
but
compared to a paddle it's still noisier than heck. I understand that
your
back problem makes canoe paddling difficult if not nigh onto impossible,
but
I gather from your query that you are only assuming that the problem
will
also make kayak paddling difficult. If I'm correct then why not
actually
try a kayak just to be sure? There's a world of difference between
paddling
the two types of craft and, with the proper seat arrangement -
Wilderness
Systems Phase 3 seat, for example - you may be quite comfortable.
"Tony Roberts" wrote in message
...
I like the quiet too, but I can't paddle - back problem like John. I
imagine, for me, a kayak would not do either. I'm thinking of the
Honda
4
stroke 2.3 hp outboard. This is alleged to be "quiet" - is it any
good?

"John" wrote in message
...
Tony:
You will have to put up with the noise. A friend who used to paddle
a
lot
got a deal on a two HP o/b. Can go all day on a gallon but he does
not
like
the loss of serenity and neither do I when I paddle beside him.

I have an electric motor. Quiet. but the battery weighs about 60
lbs.
Motor
is havy too. Range is about 10 miles.

Could/Would you switch to a kayak? I find canoeing which i used to
do
a
lot, hurts my back so I use a kayak which is more balanced. Still it
is
peaceful and less work in the wind..

FWIW
John
"Tony Roberts" wrote in message
...
Can't paddle like I used to - is a small outboard the answer?
Tony

There is a curious motor mount on the kayak's
rudder:www.LightPerformanceWorks.com

I have a 4 hp Yamaha 4-stroke, much quieter than my old 7 hp 2-stroke,
especially at low RPM. I imagine that a smaller Honda 4 stroke would be
even quieter.

I have not used it on my canoe, too heavy, probably too powerful, around
50 pounds, I recall. I use it on a 14 foot aluminum boat that weighs
150 pounds or so. The aluminum boat lives on the trailer, although I
think that it could be rooftopped with the right system.

Richard



Tony Roberts wrote:

Can't paddle like I used to - is a small outboard the answer?
Tony

I saw and heard running today the 2.3 Honda and a 2.5 Mariner. The latter is
also sold badged as Mercury and is made by Tohatsu. Interestingly, they are
both much noiser than I expected, but the Mariner, which is a water cooled
2 stroke is much quieter than the Honda which is an air cooled 4 stroke.
Also, the vibration is much less on the Mariner. So, surprises all round.
Now I'm not sure whether either is suitable. I'll need to think about it.
What would be really nice would be the Honda engine from one of their
generators, which are really quiet, fitted to the marine output
transmission. The dealer I spoke to said the previous Honda model, a side
valve engine, was much quieter. He had also tried to silence the 2.3 without
success. It needs a bigger exhaust system apparently.


"Richard Ferguson" wrote in message
...
I have a 4 hp Yamaha 4-stroke, much quieter than my old 7 hp 2-stroke,
especially at low RPM. I imagine that a smaller Honda 4 stroke would be
even quieter.

I have not used it on my canoe, too heavy, probably too powerful, around
50 pounds, I recall. I use it on a 14 foot aluminum boat that weighs
150 pounds or so. The aluminum boat lives on the trailer, although I
think that it could be rooftopped with the right system.

Richard



Tony Roberts wrote:

Can't paddle like I used to - is a small outboard the answer?
Tony

Richard Ferguson wrote:

I have a 4 hp Yamaha 4-stroke, much quieter than my old 7 hp 2-stroke,
especially at low RPM. I imagine that a smaller Honda 4 stroke would be
even quieter.

I have not used it on my canoe, too heavy, probably too powerful, around
50 pounds, I recall.

What size is your canoe? For weight/power comparison (not sound levels)
I have an older Evinrude twin-6 which weighs just about 50# and drives
my 20' canoe just dandy. I have some counterweights that help trim the
canoe - run them up or down the right side till trim. Loaded light or
heavy I can make excellent time in calm water; loaded light to medium I
have excellent power & control in anything up to Class II+ whitewater.

Unless your canoe is ratther small, say under 16', I'd guess that
careful experimentation with load & trim would get you good results. I'd
suggest 18' minimum for canoe w/ flat bottom or very slight vee if any.

Yours in the north Maine woods,
Pete Hilton (Reg. Maine Guide) aka The Ent

--
Either everyone has rights or some have privileges.
It's really that simple.
Walt Kelly