Before the most famous manufacturers of outboard motors are considered, it is necessary to tell about one of the most important characteristics of this technique. This is a label according to the CARB-rating.

This is an American initiative, the essence of which is that each motor is necessarily marked in accordance with the level of impact on the environment. CARB, which stands for California Air Resources Board, was developed by the Air Resources Committee, which is located in California.

The most "clean" are power units, marked in accordance with the CARB 3 stars. This means that they are 100% compliant with current emission standards. Compared with the "three-star" devices with one star pollute the air 65% more intense, and with two - 45%.

And now about specific manufacturing companies

Evinrude. The oldest manufacturer of engines, which turned 106 last years. Of course, during this time, production processes have been maximally improved. As a result, the company supplies the world market with some of the most high-tech and reliable devices. The line is represented by devices with a capacity from 15 to 300 "horses" for every taste. The only downside is the very high cost.

Honda The company that manufactures the engines of the fifth decade in a row. A characteristic feature of its product line is the fact that it contains only four-stroke power units. A characteristic feature of the company's products is always one step ahead of the competition. The line is represented by a variety of products, the power of which is in the range from 2 to 225 horsepower.

MercuryMarine. One of the most famous manufacturers in the world, producing both two-stroke and four-stroke engines. The first have a capacity of from 75 to 250 "horses", the second - 150-300. Both those and others have the reputation of durable, well-made and fully reliable vehicles for boats. Although in fairness it should be noted that the degree of high-tech products is somewhat inferior to the already mentioned units of production Evinrude.

Tohatsu (NissanMarine). Nissan power units are manufactured today by Tohatzu. The main efforts are focused on the production of two-stroke models created using the TLDI technology, that is, equipped with a low-pressure fuel injection system of a controlled type. For the Russian consumer, access to technical support is rather difficult, so the focus after buying should be paid to the run-in, following all the manufacturer's recommendations.

Suzuki. Another company whose product line is represented exclusively by four-stroke mechanisms. Please note: vehicles with a capacity of 40 "horses" and more are available only from authorized dealers. Therefore, very powerful products are somewhat limited in terms of service.

Yamaha Offers consumers carburetor and injection equipment and 4, and 2 cycles. Products are characterized by a wide range of power characteristics: from 2.5 to 350 horsepower. Its main advantage is the HDPI system, that is, direct fuel injection under high pressure.

By the way

Finally, I would like to voice another deep thought about the rating of companies. It is unlikely that there is such a thing as the best manufacturers of boat engines. Why? Because in the line of any American, Asian or Western European manufacturer there are both very successful models of units, and not so much. Consequently, the best option will be one that fully corresponds to the priorities of a particular customer, moreover in the context of a particular model of a particular manufacturer.

See also:

The choice of reliable and high-quality boat motor is quite difficult. Many models currently offered are popular due to their visual appeal or brand awareness.

This rating is prepared on the basis of data provided by popular sites Rusfishing (rusfishing.moscow) and Rusoutboard () for 2015-2016. First of all, the criteria for evaluating the engines were quality and the absence of breakdowns, which ensured popularity among buyers. Practically all well-known brands, both expensive Japanese and cheaper Chinese counterparts, participated in the comparative testing.

It is worth noting that such engines as Gulf Stream, Marlin and Sea-pro were not evaluated in this rating, since the cumulative share of their sales was not even 5%.

In addition, the rating, despite large-scale sales, did not include the cheapest and most popular in the Russian Federation engines of the Chinese brand Hangkai. The marriage rate in models of this brand is up to 40%, which did not allow him to even get closer to 10th place.

Without long introductory words, we offer to go directly to the winners and participants.

1 place

The first place is occupied by Honda motor boat engines. During 2015-2016, these units turned out to be the most reliable and comfortable in operation, moreover, almost all models showed excellent performance indicators. The Honda brand has once again confirmed that it can not only produce high-quality engines for the aviation and automotive industries, but also satisfy the needs of the most demanding users of boat engines. A negligible percentage of breakdowns lifted this trademark to a high degree of success, but the weight of the manufactured units and their cost overshadow these advantages.

2nd place.

The second place is occupied by boat engines manufactured by the Yamaha trademark. A slightly larger percentage of cases of warranty repairs lowered this manufacturer from the pedestal to the second stage. The main reason for this was the breakdown of the tiller folding systems. In most models of this manufacturer, it can be folded 180 degrees, but unlike most models of other manufacturers, when sailing in shallow water, the Yamaha engine had to be manually raised by the casing, which led to breakdowns. In addition, knowing the high speed characteristics of these motors, many users forgot that they extremely negatively react to maximum loads during acceleration. A distinctive feature of the Yamaha engines is long-term maintenance of high speed, but at maximum acceleration, the engine repeatedly overheated and failed. And although the main cause of breakdowns is hidden in improper operation, this in no way reduced their number.

3rd place.

The third place was shared by such brands of manufacturers of boat engines as Tohatsu and NissanMarine. A relatively equal number of various warranty and non-warranty breakdowns, however, does not overshadow their positive characteristics, such as speed indicators, where Tohatsu has a strong lead on gliding. Almost all models of these brands were confidently exploited in reservoirs with a large amount of silt and suspension, but showed themselves from the best side.

4th place.

Fourth place confidently took the Korean trademark Mikatsu. There is no clear line of serial breakdowns that would disable the motor in 2015-2016, but most of them are associated with excessive overheating while maintaining high speeds. Recently, the quality of assembly and component engines of this brand has increased significantly, which ensured her a confident increase in sales not only in Russia, but also in the world. According to experts, if the pace of quality improvement does not decrease, then Mikatsu at the end of 2016 - the beginning of 2017 will be able to successfully compete with leading brands such as Honda, NissanMarine and Yamaha. In 2016, Mikatsu motors were among the three leaders in terms of imports to the territory of the Russian Federation. Since 2016, in view of the extremely low reject rate, the guarantee for motors has increased from 3 to 5 years, thereby equaling the status and quality with Japanese boat motors.

5th place.

In the fifth place in the ranking were the engines of the brand Mercury. Despite the use of the trim system in their models, which ensures the safety and comfort of motor control, the breakdowns of some other constructive systems did not allow it to break into the top three. It is worth noting that, in terms of noise, the motors of this brand showed themselves from the best side and turned out to be the quietest in their segment.

6th place.

The well-known brand Suzuki dropped to sixth place due to increased breakdowns in the gearshift system. On all models of this brand, the gears are switched by a handle rotating on the tiller only when idling. This feature requires both addiction and certain skills. In addition, almost all models are not adapted to change the angle of inclination, which necessitates raising them behind the casing when sailing in shallow water.

7th place.

In seventh place were Chinese engines manufactured under the brand name Parsun. First of all, they are distinguished by quite noisy work. Virtually all the breakdowns with which customers contacted service centers were associated with deformation and damage to the screws, as well as the flow of coolant. Almost all models of Parsun motors are equipped with large screws, the steel of which is not of very high quality. In addition, to facilitate these motors in their manufacture they use plastic and metal materials of not very high quality, which serve short periods and constantly need to be replaced.

8th place.

The eighth place is occupied by the Chinese brand HDX, (formerly HONDEX), which produces replicas of famous Japanese and Korean models of outboard engines. The quality of the materials from which the units are made are, for the most part, not withstand any criticism, and the breakdowns are so diverse that it was not possible to determine any system in them.

9th place.

On the ninth place were boat engines Gladiator. Frequent malfunctions of the excitation coil and tachometer, as well as the vagueness of its testimony about the number of real revolutions, did not allow this brand to rise higher in the rating of reliable and easy-to-use motors.

10th place.

The last place in the ranking went to the Chinese trademark Hidea. Diversified breakdowns and frequent cases of warranty replacement of parts forced this manufacturer to lose ground. However, the popularity provided by cheapness did not allow this brand to leave the rating of the most successful brands of boat engines.

   Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5

How to choose a boat motor to the boat.

Selection of outboard motor  is the second most important step, after choosing and buying the boat itself. It will depend on the engine how well and quickly your vessel will sail, and how often you will have to do forced repair of the engine or replacement of spare parts. Properly selected engine with proper maintenance will last a long time and will not cause problems to its owner. There is no doubt that the quality of different brands may differ, but there are a number of common questions that arise for everyone who is going to purchase outboard motor. In this article we will try to describe these points to help you understand how and which boat motor to choose. To get started, we recommend you to read   selection of outboard motor:

Which boat motor is better to buy: new or used?

This is the first difficulty that almost every potential buyer faces. No one wants to pay extra money, if you can buy the same model, only cheaper. But is it worth making a choice in favor of a used motor?
Boat engines are inherently very reliable units. They are manufactured according to technologies developed and tested in areas such as aircraft manufacturing and mechanical engineering, therefore, the failure of boat motors themselves are extremely rare. The average lifespan of a boat propeller is about 20 years. Therefore, the main advantage of buying a used model is that you buy for a small amount of money. reliable car, which will be able to serve you for many more years, like new. Even in case of engine breakdown - the main and most expensive motor unit - its replacement will cost less than the cost of buying a new outboard motor.
The advantages of buying second-hand models include:

• Secondary market offers a huge variety of models at different prices.
• Many parts
• Low cost.
• The opportunity to resell at the same price, since the price of used boat engines does not fall much over time.

The main advantage of the purchase new outboard motor  that this engine has never been used anywhere before, and, accordingly, has a huge reserve of service life.

• New branded boat engines Yamaha, Tohatsu, Mercury, Honda, Suzuki have a record low percentage of warranty cases, which for 20 years does not exceed the value of 0.6%, i.e. out of 1000 engines, only 6 engines need repairs. Therefore, buying the original brand engine, you can be 99.4% sure that this product will serve you faithfully for many years.
• Also acquiring a new outboard motor, you perform a "ritual" procedure called running. For two-stroke boat engines running-in lasts about 9 hours with a special oil / gasoline ratio (AI 92-95) (1:25 for the running-in period and 1:50 always). This procedure can increase the service life by 30-35%.
• Timely replacement of oils after running and every 100 hours (in the engine and gearbox in 4 tons of engines).
• Preservation of the motor for the winter period, draining of liquids, oil change. An important process that also increases the service life by 35%.

All of the above operations are extremely important for the proper operation of the motor, which is why think about whether all the previous owners did it.

When buying a motor, a fairly high percentage of the likelihood that this may be drowned after major flooding in Europe, Asia or the United States. As a rule, the first months after major cataclysms and floods, there is a huge number of offers to sell the engines at extremely low prices. Be careful. Remember the adage: the miser pays twice.

All new engines are covered by the official manufacturer's warranty, so if you have a defect or an unexpected breakdown, you will be deprived of a headache for finding parts and will be able to avoid repair costs. Practice shows that if in the first days of purchase there are no problems in the work, then the motor, both new and used, will reliably serve you for many years.
The main thing to remember that proper operation is the determining factor in the duration of any motor. Therefore, it is not very important whether the engine is new or used, the main thing is how well you will use it.

Power boat motor.

The next task is the selection for the boat engine of appropriate power. There are the following categories of motors:

1. Low power. Power is in the range from 2 to 4 hp and weighing, as a rule, up to 16 kg. Virtually all models of this segment are push-pull, with the exception of a few motors: tohatsu mfs 3.5, honda bf 2.3, mercury f3,5M, me f2.5, suzuki df4s, They are installed on small light boats, flat-boats, catamarans with a length of no more than 2.6 meters, which give a draft of no more than 10 cm per person. This category is represented mainly by two-stroke engines, since they have a high power density, capable of not bringing big boat  or even a ship for gliding. As a rule, the average speed in light load is about 8-15 km / h. A distinctive feature is that these motors do not require shipping rights and are ideal for most of the waters of the Republic of Belarus. Most popular models:

• .

  Benefits Yamaha 2 cmhs

  • Push pull
  • Aluminum screw
  • Water cooling
  • Low weight
  • High reliability
  • Low cost
  • Build Japan

  Disadvantages Yamaha 2 cmhs

  • Forward only
  • No rear gear
  • No remote tank

• Tohatsu m3.5

  
  
  

  Advantages of Tohastu M3.5

  • Two stroke motor
  • Optimum power
  • Low weight
  • Reliability,
  • Low cost
  • High reliability
  • Build Japan

  Disadvantages Tohatsu m3.5

  • Plastic screw
  • No remote tank
  • Lack of reverse gear
• Tohatsu mfs 3.5 BS

  Benefits Tohastu mfs3.5

  
  
  
  • Low fuel consumption
  • Optimum power
  • Low weight
  • The lowest cost among the 3.5 hp motors. 4T
  • High reliability
  • Having neutral gear and forward gear
  • Build Japan

  Disadvantages Tohatsu mfs3.5

  • Plastic screw
  • Lack of reverse gear
• Mercury 3.3 M
  
  
  
  • Push pull
  • Water cooling
  • One of the most durable models of low-power motors
  • Low weight
  • Proprietary injection system to help the engine work well,
  • Low cost,
  • Build Japan

  disadvantages mercury 3.3 M

  • Forward only
  • No rear gear
  • No remote tank
  • Higher cost than two-stroke tohatsu m3.5 engines
• Honda Bf 2.3

  Advantages of honda bf2.3

  • More eco-friendly four-stroke engine
  • Lowest fuel consumption among all models.
  • Optimum power
  • Low weight
  • Reliability and high-quality assembly
  • One of the lowest cost among the motors 2 hp 4T
  • High reliability
  • The presence of neutral transmission and forward transmission,
  • Build Japan

  Disadvantages Tohatsu bf2.3

  • Plastic screw
  • Air cooling
  • Higher mass in comparison with 2t tohatsu 3.5 hp
  • Lack of reverse gear

5 hp outboard motors total weight up to 30 kg. The most common group of motors. Quite easily, small PVC boats, canoes and flat boats can be introduced into the state of the boat. The advantage of this class of engines is the combination of optimal weight and high power density. The most common two-stroke outboard engines, occupy about 75% of the market of Belarus. The remaining 25% are four-stroke engines. Another feature of the range of motors is the fact that the control of outboard engines of 5 hp in the Republic of Belarus does not require the presence of shipping rights. The size of PVC boats usually range from 2.7 to 3 m and weighing no more than 38 kg (the carrying capacity of the vessel, as a rule, does not exceed 400 kg).

The most popular 2t motors with 5 hp

The most popular 4t engines with 5 hp

Motors with power from 6 to 10 hp and weighing up to 40 kg. These motors occupy an intermediate position from small motors to medium power motors. In this segment, the number of sales push-pull motors  equal to the number of 4t, motors. The most popular model is the 2m motor tohatsu m 9.8. Its popularity is due to its low weight, excellent Japanese assembly, reliability and compact dimensions (motor case 6 hp). The ability of installation and operation on the boat "Kazan" is experimentally confirmed. Among the four-stroke engines, the leading positions are 4 tons of Tochatsu in 9.8 hp, 9.9 GMHS and honda BF 10 yachts. The dimensions of the boat should not exceed 3.6 meters (usually 3-3.3 meters) and a load capacity of not more than 500 kg.

2 t motors

4 t motors

Medium power engines - from 10 to 20 hp weighing up to 40 kg. This is a universal class of engines, installed on boats of all types with a length of up to 4 m (* recommended dimensions 3.4-3.6 m): small sailboats, large inflatable boat, large canoes, pontoons. Basically, these engines are needed to transport goods or transport small groups of people. Load capacity should not exceed 600 kg. About 75% of the motors in this category are four-stroke. Many models provide remote control, hydraulic lift and tilt adjustment. Most popular models:

2 t motors

4 t motors

Large power from 20 hp and higher, installed on large vessels with a length of 4 to 9 m. Can disperse a boat, yacht or boat to 35 km / h and are mainly intended for use on large spaces: rivers, large lakes, water bodies .
Why is it important to choose the right balance of engine power for the boat? A motor that is too weak will experience constant overloads, which will inevitably lead to breakdowns and rapid failure. Too powerful motor will become a source of danger primarily for the passengers themselves, since the vessel will be difficult to steer. In this segment, two-stroke models are extremely rare, due to their noise and ecology. Most popular models

2 t motors

• Tohatsu M 40CEPS is the undisputed sales leader among 2 motors with a capacity of 15 hp or more.
• Tohatsu M40 CS is one of the most reliable engines to date. Legendary model

4 t motors

Boat motor leg length

The length of dreydvud directly affects the permeability and maneuverability of the boat, as well as its speed. If you buy a motor with too long a leg, then it will serve as an additional obstacle to movement, the boat will cling to the bottom, and brake.
The length of dreydvuda is the distance from the bracket to the cavitation plate. Ideally, it should correspond to the size of the transom with a difference of no more than 2 cm. The length of the transom is the height from the upper edge of the transom to the bottom of the boat. To make the measurements correct, it is better to measure on the ground.
There are boats with adjustable transom that allows you to adjust the height of an existing motor. But you need to be careful and make sure that in any position the motor is installed correctly and does not interfere with movement. Foot length (deadwood) is standardized in most cases and has international dimensions:

• S -15 inches -381 mm
• L - 20 inches - 508 mm
• XL (Ul) - 25 inches -635 mm
• XXL -30 inches -762 mm

However, it should be noted that quite often, in the engines supplied to the CIS territory, the length of the leg (deadwood) may differ slightly.

• for most mercury models it is 435 mm
• in Tohatsu, in almost all models, leg size S is 435 mm
• yamaha from 8 to 15 hp sizes may range from 436 to 440 mm.

This can be argued by the optimal driving characteristics of the motor. The length of the transom of the boat and the motor is usually standardized.  i.e. Complies with international standards (error not more than + - 1 mm).

Which boat motor is better: two-stroke or four-stroke?

For an unknowing person, the difference between these types of engines may seem small, but it is still important to know and understand the advantages and disadvantages of each of them.
Two-stroke engines. They have high power and low weight, therefore they are mainly used on boats of small and medium size. They quickly develop speed, unpretentious in maintenance and repair. Their main advantage is low price and a large range of models of all power ranges.

But these engines are very voracious, so putting them on large vessels is not very profitable. Due to the high level of exhaust gases today they are forbidden to use on very many ponds, lakes and rivers. In addition, they are very noisy, so they are not very suitable for a quiet walk, recreation or fishing.
Four-stroke engines. Economical and environmentally friendly. Low exhaust levels will allow the use of such an engine on any body of water. In addition, they have high efficiency, which greatly affects fuel economy. The smooth operation of the engine, low noise, the ability to steer a ship at low revs, and the absence of harmful exhaust make this engine easy to use even for beginners. In terms of reliability, four-stroke engines are superior to their two-stroke counterparts, therefore, they break down much less frequently and require repair.

The disadvantages of this class of engines are their great weight and price. Because of their size and weight, four-stroke motors are almost impossible to use on small boats. And the high price makes the purchase expensive.
To learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of four-stroke and two-stroke outboard engines, read the article. It is also important to understand in motor designation systems, i.e. to know what this or that letter means, read more about it here.

Equipping the boat with PVC motor increases the distance of movement, increases the level of comfort of fishing. To select the optimal model of the outboard engine, it is necessary to analyze the characteristics of the craft, its operating conditions (river, lake, sea) and offers on the market.

Calculate optimal power

In the instruction manual boat PVC manufacturer indicates the maximum engine power. In practice, this figure may be less than the actual, since at full load and high wave increases the likelihood of water entering inside.

The basis of the calculation is the maximum load - the total mass of the boat, passengers and things. Then the deadrise is determined - the degree of immersion of the structure in water. For low values, the calculated mass should be divided by 25, for high - by 30. The latter is used for PVC models.

An example of the calculation of the following input data:

• boat weight - 30 kg;
• weight of two people - 140 kg;
• equipment - 30 kg;
• power plant - 25 kg.

Calculations are performed according to the following formula:

(30 + 140 + 30 + 25) / 30 = 7.5 hp

Be sure to take into account the maximum permissible load. The actual total weight should not exceed this figure. In practice, it is recommended to keep a reserve of 10-15%. For smooth running - uniform distribution of equipment.

In the absence of passport data, you can independently determine the minimum allowable engine power. The weight of the boat must be added to the critical mass, divided by 30 and 4.

(350 + 30) / 30/4 = 3.16 hp

Weather conditions are not taken into account - wave height, wind direction. Therefore, it is recommended to add 10% to this value in order to avoid the slow speed of the boat.

Engine performance

Traditionally prefer to choose power units of import production. The quality of domestic products leaves much to be desired, despite the affordable price. In addition to the brand, it is important to choose the right motor in the parameters. This is done after calculating the optimal power using the above method.

The main parameters of the power plant:

• Type - two or four stroke. The first are characterized by affordable cost, the second - stable work.
• Power rating - up to 2 hp
• Transom height. This part of the power plant, adjacent to the stern. The average is 400 mm.
• Type of control - tiller, remote or combined.
• Engine start system - manual, electric or combined.
• Weight - up to 30 kg.

The type of fuel used is gasoline. Average consumption - up to 2 liters per 100 km. There is a separate category of electric motors, but because of the large mass and short duration of work on one charge, they are not popular.

   Additionally taken into account the angle of the structure. It is changed by the user depending on the actual operating conditions. The common cooling system is water. therefore boat engine cannot be operated outside the reservoir.

Overview of models and prices

During the analysis of the motors are taken into account technical characteristics, performance and user feedback. The latter may be subjective, but most of them reflect the real indicators of the model. Two-stroke power plants with a power not exceeding 10 hp will be considered.

Mikatsu V9.9FS

Manufacturer - Korean company. The model is popular because of the price / quality ratio. Rated power - 9.9 hp After a small upgrade (replacing the screw, installing a new flap valve), the indicator increases to 15 hp.

Features:

• volume - 246 cm ³;
• fuel capacity - 24 l;
• tiller height adjustment will provide an opportunity to move around in shallow water.

The average cost is 84 thousand rubles.

Sea— Pro T 9.9 S

This budget option from the Chinese manufacturer is a copy of a similar model Yamaha. At preservation of initial parameters and quality the cost differs from the price of the original by 35-40%. The power characteristic of the unit is 9.9 hp, volume - 202 cm ³.

Benefits:

• the spare candle is included in the package;
• there is a manual start cord;
• provides a set of tools for use.

Price - from 65 thousand rubles.

Tohatsu M9.8 B S

Japanese manufacturer, well known to Russian customers. The engine is characterized by reliability, optimum operational parameters. With a relatively small volume of 169 cm³, the force is 9.8 hp. Fuel tank capacity - 12 liters.

Features:

• weight - 26 kg;
• paved carburetor;
• number of screw positions - 6 pcs.

Price - from 105 thousand rubles.

In the video you can find practical tips on choosing a motor:

At the beginning of summer (and someone begins to take care in the winter), many anglers decide on one of the most important acquisitions: purchase of a boat and outboard motor. This technique is quite expensive, with proper operation it serves for a long time, which means, as always, the question arises: how to choose such a watercraft that would serve faithfully and in the future no thoughts arose on how to get rid of the unfounded set.

It is rather difficult to do this without large financial losses, since literally in two years of operation the boat and the motor can lose from the initial cost up to 30-40%.

Boat selection

Let's start with boat selectionAlthough, of course, ideally, you need pick up both boat and motor at the same time. In recent years, the majority of anglers choose boats made of PVC for movement on water, primarily because of the convenience of transporting them with similar boats with metal boats.

PVC (polyvinyl chloride) - a material that has a sufficiently high strength, elasticity and almost completely does not suffer from exposure to a moist environment. In other words, such boats do not have to be dried after each fishing.

The only thing that has a negative effect on PVC material is sunlight. Of course, your boat will not collapse before your eyes under the rays of the sun, but the more it is in the light, the more the PVC material is destroyed. Although in recent years they are making more and more advanced materials, but so far it has not been possible to achieve a 100% result.

Therefore, fishing is recommended to take the boat light or even white, because such boats are less susceptible to ultraviolet radiation. Boats of dark and other protective colors are justified only for hunting.

At present, models of PVC boats for fishing and recreation are a great many, and everyone can choose a boat for themselves on request and resources. What points should pay attention to when choosing a particular boat. Of course, ideally, this should be a fairly well-known and already proven domestic or foreign manufacturer, or licensed China or Korea, where they make very high-quality copies of famous boats, but under different names.

There is a certain average price for decent PVC boats that should be oriented. I do not recommend buying boats at lower prices. The scheme does not work here: "a little cheaper - a little worse." It may be that a slightly cheaper boat will turn out to be completely unusable, and it will serve you very little.

Suppose you are in the store recommended several options decent and proven boats. The first thing you should pay attention to when choosing a boat is the design of the floor (payoli) of the boat. There are two options: hard floor (plywood, aluminum, in recent years also plastic), or airdeck (inflatable bottom). Which floor is better is a rhetorical question, depending on what purposes.

If you catch one (maximum together), go for short distances under a low-powered motor from 2 to 8-10 hp. - then more comfortable floor from airdeka. It is easier to assemble such a boat (especially to one fisher), it weighs significantly less than boats with a hard bottom, and it fits in just one bag, which is convenient for transportation.

But the longer your trip on the water and the more passengers and cargo you have in your boat, and the more powerful motor is used accordingly, the more justified is buying a boat with a hard floor. In this case, it is easy for you to assemble a boat - there is a partner. Hard floor keeps road holding better (the boat does not shake on a shallow wave, which is typical of boats with airdeck). Hard floor is more reliable in operation and is not subject to such damage as airdeck, namely: airdeck can be burned with coal from a cigarette, scratched with a pebble stuck in the tread of a boot, etc.

In addition, the lack of rigidity of the floor in the longitudinal direction on the boats with airdeck makes it difficult to enter the gliding mode. It is possible that in the future airdeck, which is not inferior in strength to a hard floor, will be created, and then the problem of choice will disappear by itself, but at the moment the situation looks like this.

But what is better - plywood or aluminum? The question is more of taste than of serious practical differences. Plywood with proper maintenance is not much less than aluminum. Plywood flooring only needs to be periodically dried and tinted with waterproof varnish. Many fishermen put a piece of linoleum on the floor and thus solve several problems at once: the payol is not damaged and it is easier to wash the boat after fishing (all the dirt remains only on the linoleum).

Especially carefully you need to wash the boat before winter storage. During fishing, a lot of fish slime enters the sides and bottom of the boat, which attracts mice and rats with the smell. These animals react very strongly to such odors and are capable of gnawing big holes in boats, after which your boat (maybe so) will not be suitable for repair. So for the winter it is better to wash the boat with detergents with strong odors in order to discourage the smell of fish, and to keep the boat in a place protected from rodents.

An important moment at boat selection  - this is its length. Other things being equal, it is still better to take the boat a little longer (within reasonable limits, of course). Moreover, the length of the boat plays a plus, not only in increasing the usable area, but such a boat also gets better on the boat. For example, if you are faced with a choice: 280 or 300 cm, then of course you should choose 300 cm. The only drawback: along with the length, the price of the boat increases proportionally.

Another important point is the ability of the boat to go faster on the gliding mode. Different models of boats with the same parameters of length and weight go to the boat with differences. This is due to the aerodynamic characteristics, especially the shape of the inflatable keel. But you can learn about these nuances either from the shop sellers, or from fishing friends who have already carried out test tests and have reliable information.

Choosing a suitable boat, it remains to pay attention to several nuances. It would be nice to buy a boat or already pumped up in the store or ask to be pumped up and fully assembled with you. On the boat there should not be any scuffs and folds on the cylinders in the pumped up state. Check the quality of the splice, be sure to inspect the transom. The transom is the most important place in the boat, it is here that the motor is fastened and therefore the transom will have the most load.

It is not recommended to take a transom that is glued to the cylinders with PVC pieces. A desirable option with special rubber pads on the transom, which then later in turn are glued to the cylinders. Such rubber linings absorb vibration from a running motor, which means that the transom will last you longer. I can reassure anglers: the majority of reputable companies are the only way to attach transom to cylinders.

It remains to briefly go through exploitation. Regular pump ("frog") pumps the boat to the passport pressure with considerable difficulty. Therefore, it is necessary to pump such a pump as long as it is physically possible. Such pumping is enough to drive without problems, but you need to keep in mind that if you want to hang a more powerful motor than the instructions in the transom, then such an easy “understuffing” can lead to excessive vibrations and bending stringers (floor fasteners).

Ideally, it would be good to purchase a two-way pump (best with a pressure gauge), which will allow the pump to be pumped to the optimum pressure of the cylinders. Check the desired pressure in the bottles can literally "manually." Under pressure from the thumb of your hand, the balloon should hardly bend. Of course, on a hot sunny day, the boat should be slightly under-dosed. But this problem has already been solved, and in many boats, such valves are installed that independently release excessive pressure.

Before the first departure to the water, it is necessary to register the boat in the GIMS and put the registration numbers obtained on both sides of the boat and in a hidden place. Hidden place - this is not a whim of inspectors, but first and foremost your protection from thieves. The hidden place on the boat can be chosen by you anywhere, but, as a rule, the number of the boat is put under the boat's wallboard directly on the bottom. The height of the letters and numbers on the sides of the boat must be at least 10 cm, the width of the stroke - at least 2 cm.

There are a lot of ways of drawing numbers: various plastic stickers, through a stencil of waterproof paint mixed with glue for PVC (in case of sale such a mixture is perfectly erased), and the easiest way is with a black waterproof marker. During the season, such a number printed with a marker, of course, is thoroughly erased, but it is easy to tint it and takes just five to ten minutes in time. Of course, in the boat you need to have a complete set of the necessary equipment provided for by the rules of GIMS (the list of this equipment will be registered in the data sheet of your boat).

Summing up all the above arguments, logically, we find that the most practical option for buying a boat with airdeck is up to 280-330 cm and a motor of 4-10 hp. Such a power engines will quietly take the boat with one or two fishermen and a small load. Boats designed to carry 2-3 or more passengers with luggage are better to take with a hard floor longer than 330 cm.

Siberian fishermen either because of the scale of our rivers and lakes, or maybe because of the breadth of their soul, mainly choose boats with a length of 360-390 cm. In this case, if there is a financial opportunity, take the preferred size 390 cm. Size 390 has the advantage of better gliding at low speed, your boat does not fall into a displacement mode during a wave. Boats of sizes 360 and 390 cm have the same bags and almost the same weight (the difference is 1.5 kg).

And the last. You should not buy a motor with a capacity of only 6-8 hp on a large boat. so that later, when there is money, you will buy a more powerful motor. It is a low-power motor is also quite expensive. I know from the bitter experience of my acquaintances that in 1-2 years the owners of low-power motors, having lost up to 30-40% of the initial cost of selling the old motor, are going to take a new and more powerful motor.

And here it turns out that over the past years, the price of such motors has increased (inflation!) And, ultimately, it turns out that the angler buys one more motor, practically saving nothing. According to the English saying - pays twice. It was easier at the time to take a loan from a bank or ask a loan from friends and immediately buy the necessary motor. The arithmetic here is simple and it is easy to calculate the economic effect.

I hope this general data will be enough for you to choose a reliable boat. And what model of boat to choose is up to you.

Motor selection

Choosing a boat, you can pick up the engine under it.  Models of domestic engines are not many. Major: "Neptune", "Whirlwind" and "Breeze". As you can see, there is no big choice either in the model range or in power (each brand has only 2-3 models), and it is easy enough to choose the power of the motor to a specific boat length. The main thing (concerns any Russian equipment) is to have golden hands or a good master.

In principle, domestic engines with proper refinement can adequately compete with foreign models. Many still believe that the cost of domestic engines (almost 2-2.5 times less than that of imported ones) more than compensates for technical shortcomings. This belief is not without reason, but I repeat, only for those who have “golden” hands.

More details on foreign models. What can be said about them as a whole: you will not find all popular foreign motors of approximately the same quality and tangible difference between manufacturers, almost all of them have been manufacturing outboard motors for more than a decade. Therefore, the model can be any that you like.

First you need to choose the power of the motor. There is nothing complicated (much has already been described above). If you are going to catch one and not move long distances, then you will need a motor up to 6 hp Two will be brought to the hydrofoil, and are able to transport more or less quickly: 6-10 hp motors. And the "dozen" quite tolerably lucky two fishermen with a small load, not bad leads the boat to the glider and is competing with the most popular "tag".

For two or three anglers suitable engine with a power of 15 hp and above. "Fifteen" is a universal motor that can be successfully operated on a metal boat. And even better than under a boat made of PVC, the "tag" works on a metal boat of the type "Kazanka". Of course, such a boat is heavier, but the aerodynamic qualities of the Kazanka are much better than those of PVC boats, which more than compensates for the extra weight.

According to the "high-pitched" foreign engines with a power of 15. hp comparable to the Russian "Whirlwind-25." Why do such different indicators in power give the same effect? This is the case: in Japan, power is measured on the propeller shaft, and in Russia at the crankshaft. Power on the propeller shaft is naturally less than on the crankshaft by the amount of losses in the gearbox and water cooling pump. But these losses are only about 10% of the power at the crankshaft.

What turns out: in horsepower, foreign engines are really inferior to domestic models, that is, "Whirlwind 25" will actually have 22-23 hp power on the propeller shaft. But how, then, a less powerful foreign motor turns out to be comparable with a more powerful domestic motor? The difference lies in the fact that the traction qualities of the motor also depend on the gear ratio of the gearbox and the characteristics of the screw used.

Almost all foreign engines have more reduction than domestic ones. Depending on this, the payoff at speeds on the gliding can be even about 10%, which allows you to put on the gliding heavier vessel. In addition, Russian engines are supplied, as a rule, with a more "heavy" staff screw than foreign ones. It is out of all these factors that the advantage in the over-tensity of foreign engines is about 40-50%.

If you opted for a foreign model, it remains only to decide whether it is a two-stroke or four-stroke engine.  Currently, individual four-stroke engines are almost equal to the price of two-stroke, and therefore it only makes little sense to choose a motor because of price. There are pros and cons of each type of engine.

I will take, for example, a four-tactic, and not only because I have such a motor, and I studied it well, but also because we mainly see two-stroke people on rivers and have opinions mainly on them. It is common for a person to fall in love with his technique and this often leads to unhealthy conservatism. I will try to be objective and give only dry figures and examples.

The four-takers have two minuses by and large. The first is weight. Let's say the average four-stroke power of 15 hp weighs heavier than its fellow push-pull on 7-10 kg. (A four-tactic weighs 42-45 kg, and an average two-tactic weighs 35 kg.) Is this a great difference or not? If you are not going to carry a motor over long distances, there is practically no significant difference.

In the overwhelming majority of cases, anglers drive up to the shore of the reservoir, where they collect a boat and install a motor on it. But even if you need to move the boat for some significant distance, then the anglers have found a way out - the transport wheels are installed on the boat and in this case the difference in the weight of the motors also does not matter.

The second minus of the four-tactics is a small reprime on the road. Although this is a relative minus. It is also very difficult to carry out a serious breakdown of the two-tactic on the way, although if there are spare parts (where can they come from?) And skilled hands, it is still possible. But since foreign motors rarely break down compared to domestic ones, this minus is difficult to consider significant.

The main thing in servicing foreign engines in time to change the oil and other components. The only drawback that personally hinders me in any way during the four-stroke operation is that these motors can be transported or stored only in two positions: either vertically or on one specific side.

Four-stroke advantages: low consumption of gasoline and oil. Since there is a crankcase in the four-stroke engine, this is another plus - oil should not be mixed with gasoline, which saves time. Oil is poured separately into the crankcase and, during operation, is fed into the combustion chamber in such portions as the motor needs for operation, and not as much as you poured into gasoline, as in a two-stroke machine. And this is not only economical and environmentally friendly, but also gives a greater resource to the motor.

At full speed, a four-stroke (not only my measurements, but also the results of many tests) consumes gasoline by 20% less than a two-stroke. In liters, it looks somewhat more modest, and therefore many believe that the average four-tactics spend almost as much as the two-tactics. For example, on a two-stroke you burned 10, and on a four-stroke 8 liters. Looking into the fuel tank, you will not notice a noticeable difference. But it is - 20%! But oil is saved even more seriously - at least 50%.

Four-stroke flow rate of 15 hp - no more than 3 liters. (sometimes 2.5 l.) per hour of operation when driving at full and medium rpm (at cruising speed). At low revs, this profitability is still increasing. Say, when fishing by trolling, it seems that the motor works literally on pairs. Because of this - the minimum amount of harmful emissions and you almost will not feel the smell of exhaust. But even more enjoyable is the fact that at low revs the four-stroke engine works so quietly that at times you even have to get accustomed: does the engine work at all.

A four-stroke engine takes a little more time to accelerate, but, having accelerated, it has a slightly higher tensile strength and can carry a little more weight than the same volume two-stroke. This is not a very important plus (extra 20-30 kg. Of cargo), but still it is. From myself I can only give only general advice: whether or not to buy four-stroke motors up to 10 hp or not. Fuel economy in low-power four-stroke engines - not so significant, and the price is significantly higher than two-stroke.

Motors with power over 40 hp clearly, they should only be four-stroke, because with such capacities, fuel economy becomes very substantial, and not even overpaying with the purchase will pay off in 2-3 years with savings on gasoline, a long resource and a smaller headache with frequent purchases of oil and gasoline dilution.

Here, perhaps, all the main pros and cons, the rest is up to you. Having bought a good foreign model, it doesn’t matter if you have a two or four stroke engine, in any case you will be satisfied. Have a good choice.

Konstantin Fadeev