Ahoy Tom, I've powered my M17 with a Honda 2 horse, 27 lb outboard for going on six years and have never had a problem. It has a swiveling mount for reverse which is very easy to use. It never comes close to either the rudder or the hull since I never use the engine for steering. The tiny on-board tank is easy to refill from the cockpit (assuming that you're using a No-Spill Gas Can, that is). In light winds it'll drive the boat at 4 to 5 knots for hours. I can't imagine needing any more auxiliary power on an M17 unless you're going to use it against a heavy wind or sea, which means it's not really auxiliary power, but main power. In that case the Honda 2 is probably not the best choice. KISS is my principle, Rick M17 #633 Lynne L On Thursday, January 9, 2014, Thomas Buzzi wrote:
Ahoy, I know that opening is a bit corney but I have always wanted to use that word somewhere. Hope the northern fleet of M's have survived the frigid weather. It did get a bit cool in south Texas lately. Oh yes, I am in the process of deciding whether or not to repower my boat. My present ob weighs 59 lbs but it has a F-N-R gearshift and will allow an external gastank. All the 3.5's I have looked at in the 40 # range have 180degree reverse and a tiny internal tank only. I do not relish having to lift my present 59 pound outboard on and off the boat, two shoulder surgeries make me very leary of doing that now. I have had no expereince with swiveling an outboard to reverse the boat motion. It would seem that the prop would tend to chew into either the rudder or the boat hull sooner or later doing that. Any direct experiences with that out there? I have researched Tohatsu, Mercury, Yamaha,Honda and even Evinrude. The weight gain happens right around 3.5 hp which I have decided is enough for my M17. Anybody know of another brand of ob that includes F/R shifting and maybe an external tank? All replies will be considered, Tom B