Briggs & Stratton 5HP aircooled outboard?

[Thorne]

Saw this 4-stroke outboard listed in Cabelas latest catalog -- anyone tried it out? At $700 for the base model, it looks like a real deal -- even though it is aircooled.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/content/Item/01/57/33/i015733sn01.jpg

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0017847015733a&type=product&cmCat=search&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&QueryText=%09+Briggs+and+Stratton+Outboard+Motor&N=4887&Ntk=Products&Ntx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=%09+Briggs+and+Stratton+Outboard+Motor&noImage=0

[warthog5]

Loud. Read the fine print. "Not for use in saltwater".

[geeman]

The manual start is the only sticking point for me.Yanking on a rope I try to save only for my weed trimmer and I tend to put that off lately more then I used to.If it had electric start on it and I could convert it to "real" steer ,(read that steering wheel) I might be tempted to switch back from electric to gas.

[Bob Smalser]

Haven't tried this outboard, but have used dozens of Briggs engines over the decades.

Put a Briggs and a Honda side by side, and after starting them both, you'll probably pay what you have to for the Honda.

[Spokaloo]

I have one.

Its putting out all 5 hp, planes my tugboat (take THAT Glen!), starts typically on the first pull, when moody takes 3 whole pulls to start. Mine has developed an adjustment problem in the F-N-R shifter so I have F-N only. Never overheats, easy to take on and off, and easily modified to accept steering. It does do a good job of fouling though at the slightest hint of weeds.

Any other questions let me know.

E

[Eric D]

Friend of mine has one on his duck hunting boat as a safety/kicker motor. It is typical of B/S motors. Runs, kinda loud, performs as required. Nothing fancy but reliable.

He has it hooked up to his main motor with a side counsel steering so I am sure it could be hooked up in many configurations if so desired.

[Ken Hutchins]

Briggs is a bit late in the outboard market.
I have a Lauson Sport King 2 1/2 hp air cooled 4 cycle made by Tecumseh. My dad bought it brand new in 1941.
Never had a problem with the good salt water.

[schlaboatnic]

I thought of this thread this last weekend as we were anchored at Sucia Island in the beatuiful San Juan Islands. Alongside us were dozens of crab pots that the owners would come out and check every so often. One of the owners dinghy's is powered by the B&S air cooled outboard. After several trips out to chek his pot, my kids nicknamed his skiff the lawnmower. When he would fire it up you could hear it across the bay and the kids would start jumping up and down exclaiming "the lawnmower man is coming!" You sure are not going to sneak up on anyone with on of them.