[Rhodes22-list] Out board engine

[Michael McKay]

I have an 8hp electric start Mercury.  The shift is on the tiller throttle,
clockwise for reverse, counter for forward, neutral in the middle.  That is
a huge advantage. Highly recommend that option.


Michael McKay (mm.bizlist1 at gmail.com)

On Sun, May 24, 2026 at 5:46 PM <bobfcohen at gmail.com> wrote:

> Larry -
>
> I have had bothd  a manual start and an electric start.  The manual start
> was on a 5 HP motor and was not particularly difficult.   It pulled
> straight back into the cockpit.  But sometimes it took a lot of pulls and
> some well-chosen words to get it started,  (The real difficulty with that
> motor was shifting gears.  It entailed reaching back through the traveler
> to a control on the top of the motor).
>
> Now I have an 8 HP motor with an electric start, and it is a dream.  I
> need the electric start given the larger engine and my advancing age.
>
> Bob Cohen
> Silver Bay
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rhodes22-list <rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org> On Behalf Of
> Larry W
> Sent: Sunday, May 24, 2026 5:27 PM
> To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
> Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Out board engine
>
> Hello Sailors,
>
> Next on my list is to purchase an engine for Serenity.
>
> What are your thoughts on electric start vs. manual start?
>
> With a manual start how easy is it to pull the start cord with the engine
> in the water? I would think the engine would have to be turned 90 degrees
> so the pull cord would be from the port side straight out. I see myself
> hanging over the port side trying to pull the cord straight out from the
> engine.
>
> With electric start I will need to buy a 12 starting battery & battery box
> to locate in the transom and run battery cables to the engine.
>
> What are your comments on the use of the engine tiller control for
> shifting and throttle?
>
> I would like to have a remote control, but right now I want to get the
> boat in the water for the 1st time. I would consider adding a remote
> control over the winter.
>
> Larry Willis
> Serenity
>
>