Comparison Tohatsu M3.5B2S vs Fisher T3.5BMS

The maximum operating power of the outboard motor, expressed in kilowatts.

The practical value of motor power is described in detail in “Maximum power" is higher. Here we note that the kilowatt (derivative of watt) is just one of the units of power used in fact along with horsepower (hp); 1 HP ≈ 735 W (0.735 kW). Watts are considered the traditional unit for electric motors (see "Engine Type"), but for a number of reasons, outboard motor manufacturers use this designation for gasoline models as well.

Possibility to use a petrol engine generator(see "Engine type") to power an external load.

The generator is an indispensable element in the design of any petrol engine — it is responsible for creating the spark necessary for ignition. However, not every outboard motor has the ability to power an external load from this generator — therefore, if such an opportunity is important to you, you should choose a model where it is directly stated. And the generator system can come in handy, first of all, if you plan to use additional equipment on the boat — power from the generator is in a number of ways more convenient than from autonomous batteries, and it is for it that many navigation systems, echolocation, radio communications and other instruments and equipment are made . In addition, if necessary, devices outside the boat can also be powered from the generator — for example, a starting charger for a car.

The supply voltage supplied by the generator system installed in the outboard motor.

Almost all such systems work with a voltage of 12 V — this is a standard widely used in modern automotive and water technology, it is under it that the electrical systems of the engines themselves, and electronic devices for cars and boats are made. There are practically no exceptions to this rule.

The highest current that the generator system installed in the outboard engine is capable of delivering (see above). The characteristics of the load that can be connected to the generator depend on this indicator: its total current consumption should not be higher than the maximum current of the generator, otherwise the latter will work with overload, which is fraught with malfunctions and even accidents. Also, this information is useful if you plan to use the generator to charge batteries (car or boat): each battery has its own charging current, and the power source must match them.

The total volume of the fuel tank provided in the design or delivery set of the outboard motor (depending on the type of tank — see "Fuel tank").

The larger the capacity of the fuel tank, the longer the engine will be able to work without refueling, the less often it will be necessary to replenish the fuel supply in the tank. On the other hand, volumetric tanks have appropriate dimensions and weight, especially when filled; the latter is especially critical for motors with built-in tanks (see above).

The gear ratio describes how fast the propeller of the outboard motor rotates relative to the speed of rotation of its shaft. For example, a gear ratio of 2 means that for each revolution of the shaft, the screw, in turn, makes two revolutions (that is, it rotates twice as fast). In modern outboard motors, this parameter, in fact, is purely reference, because. the practical characteristics of the unit (power, traction, etc.) depend on many design features and are practically not related to the gear ratio.

The types of gears provided in the design of the outboard motor are, in fact, the direction in which it can move the boat.

— Front. Standard gear for forward movement. Available in all outboard motors without exception, by definition.

— I'm neutral. In this case, neutral gear means the mode of operation of the motor, in which its shaft rotates idly, without transferring rotation to the propeller or water jet. Thanks to this, you can completely remove the thrust without turning off the motor and without lifting its “leg” out of the water. Considering that starting after a shutdown can be a rather troublesome procedure (especially if you have to do this often), and removing a spinning propeller from the water is generally undesirable — having a neutral gear is a very useful feature, and most gasoline engines (see "Engine type") have this mode. But in electric models (see ibid.), stopping and starting do not constitute a problem, so the role of the “neutral” in them is played by turning off the power and completely stopping the motor (and the neutral gear itself is not indicated in the specifications).

— Back (reverse). A mode of operation in which the engine pulls the entire vessel backwards; in propeller motors, it is implemented by rotating the propeller in the opposite direction, in jet engines, by using reverse dampers. The rever...se function greatly facilitates both manoeuvring in narrow spaces and emergency braking on the water, so it is found in the vast majority of gasoline engines and almost all electric ones.

Note that electric motors (see “Engine type”) can have several gears of the same type — for example, 5 forward and 3 reverse. In such models, each "gear" is a separate switch position corresponding to a certain engine power. In gasoline engines, power control is carried out smoothly, using a throttle, so they have less than one gear of each type.

The total weight of the outboard motor. This parameter is indicated, usually, only for the unit itself, without taking into account the fuel in the tank and the tank itself (if it is external, see "Fuel tank"), as well as additional equipment. Motor weight data can be useful in order to estimate the overall balance of the boat and the change in its payload capacity.