I also have the Stealth and run the short Honda. The fact it is air cooled does increase the noise, but the benefits far outweigh the liability of water cooled when running in shallow water or on idle. I would NEVER put a long shaft on this boat as the short is perfect. It practically makes gas and runs for hours on a full tank. I have sold all of my 2 stroke kickers and only run the 2.3 Honda on by stealth and my Hyde Drift Boat as well. One motor, one destiny! Thank you for posting this!!!
The big plus for the Honda is that it's air cooled, thus you never have to worry about the water intake for cooling getting plugged. The price you pay is increased noise from the motor. The Honda uses a centrifugal clutch which is both good and bad. The good side is you don't have to flip anything to engage the propeller, the bad side is at very low speeds, the clutch might disengage and you lose steering control. All my experience with Honda motors has shown that Honda does make a very reliable gas engine. That's important for those who don't want to be stuck in the middle of nowhere.
There are 4 or 5 trim adjustments on the motor. If you set it with the angle of the foot further from the boat, it will give you a better plane and more top end speed, but it may take a tad longer to plane and get there. Longer to plane is better than no plane. Just my two cents. I was raised at a family operated marina, so I do know a little bit.
@rboutdoorsnw A little more info about how motors and boats reach plane. When the motor is trimmed in closest to the transom, the boat will have optimum take off power, but may not be able to reach plane, which results in a nose up, or bow up, plowing through the water. Some boats, particularly larger and heavier boats, have a "power trim" button or switch. This allows the boat to take off quicker and then the motor foot can be trimmed out away from the transom, which helps to push the nose (bow) of the boat down, allowing it to reach plane (level to the water surface), and achieve higher speeds, due to less plowing drag. If you do not have a power trim option and have to trim the motor manually, the further the foot is from the transom, the slower your take off speed will be, and accelerating to top speed is delayed, but because you may actually reach plane with the foot trimmed out, your top speed will be higher than having the foot trimmed in. Manual trim is a trade off between top speed and start power, and how long it takes to reach top speed.
Mine is a short shaft and every bit of research I’ve done said it’s the short shaft that you want. I used it quite a bit in the Baja and it worked good!
fantastic video, thanks! Do you throw this in the back of your truck inflated or use a trailer? Getting one boat that can be used on whitewater or flatwater is a hug bonus.
Part of the reason that you want to go out in the great outdoors is the peace and quiet tranquillity Honda doesn’t have that. Plus you have to be very careful which way you tilt it when it’s off the boat you can actually damage it. Great concept just needs to be so much quieter
Yes I was disappointed how loud it was! But the main reason for getting it was go to the Baja I do like the 55 pound thrust better! Thanks for watching!
If you can't trim out the motor enough to plane with one on board you can put a DoelFin or HydroFoil on the cavitation plate to help put it on plane. Best!
A lot of 10ft to 12ft Sit on top fishing kayaks run either the Honda or the Suzuki 2.5. Outboard motor. They're light I believe 28lbs, and the kayaks today are one man fishing boats. I have a 2023 12ft fin drive, I run the Suzuki 2.5 and it'll do a little over 6mph. The reason for that shut-off is to keep it attached to your PFD. If you fall out, that cord is a kill switch so your boat doesn't take off without you. 💯 🌊 🛶
You can press the kill switch in without removing the safety cord and it will kill the engine. Just leave the safety cord in and push in the red button
you can push that red button and it works too. just push it in a moment.. its a stop button. or of course you could shut off the fuel (lever round the side)
@@rboutdoorsnw i enjoyed your video. I went to watch it because I'm dealing through some issues with the carb in my own bf2.3 being a bit gummed up and your video i think just clicked with my interests. I have much the same opinion of it as you. Great little motor.. not going to win any races but other than that it has everything you could want especially for a small boat. Reliable... my issue aside which is no big deal and probably my fault. And air-cooled, 4 stroke, lightest ob I've ever seen. Did you make out to the ocean to catch big fish?
Tohatsu makes several of the big names like Merc, Johnson etc and is half as loud, water cooled plus several hundred cheaper. I found the Honda to be more obnoxious than a leaf blower.
I have the same motor. It’s pretty versatile. Have you heard of anyone upgrading the carb to get more hp?
No I haven’t
Thanks for the review. I’m pretty sure you can kill the motor by pushing the red kill switch while it’s still attached.
Yes I'm in UK have this motor yes can stop motor by pushing button with safety clip attached
I also have the Stealth and run the short Honda. The fact it is air cooled does increase the noise, but the benefits far outweigh the liability of water cooled when running in shallow water or on idle. I would NEVER put a long shaft on this boat as the short is perfect. It practically makes gas and runs for hours on a full tank. I have sold all of my 2 stroke kickers and only run the 2.3 Honda on by stealth and my Hyde Drift Boat as well. One motor, one destiny! Thank you for posting this!!!
Thanks for watching!
The big plus for the Honda is that it's air cooled, thus you never have to worry about the water intake for cooling getting plugged. The price you pay is increased noise from the motor. The Honda uses a centrifugal clutch which is both good and bad. The good side is you don't have to flip anything to engage the propeller, the bad side is at very low speeds, the clutch might disengage and you lose steering control. All my experience with Honda motors has shown that Honda does make a very reliable gas engine. That's important for those who don't want to be stuck in the middle of nowhere.
Yes great motor but not very fast!
Great tips and review. That’s a handy little boat. Two-degrees outside up here.
Your videos should be on the website! Thank you Sir for always being in-depth.
Thank you I try!
what shaft length did you go with on the Minn Kota? thanks for the videos
If I remember right 36 inches!
There are 4 or 5 trim adjustments on the motor. If you set it with the angle of the foot further from the boat, it will give you a better plane and more top end speed, but it may take a tad longer to plane and get there. Longer to plane is better than no plane. Just my two cents. I was raised at a family operated marina, so I do know a little bit.
Thanks will try that!!
@rboutdoorsnw A little more info about how motors and boats reach plane. When the motor is trimmed in closest to the transom, the boat will have optimum take off power, but may not be able to reach plane, which results in a nose up, or bow up, plowing through the water. Some boats, particularly larger and heavier boats, have a "power trim" button or switch. This allows the boat to take off quicker and then the motor foot can be trimmed out away from the transom, which helps to push the nose (bow) of the boat down, allowing it to reach plane (level to the water surface), and achieve higher speeds, due to less plowing drag. If you do not have a power trim option and have to trim the motor manually, the further the foot is from the transom, the slower your take off speed will be, and accelerating to top speed is delayed, but because you may actually reach plane with the foot trimmed out, your top speed will be higher than having the foot trimmed in. Manual trim is a trade off between top speed and start power, and how long it takes to reach top speed.
Push the button on the safety switch to kill it. Good review - GREAT motor
Yes I have a stick now so I can push it off!
Thank you from Lake Monduran Queensland Australia. nice review i will buy the 2.3 Thanks
Good luck fishing!
Thumbnuts installed wrong..?
It’s the way it came !
@@rboutdoorsnw Assembly UA-cam video shows the thumbnuts to the inside
Thanks for doing this video sir. I was wondering about all the questions you answered. Well done "go fish"
Very useful video! Thank you good sir
Your welcome thanks for watching!
Is your honda the long shaft or the shorter shaft for the flycraft - which would your recommend?
Mine is a short shaft and every bit of research I’ve done said it’s the short shaft that you want. I used it quite a bit in the Baja and it worked good!
The red emergency stop connector is also a button. You can press it to stop the engine
Thanks Michael --he obviously didn't look at his manual .
fantastic video, thanks! Do you throw this in the back of your truck inflated or use a trailer? Getting one boat that can be used on whitewater or flatwater is a hug bonus.
In the back of the truck and on top of my Tundra! You can see more videos of the Flycraft in the Baja on our channel thanks for watching!
What you missed is that You can just press the red button instead of removing the key to kill it
It actions as a button aswell
Another great in-depth review! I am looking more for an electric motor and would love to see a review of your electric one 🤞
Will do but it will be this spring until we get back from Baja I only brought the Honda on this trip! Thank you for watching!
Part of the reason that you want to go out in the great outdoors is the peace and quiet tranquillity Honda doesn’t have that. Plus you have to be very careful which way you tilt it when it’s off the boat you can actually damage it. Great concept just needs to be so much quieter
Yes I was disappointed how loud it was! But the main reason for getting it was go to the Baja I do like the 55 pound thrust better! Thanks for watching!
May get one for my canoe that has square back, even tho it’s $1100 still cheaper than buying a hobie kayak pedal drive
I bet it would move your canoe pretty good! Thanks for watching!
If you can't trim out the motor enough to plane with one on board you can put a DoelFin or HydroFoil on the cavitation plate to help put it on plane.
Best!
I have heard that they work good!
A lot of 10ft to 12ft Sit on top fishing kayaks run either the Honda or the Suzuki 2.5. Outboard motor. They're light I believe 28lbs, and the kayaks today are one man fishing boats. I have a 2023 12ft fin drive, I run the Suzuki 2.5 and it'll do a little over 6mph. The reason for that shut-off is to keep it attached to your PFD. If you fall out, that cord is a kill switch so your boat doesn't take off without you. 💯 🌊 🛶
That’s good to know I just ordered a old town self-propelled kayak!
You can press the kill switch in without removing the safety cord and it will kill the engine. Just leave the safety cord in and push in the red button
you can push that red button and it works too. just push it in a moment.. its a stop button. or of course you could shut off the fuel (lever round the side)
Yeah, I figured that out right after doing the video. Thanks.
@@rboutdoorsnw i enjoyed your video. I went to watch it because I'm dealing through some issues with the carb in my own bf2.3 being a bit gummed up and your video i think just clicked with my interests. I have much the same opinion of it as you. Great little motor.. not going to win any races but other than that it has everything you could want especially for a small boat. Reliable... my issue aside which is no big deal and probably my fault. And air-cooled, 4 stroke, lightest ob I've ever seen. Did you make out to the ocean to catch big fish?
@@adamsaint5879 yes we were in the Baja for 88 days went out about 2 miles or so several times and caught seabass and Mackerel!
To turn it off push the kill switch button in
Tohatsu makes several of the big names like Merc, Johnson etc and is half as loud, water cooled plus several hundred cheaper. I found the Honda to be more obnoxious than a leaf blower.
Just push the red button in with out removing tab and it will shut down
Thanks found out right after making the video!
can also kill the motor by pushing the red button,
5mph is a little disappointing
and i run a 9.9 on mine lol
can you troll with this motor ?
Yes I'm in the Baja right now and is working great!
@@rboutdoorsnw thanks
That is very loud and anoying. Wouldnt even consider it and the prop clutch is awful.
I don't know. I've had mine since 2018 on my canoe and it's awesome.