I started with a manual pull Tohatsu 6 HP which I grew to not like so much. It started well on the second or third pull but I lost confidence in it as it quit on me too many times out on the water. I bought a 9.9 Yamaha nearly new and it has been a dream. At low RPMs it can pull my Rhodes at a comfortable speed, it starts with a push of the button and is very quiet (2 cylinder, four-stroke). Shifting is easy. The shifter is on the throttle. Push for forward, pull for reverse, neutral in between. Highly recommended.

About the 12 volt battery - Do you not have one already to power your navigation lights and anchor light, etc?

Tom Hyatt
Eliza Jane 1978
Baltimore, MD

On Sun, May 24, 2026 at 9:06 PM Michael McKay <mm.bizlist1 at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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
> >
> >
>