Well here's an alternative, Honda 2HP, $1045, 3Star energy rating, one better than Yamaha, 27lbs, thats 10 lbs lighter than the Yamaha, it has a shallow water drive that the Yamaha doesn't and, the model I checked and quoted comes with a centrifugal clutch that allows the motor to run at idle without the prop engaged. It's rated as the highest small outboard for fuel efficiency. Might be worth looking at. I'm sure 1/2HP isn't going to make any screaming difference on water speed, but 10lbs less weight might make it easier to balance the canoe.