late 80's honda 5hp 4 stroke

[duckdog]

I have an offer to trade my mariner 20hp for a late 80's 5hp four stroke honda any comments on quality or reliability, never had a four stroke outboard

[ohhenrygsr]

why would you go from a 20Hp to a 5hp?

[Fisherman]

As long as the previous owner didn't use it as a cement mixer.. then all should be okay. Check compression by slowly pulling the starter through a complete cycle. Maybe have the owner remove the sparkplug and check for oil fouling which may indicate ring or valve seal problems. I just picked up a 1990's 8Hp, thanks to Big Cliffs manual, found the part numbers for the impeller, and carb gasket that needed replacing. One pull and it runs like a ...Honda, no smoke or shaking.

[duckdog]

Cause the boats rated for a 15hp and my 20hp that I kept off my old boat seems to be a bit heavy and I like the idea of a quiter motor, and I will be fishing mainly smaller lakes this year and I am curious

[boatman]

Its a fine motor. I have no first hand experience with them, but I understand they were good. I'd rather a Honda than a Mariner. However, its not much of a trade in my opinion. I'd hold out for at least an 8 hp. Or better, yet a nice Johnson/Evinrude 9.9/15 hp.