And poof they are gone.

Stodge

I was thinking some day I'd pick up a LEHR 2.5HP propane powered outboard motor.  Well some day got close and I started shopping.  Come to find out West Marine no longer carries them.  I contacted LEHR and asked where I could get one and have not gotten an answer.  

There are some 5HP propane motors on the market, but they are heavy.  I like the 2.5 because it will get me from boat to shore, is light and runs on the same propane bottles that the grill uses.  

Anybody know the story on what happened to these?

PickleRick

How have they been holding up?  Back when i had a 21 footer i looked into them and they were a hit or miss on quality.    I had just had double hernia surgery 2 weeks before a sailing vacation.  I couldnt lift the 4 strokes easily on my hinged bracket even with spring assist.  I ended up with an early 90s Mercury 3.5 2 stroke long shaft for 200 bucks on Craigslist.  Cleaned carb, 20 dollar impeller and i was off.  I wish i had kept that motor but i needed the 9.9 Yamaha 4 stroke on my 26 ft 7000 lbs sailboat, i also needed the electric start as its a long reach from cockpit to cabin.  The even trade was too good to pass up.  Those little 2 strokes were maybe 25 lbs, other than sucking down the fuel(i like to troll for striper when the wind wasn't blowing) it was a great easily removable kicker.  


I really liked the idea of the LP engine.  I have not looked into them in about 6 or 7 years.

Dream_Inn

So, have been talking about this over the weekend.  My dock neighbor is looking at a motor for his dinghy.  I have the 3.3hp 2 stroke.  Love it!  28lbs & can refuel and go whenever I need to.  Another buddy down the dock has both the Torqueedo (battery) and the LEHR (2.5hp).  He has been using the electric motor mostly.  Probably going to sell our dock neighbor the LEHR LP one.  

The propane one does work nice, after he had a mod made that initially WM screwed up (Original ones were set up for higher elevation).  It runs well and as long as you have propane bottles around, it's good.  We got looking over the weekend and noticed WM doesn't sell them anymore, but they did have another brand.  LEHR is still out there and for sale.

For me, I love my little 3.3hp 2 stroke!  I also have an Evinrude 2 stroke 8hp that runs very well (weights 56lbs).  But, it doesn't buy me that much more cause my dinghy is an inflatable floor instead of hard bottom.  Thought about switching dinghies, but not worth it to me.  So, I'll probably sell that motor in the spring.  I had originally thought the kids would enjoy it & they would more on a hard bottom!

Stodge

WM is selling a 5HP Merc propane.  But it's heavier than I want for the application.

For normal boating I have a 10 foot RIB with a old Merc 8HP 2 stroke.  It's on Hurley davits so I don't have to remove the engine.  I can get on plane and do upward to 15MPH on the RIB.  The whole reason for having that is to take the dog to shore to do her business.  Sometimes we are not very close to shore and it's a hike to get there.  

For travel I will put the Weavers back on the platform and want a 8.5 foot inflatable bottom and an engine that I don't have to fuss with.  I like the idea of the LEHR because it's light and it uses the same propane bottles as the grill so I'll have them on the boat anyway.  In these cases we're on the hook and close to shore and are just going to hike, walk or otherwise enjoy the scenery.  No great distances and no rush.  Plus half the weight in dinghy etc.

LaRea

Where, are, those outboards tonight?
Why did you leave me here all alone?

I searched the world over, and I thought I'd found true love.
You met another, and pfft you were gone.

Stodge

I tied to email Lehr and it bounced back.  Guess they went belly up.

With luck Merc or one of the others making 5HP propane motors will decide that a 3.5 would be a good idea too.  

dropout

Michigan Motorz in Madison Heights my new go to place for Volvo Penta parts and misc. I seen they had three Echo outboards in the showroom. Great place for anything parts and hardware.

PickleRick

@dropout echo or eco?   Echo and shindaiwa merged a few years ago (yamabiko group) shindaiwa made small outboards some 20 years ago.  This is the first I've heard of echo dipping back into the outboard world.  Im a shindaiwa dealer.  

dropout

LEHR is what I seen not Echo.

Not sure how I came up with Echo...sorry about that.

Black_Diamond

Go with the Torquedo