I use a 9.9 Mercury long shaft two cycle manual start with shifter in the throttle.  Oh, by the way, it is two years older than the boat.  I get it professionally serviced every year by the same mechanic.  If I was to get a new motor I would get the Merc 9.9 EFI Pro Kicker (cause it is high thrust).  At 72, Electric start is a nice to have, but not a must have.  I can still easily raise, lower, and crank motor manually.

Mike Corley
S/V Range, 99 Rhodes
Hampton Roads, VA

On Sun, May 24, 2026 at 10:32 PM Tom Hyatt via Rhodes22-list <
rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org> wrote:

> 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
> > >
> > >
> >
>