# Boaters- is this a thing?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boaters-is-this-a-thing/1009618
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [November 3, 2024, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boaters-is-this-a-thing/1009618 "2024-11-03T17:13:12Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2024, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boaters-is-this-a-thing/1009618/1 "2024-11-03T17:13:12Z")
Idly looking through Temu [I came across an outboard motor, one of the pictures of which made me wonder.](https://www.temu.com/goods-detail-g-601099578162522.html?_oak_mp_inf=ENr60ram1ogBGhZnb29kc193ZXAwdGtfcmVjb21tZW5kIMPw45evMg%3D%3D&top_gallery_url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.kwcdn.com%2Fproduct%2Fopen%2F2024-05-15%2F1715754079303-30616ca4a8e14f95bc0c520c3f4effa4-goods.jpeg&spec_gallery_id=2140201555&refer_page_sn=10032&refer_source=10016&freesia_scene=11&_oak_freesia_scene=11&_oak_rec_ext_1=MzU4NzA&_oak_gallery_order=1872515010%2C1666765708%2C701733437%2C1746105165%2C951811645&refer_page_el_sn=200444&_x_chnl_src=top_icon&_x_big_sale_name=blackfriday_2024&_x_ns_irclickid=X4eTo1S0FxyNRE8wffWUczUPUkAXhDx7hzUg300&_x_ads_account=18350&_x_ads_id=1580&_x_sessn_id=3rs3ghkz67&refer_page_name=goods&refer_page_id=10032_1730653253671_p0ivl8o1ei) It’s the one of the guy driving, sitting over the stern of an otherwise empty boat. I supposed getting all the weight on the back lifts the nose, but what is a six horse engine going to do once the nose is up?
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### Author:  [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2024, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boaters-is-this-a-thing/1009618/2 "2024-11-03T17:17:42Z")
I get some sort of annoying puzzle captcha from that link-zero desire to solve it and see what pic you are talking about.
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### Author:  [@Dandan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dandan)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2024, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boaters-is-this-a-thing/1009618/3 "2024-11-03T17:18:02Z")
As you noticed, that’s where the motor is. Start, cut, steer, reverse. I’m not going to look, but, 6 HP motor, so prob no remote control station.
Dan
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### Author:  [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2024, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boaters-is-this-a-thing/1009618/4 "2024-11-03T17:26:34Z")
Small motor for a small boat, no problem getting up on plane.
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### Author:  [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2024, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boaters-is-this-a-thing/1009618/5 "2024-11-03T17:30:55Z")
OP might be referring to this image:
[ ](https://img.kwcdn.com/product/open/2024-05-15/1715754073257-7f6d7e7c1a1f454bb6970b81958d811d-goods.jpeg?imageView2/2/w/800/q/70/format/webp)
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### Author:  [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2024, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boaters-is-this-a-thing/1009618/6 "2024-11-03T17:31:13Z")
That picture is very obviously AI-generated nonsense, and a 6 HP motor is vastly underpowered for that boat, barely be able of moving it at only slightly over trolling speed.
Stranger
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### Author:  [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2024, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boaters-is-this-a-thing/1009618/7 "2024-11-03T18:07:39Z")
I think pretty soon society will need to start enforcing the distinction betseen “picture”: a photographic image of reality, and “illustration” or “cartoon”: a human- or machine-drawn image that can be anywhere from totally realistic to pure flight of insane or brain-damaged imagination.
It would be real useful had the OP led with “I saw an _illustration_ that looks pretty implausible. Is it?”
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### Author:  [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2024, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boaters-is-this-a-thing/1009618/8 "2024-11-03T18:34:13Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#):
>
> It would be real useful had the OP led with “I saw an _illustration_ that looks pretty implausible. Is it?”
I didn’t say it was a photograph. My misstated question is: does that way of driving a boat exist in the real world? It looks like driving a personal watercraft, like with handlebars.
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### Author:  [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2024, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boaters-is-this-a-thing/1009618/9 "2024-11-03T19:03:07Z")
It looks like the guy is trying to drive an invisible personal watercraft onto the deck of the boat – invisible except for the handlebars. I’m more of a sailboat than a motorboat guy, but I’ve been around boats a lot, and that picture makes absolutely no sense. The boat looks to be at least 25 feet, and would require an engine of the order of 200 HP, and furthermore, would typically be an inboard. Why they’re showing a 6 HP outboard in the picture is just as crazy as the guy with the handlebars.
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### Author:  [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2024, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boaters-is-this-a-thing/1009618/10 "2024-11-03T19:15:54Z")
> [@PastTense](#):
>
> OP might be referring to this image:
Or maybe this …
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Iey1uDp01w)
Yes, they are a thing
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### Author:  [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2024, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boaters-is-this-a-thing/1009618/11 "2024-11-03T19:51:46Z")
> [@wolfpup](#):
>
> It looks like the guy is trying to drive an invisible personal watercraft onto the deck of the boat – invisible except for the handlebars
My initial thought was that someone copied the guy (and maybe the motor) from another picture and pasted it on this one. Mostly because that boat seems big enough that it would be operated ‘normally’. Except there’s a rear facing bench seat where I’d expect a forward facing chair to be.
So, I’m going with sloppy AI. I get using AI, but you’d think the people in a position to make money from the sales of this motor would want it to look correct in the picture. Also, his legs, or at least his right leg, appear to be strapped to something which seems unsafe in this context. It looks like he’s sitting on some type of exercise machine. It also seems to match whatever the black thing is on the bench seat in front of him.
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### Author:  [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2024, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boaters-is-this-a-thing/1009618/12 "2024-11-03T19:54:42Z")
Here’s a clearer picture
[ ](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81Y85aQQWxL._AC_SL1500_.jpg)
and an Amazon listing (with bad reviews) for the same thing, but calling it a trolling motor. [Amazon.com: Outboard Motor, GDNTMU 4 Stroke 6HP Outboard Motor Boat Engine, Gasoline Boat Engine with Air Cooling CDI System, Gas Trolling Motor for Inflatable Boats Fishing Boats Kayak (4500-5500RPM) : Sports & Outdoors](https://www.amazon.com/GDNTMU-Outboard-4Stroke-Fishing-Cooling/dp/B09X1M4ZP8?th=1)
Also, the handles still look like some type of workout machine, but I think he’s sitting on a jet ski.
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### Author:  [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2024, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boaters-is-this-a-thing/1009618/13 "2024-11-03T20:24:38Z")
If I take my glasses off, he looks like he’s riding a Cushman Eagle from the 50s.
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### Author:  [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2024, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boaters-is-this-a-thing/1009618/14 "2024-11-03T23:21:53Z")
Note for those of you who primarily use Amazon:
Amazon: $589.99
Temu: $360.88
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### Author:  [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2024, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boaters-is-this-a-thing/1009618/15 "2024-11-04T02:26:11Z")
“Is this a thing?”
No.
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### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2024, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boaters-is-this-a-thing/1009618/16 "2024-11-04T08:45:24Z")
Worse, it appears to be AI-generated nonsense onto which an actual photo of the product has been clumsily collaged (with the usual disregard for scale that is common in the genre of crappy sales images on dropshipped products)
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### Author:  [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2024, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boaters-is-this-a-thing/1009618/17 "2024-11-04T19:48:33Z")
I’ve seen boats that size running on an outboard, but it’s usually two of them and the operator on such a boat would be at the helm, behind the windshield. A six hp outboard would barely move it.
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### Author:  [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2024, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boaters-is-this-a-thing/1009618/18 "2024-11-05T05:16:50Z")
Yeah, that’s just a fake photo. BUT - I worked with a guy who had a small boat with a Neptune Mighty Mite engine. It was a tiny antique engine with a horsepower or two on a good day. He was on Lake Erie in his 16’ aluminum boat when a storm whipped up. He headed for shore as best as he could. At some point the Neptune shook itself loose from the transom and rattled around. Knowing he was doomed without an engine he wrapped his arm around the motor held onto the gunwale with his free hand. He swiveled his arm back and forth to steer. He got burnt a bit but he made it. He was a big strong guy.
[https://www.leeroysramblings.com/neptune\_MM.htm](https://www.leeroysramblings.com/neptune_MM.htm)
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### Author:  [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2024, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boaters-is-this-a-thing/1009618/19 "2024-11-05T13:58:05Z")
Everything about the image is wrong except that the pilot of a vessel powered by a 6hp outboard _would_ more than likely be seated in the stern (except he would be steering with the motor’s tiller.)
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### Author:  [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2024, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boaters-is-this-a-thing/1009618/20 "2024-11-05T14:52:34Z")
Isn’t the motor’s housing a bit large for a 6hp?