tohatsu3.5
I have a 14 1/2foot solo skiff. I had a old two stroke on it for a week and ordered a Tohatsu 3.5 4 stroke. The 2 stroke gave me ear damage and I got it up to 7mph. The Tohatsu is very quiet, no need for special fuel mix, and I get 12 mph. Its a no-brainer order the tohatsu. You can get the identical motor with 6 diferent brand names on it including Mercury.
I bought the Nissan brand because it had the best price.
Engines on canoes
I have 14.7 and strickly paddle it. I bought a jon boat/15hp for motoring. its not a one shoe fits all world.