F
Frank
I have a hardy little 2.5 horsepower Tohatsu engine on my 170 that runs great. It has one forward gear so the prop turns the whole time the motor is running. I have a small dock on my lake that is awkward to get in to. Sailing in is fine under certain conditions, other times it would be better under power. To dock, if I come in under power, I need to be able to stop as I come directly into the dock. My alternative is to drift ever so slowly in - which is aggravating.Problem is, reversing the engine with the prop turning is a problem and sometimes the reversing lock catch is missed when I turn the engine around and the prop spews out of the water. Further, since the prop is spinning the whole time, the boat turns very quickly in response to the turning and complicates the process.Anybody upgraded to a 3.5 hp engine? At least it has a neutral gear, which would make things much easier.Hunter limits the power to 2.5 HP on the 170 in its spec sheet - does anyone know why it’s limited to 2.5HP or what problems are created if you go up one hp? The weight on the bracket is increased by only a pound, so I would not think it is a weight problem.Suggestions or comments either on using a bigger engine, or any maneuvering tips with these little one gear engines would be greatly appreciated.