235 Outboard Motor size

[mmhamer]

I'm working on replacing the outboard motor on my Hunter 23.5
Currently it has a 8hp Tohatsu 4 stroke. Even in rough conditions, I don't think I've had it open 1/2 full. Seems like a 6hp would work and maybe a 4hp.
What horsepower is recommended? Better said, what is the smallest HP recommended?
Looking for a Mercury, 2 stroke, electric start, shift on the tiller.
I'm trying to reduce the weight among other things.
Any input would be appreciated.
Thx

 

[Johann]

I had a 23.5 with a Suzuki 4hp 2 stroke long shaft, and then a Tohatsu 6hp 4 stroke ultra long. I would recommend the 6hp and ultra long (25") shaft. The 4hp was less than adequate into strong headwinds, and the prop did occasionally come out of the water with the long shaft.

 

[Rick Webb]

I have a 6HP 2 stroke Mercury was 20" now 25'.

The only reason I have ever thought about a newer motor is the four strokes are maybe a little smoother running and are somewhat quieter and it is a minor inconvenience to mix the oil . Mine runs very smooth and is not that noisy so I'll save the money to spend on something else.

6 HP is all you really need and anything over 8 is a complete waste

Not sure the Electric start would be worth the hassle.

On a lake the 20' is probably all you need rarely do I really benefit from the extra 5" on the shaft but the bay and in the pass it does get choppy and I can motor sail on either tack now.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Long ago the two stroke engines were not as quiet but due to pollution, EPA mandated that two stroke be replaced with what I call a less polluter. The four stroke is quieter but actually heavier than the 2 stroke. Rick Webb actually said it all. I use to supply 5 hp Tohatsu 20 inch shaft for the lake and 25in shaft for the ocean due to following seas or the waves but with the 23.5 you could for the most part get away with a 20 inch as the following seas most of the time were not an issue but you have to be careful to raise the motor when putting the boat onto the trailer. Now the question. You already have a motor and why the expense for another engine

 

[twodzusfittings]

I had a Evenrude 9.9 two stroke 25" which came with the boat when I bought it. After three years I bought a Nissan 4 Stroke 9.8 (essentially a Tohatsu). My reasons were the noise and at the time when gas was nearly four dollars a gallon, it was more economical. It costs me two third less to run the Nissan. My initial calculations based on gas costs at that time , it would take me five years to break even, after deducting the gain by selling a very good used Evenrude. Now with gas at $1.65 a gallon, it will take me longer. Oh well. My boat is on the Sassafrass River and its seven miles to the Upper Chesapeake Bay, so I generally motor and then set sail. I know the real answer to the question about why: Because I wanted to!

 

[jblersch]

I had a Suzuki 6hp on my H240 and replaced it two years ago with the Mercury 8hp, 20". The Suzuki had plenty of power, but I went with the 8hp so I could get electric start because my back problems made it a little hard to reach so far back to pull start or shift. The shift on the tiller on this mercury is great and it is really quiet. Very happy with the choice.