3.3 hp enough??

[SeaFrog]

Greetings,
I'm helping a friend move his newly aquired Oday 20. He's a youngster (89 yrs old) and is refurbishing an old 20. He called and asked if I could help him move it a few miles across Bogue Sound. I have a Mercury 2 stroke 3.3 hp. Is that enough power to help him?
Thanks,
SeaFrog

 

[Bubblehead]

It is probably enough if weather and water are calm, however I would wait for a day that you know will be smooth. I had a Catalina 25 with a 4 horse, and any wind made forward motion almost halt. Try it and turn around sooner than later if you're not making much headway

 

[ebsail]

I used a 3.5 for my Sonar, 23' but only 2100 lbs and easily driven. It would drive us at hull speed in flat water. I think if the weather is not too bad, you'll make it OK. I figure 1 HP per 500 lbs is about right for an all weather auxillary. Ernie

 

[LordNelson]

i have a 5hp honda on an oday 20. it moves it right along on low power settings. does the bay have a current/tide? that would be another consideration. if not, you should be fine on a calm day.

 

[RichBone]

Does the mounting require a long shaft or short shaft? The OB should be enough power

 

[Sunbird22358]

I have moved our old CAL 21 (about 1200#) using a 2hp Johnson as well as a 2.3 HP Johnson, both were short-shafts. I was only going a short distance (maybe 1/8 mile) to get the boat to the pier where I could put our 4 DLX Johnson (4 hp) on. But as others have said.....3.3 HP should work as long as yo uare not fighting a strong wind or current (and might not work if you fight both!). You may need to stay at the aft end of the cockpit to keep the prop submerged if this is a short-shaft (15" transom height) engine, but it should work in the short-term. For regular use, I'd want a longshaft, minimum 3.5HP (3.3 close enough), and better would be a 5-6 HP.