Apprioate outboard motor size

[MIke]

Which is more apprioate a 9.9 or 15 Hp outboard motor on a 27' O'day.Thanks

 

[Trevor - SailboatOwners.com]

Weight and Cost

Hi Mike -I believe you'd be better off with the smaller 9.9hp motor, both in terms of weight (translates into better sailing performance) and cost. I had a 10hp inboard diesel on my Islander 28 and it was more than adequate (did plenty of motoring when I took a trip around Vancouver Island).Either would work, but sometimes less is more!Best,Trevor

 

[Tony Turner]

Outboard drive gearing

Mike - The 9.9 should be plenty of power, but check to ensure it is a motor designed as aux. power for a displacement boat:most small outboards turn a small wheel at a higher speed and you need a larger diameter prop with less pitch and more gear reduction in the final drive. Also, I believe the outboards designed for aux. use have alternators in them for battery charging, while the "normal" small motors designed for aluminum skiffs do not.Tony