C-27 OB motor size?

[Bob Keller]

I am considering a 1983 C-27 that appears to be in excellent condition. The motor is a Johnson 9.9 hp, 2-cycle OB and it is the original motor. Starts fine, but I am concerned with a couple of things:1. The owner says it pushes the boat at 3.5 knots - I am afraid that is not fast enough for my purposes and would prefer to have a motor that can push it at 5.5-6 knots. Does anyone have experience with what size outboard is best for this boat? Could the owner be mistaken about the speed?2. The other concern is that if I have to replace the motor with a 15 hp, 4 cycle motor, will such a motor fit in the outboard transom space? I read about one owner having to make some significant alterations to his transom (in a 1974 model) to fit a 4 cycle outboard motor.Thanks.BK

 

[Paul]

should go faster then that

I cruise at about 5.5 knots at approx. 2/3 throttle on my C27 and I have a 8 HP Honda four stroke. A 9.9 2 stroke should at least be able to do the same. I think he's mistaken about the speed. I don't know of any 4 stroke 15 HP outboards that will tilt up without modifications. If you don't mind leaving it down, any of them should work.Paul1974 Catalina 27Vancouver BC

 

[Walt]

9 or 10 Hr. is plenty

My 9.8 horse pushes my C27 five knots easy at half throttle. (Clean bottom and 6.5 pitch prop)

 

[Skip]

Current set up is fine

I have the exact set up on my 1975 c-27 and I move quite well. I have no instrumentation but I am confident that it is approching the hull speed.Skip"Kid Napper"

 

[Lee Tenny]

High Thrust

You might want to consider a high thrust model (Yamaha has a line of these), which are tuned specially for pushing full-displacement loads such as a sailboat.

 

[Joseph Casanova]

Evinrude

BK-I will add my comments to concur with "Skip". I have an old Evinrude 9.9 long shaft setup and have no trouble moving the boat at about 5.0 to 5.5 knots. Do you have an unusual prop on the motor?Joe

 

[Charles Drane]

C-27 Outboard Motor Size

I agree with several of the others who have responded. Your C-27 should be able to make 5 kts with a 8-10 HP outboard with right prop. I have a 9.9 Yamaha 4-stroke. Pushes the boat right along and uses very little fuel. It will not tilt up through the transome cut-out. Mods I have seen on internet show a lot of fiberglass work and don't look too good. I am working on a bracket design now to move the motor a little futher out from the transom so it will tilt. One C-27 in our marina has a store-bought bracket that looks okay. A bracket will put the motor in a position that make remote controls a necessity, unless you like leaning way out over the transom. Electric start is nice, too. The outboard motor seems to be a pain at times but is still less trouble than the inboard on the older C-27's.