I know that the outboard rule of thumb is 1 HP per 500 lbs, but is that based on the "displacement lbs?" Just want to make sure before my purchase.
Correct Outboard HP
- Thread starter Citadel89
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I've never heard that rule, but sounds about right based on my boat, I run a 9.9 and it's alot more than needed, what size boat do you have
I have never heard that rule before but it sounds about right under most conditions. We run a 4 hp motor on a 2000lb boat and it works just fine. So did the 3.5 we had before but the Admiral just never the got used to spinning the motor around for reverse so we stepped up to a motor with a reverse gear and lever. Added another 15 lbs but well worth it for the Admiral's happiness. She does do a much better job around the slips now so it is all good.
If your dealing with strong currents on long runs against the wind and waves you might want to have more reserve power but for most inland lakes that rule of thumb is probably a pretty good guideline. I am sure there are people out there using 4 hp motors on 7000 lb boats which will eventually move the boat in and out of the slip and conversely there are probably people running 9.9's on the same 2000lb boat.
Not only do you have to balance power to weight but with the smaller boats you also need to take into consideration the weight of motor hanging on the mount.
Sam
If your dealing with strong currents on long runs against the wind and waves you might want to have more reserve power but for most inland lakes that rule of thumb is probably a pretty good guideline. I am sure there are people out there using 4 hp motors on 7000 lb boats which will eventually move the boat in and out of the slip and conversely there are probably people running 9.9's on the same 2000lb boat.
Not only do you have to balance power to weight but with the smaller boats you also need to take into consideration the weight of motor hanging on the mount.
Sam
To directly answer your question. That would be displacement plus payload for a minimum HP. For your 26D the displacement is just under 3000#. Adding another 1000# for crew and equipment would bring the weight up to 4000#. A 4 HP outboard would be an absolute minimum. Most people, including myself, would double that for better acceleration and a reasonable safety margin. Macgregor recommends a maximum of 10 HP so, like sailnewbie, I run a 9.9.
We boated a for 16 years on the Sacramento/San Joaquin delta with our 23 foot Clipper Marine. With lots of destinations, many 60 miles or more away strong tidal currents we used the motor a lot and:
1) A bigger motor running at lower speed is much more mellow than a screaming small one
2) An external fuel tank gives much more range and versatility
3) The charging capability with manual start is great, you can always power your running lights even if it does'nt put much into the battery.
4) When you need it, you need it, and nothing else will do - the time will come when you bless the extra grunt from a bigger motor
As long as I was spending money for a new motor (and mount?) there is no way I would go under powered. We had a Honda BF 100 which was more than needed but weighed the same and cost about the same as a 8 H.P. The next step down would have been a 6 and I just don't know how that would have been for our particular use.
I note that although our boat was trailerable we kept it in the water year round and so the weight of the motor was not a major factor, but it might be to someone who does launch/retrieve often. I always removed the motor for trailering more than a mile or so.
1) A bigger motor running at lower speed is much more mellow than a screaming small one
2) An external fuel tank gives much more range and versatility
3) The charging capability with manual start is great, you can always power your running lights even if it does'nt put much into the battery.
4) When you need it, you need it, and nothing else will do - the time will come when you bless the extra grunt from a bigger motor
As long as I was spending money for a new motor (and mount?) there is no way I would go under powered. We had a Honda BF 100 which was more than needed but weighed the same and cost about the same as a 8 H.P. The next step down would have been a 6 and I just don't know how that would have been for our particular use.
I note that although our boat was trailerable we kept it in the water year round and so the weight of the motor was not a major factor, but it might be to someone who does launch/retrieve often. I always removed the motor for trailering more than a mile or so.
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You'll want a 9.9 with your 26D. More bells and whistles are debatable. Your budget may affect those decisions, but get a 9.9.
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The external fuel tank is a great option. On our small lake at home the internal is fine but on the North Channel having to fuel it up every 45 mins to an hour was a pain. Wish we had an external tank with us as it would have made that part of the journey a lot less hassle.
Sam
Sam
As all rules of thumb, they relate to average factors. Take into account your hull shape and also the prevailing weather conditions in your area. A sailor that has to fight his way up river against a 3 knot current to get home surely can use more HP than the average.
With my mac224 we started with a 15hp which was actual nice because at just above idle was near hull speed however the weight was taking weight off the tongue which is bad due to fish tailing trailer. Now we have a 9.9 Yamaha and still low power hits hull speed and tongue weight is reasonable while towing
A small outboard will work if the boat an appropriate prop pitch diameter and number of blades relative to the boat size. I had a british seagull on a mac25. But it was slow top speed 4mph. Reliable simple tough engine. It was light weight. I took it off and set inside the boat ahead of the trailer axles to eliminate fish tailing while traveling.
I just don't want the shoulder pain of pulling 75lbs+ along with gas smell in sleeping quarters, no thanks! We leave it on and have over a 1000 miles as of last week, no worries if you have enough surface covered inside and out for the mount, ours is about 12x18 wood inside and out and then the mount to the stearn
Unfurl a little head sail and start motor sailing (tacking) when the wind and wave start stalling forward movement for the small outboard.
Isn't there a MacGregor 26D-specific owners association? That would be the place to ask.
For your consideration, I'll offer another data point. My sailing milieu is similar to Lake Hartwell: inland lake in the SE USA, no tides, scant current, motor needed when the wind dies or when the sails are dropped in preparation for a dock approach. My boat is about half the weight as the 26D. I have a 2.5 HP motor. My boat goes as fast as it's going to when the motor is at about half-throttle. With the light winds that are prevalent here, I'm glad that I don't have a heavier motor.
There are at least a couple of other boats in my area that are closer to your displacement that run 2-3 HP motors, too.
Another reason that I like a small motor; light enough to take off the boat at the end of the day and bring it home for secure, stationary and indoor storage.
For your consideration, I'll offer another data point. My sailing milieu is similar to Lake Hartwell: inland lake in the SE USA, no tides, scant current, motor needed when the wind dies or when the sails are dropped in preparation for a dock approach. My boat is about half the weight as the 26D. I have a 2.5 HP motor. My boat goes as fast as it's going to when the motor is at about half-throttle. With the light winds that are prevalent here, I'm glad that I don't have a heavier motor.
There are at least a couple of other boats in my area that are closer to your displacement that run 2-3 HP motors, too.
Another reason that I like a small motor; light enough to take off the boat at the end of the day and bring it home for secure, stationary and indoor storage.
FWIW, I just got an email ad from West Marine. Their Lehr propane powered outboards are on sale. A 9.9 4 stroke, long shaft, electric start is (only) $2650. The 2-stroke is $2340. "ships to store free" 
My slip neighbor had one on his 16. I never saw him out there to ask about it. Would seem handy to have one kind of fuel aboard for the motor and the grill
This is the same with 4 strokes. I had an 8 HP Honda on my Columbia 26. Did just fine, but I needed to go to electric start to accommodate my boat partners who had trouble with the pull start. I got a great deal on a 15 HP Honda. Certainly more power than I needed, but it's the exact same engine and weight as the Honda 8 HP and 9.9 HP. I tootle around at hull speed at about 3/4 throttle, nice, smooth and quiet.