I have a Day Sailor and have to go through a channel to get into my harbor. Because the channel is narrow I need to buy a motor to use to get through the channel. What size engine do I need. I was thinking a 2-4 horsepower. The channel does point into the prevailing wind so I have to factor that in as well.
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- Jan 22, 2008
- 519
5hp=10 knots on a windy day
I'm not in moving water, but the lake I sail on has a fetch of about 10 miles. My 5 hp Suzuki moves me along at 10 knots against this wind. Often I am not at full throttle as it alsmost seems too fast and uncomfortable, so I would suspect that 4 hp should be ok.
I'm not in moving water, but the lake I sail on has a fetch of about 10 miles. My 5 hp Suzuki moves me along at 10 knots against this wind. Often I am not at full throttle as it alsmost seems too fast and uncomfortable, so I would suspect that 4 hp should be ok.
10 knots boatspeed seems fast!
HI David - If Roger can go 10 knots on a windy day under power with a 5hp engine, I would think a 2hp engine would be adequate for your needs. Less weight = better sail performance (and easier on your wallet, theoretically). Sometimes less is more. Just my thoughts, Trevor
HI David - If Roger can go 10 knots on a windy day under power with a 5hp engine, I would think a 2hp engine would be adequate for your needs. Less weight = better sail performance (and easier on your wallet, theoretically). Sometimes less is more. Just my thoughts, Trevor
I agree
I think Trevor is right, 2hp should be more than enough for your purpose. The local Hunter dealer sells the 240 with a 4hp if that is any indication. I would go with the 2hp, which is one of the recommended sizes for the daysailer anyway. That is unless you want to race bass fishermen. Good luck.
I think Trevor is right, 2hp should be more than enough for your purpose. The local Hunter dealer sells the 240 with a 4hp if that is any indication. I would go with the 2hp, which is one of the recommended sizes for the daysailer anyway. That is unless you want to race bass fishermen. Good luck.
... shaft length
I use a 3.5 hp two-stroke on my Type 1 Daysailer and rarely feel the need to run it above a fast idle. At 35 pounds or so, it's much easier to tote than the 9.9 hp(!) that the previous owner used. You didn't bring up the issue of shaft length, but for what it's worth ... short-shaft motors will work. But the prop will ventilate now and then in choppy water, or if you have somebody sitting up front. This is a very minor nuisance usually, but could get to be more of a nuisance in rough conditions.
I use a 3.5 hp two-stroke on my Type 1 Daysailer and rarely feel the need to run it above a fast idle. At 35 pounds or so, it's much easier to tote than the 9.9 hp(!) that the previous owner used. You didn't bring up the issue of shaft length, but for what it's worth ... short-shaft motors will work. But the prop will ventilate now and then in choppy water, or if you have somebody sitting up front. This is a very minor nuisance usually, but could get to be more of a nuisance in rough conditions.
Outboard for DaySailer
I also have a channel to get through on my way to sailing waters--usually into the offshort wind. My Tohatsu 2.5 on my Daysailer has always pushed me just fine. I've also used the 2.5 on my 1200 pound 18 foot homemade trailersailer and it also works fine, although I prefer a bit hp more on that boat-say 4 hp. I think anything from 2 hp on up would work fine. I would advise a long shaft as my short shaft (15 inches) is a bit short. Ron Crowe
I also have a channel to get through on my way to sailing waters--usually into the offshort wind. My Tohatsu 2.5 on my Daysailer has always pushed me just fine. I've also used the 2.5 on my 1200 pound 18 foot homemade trailersailer and it also works fine, although I prefer a bit hp more on that boat-say 4 hp. I think anything from 2 hp on up would work fine. I would advise a long shaft as my short shaft (15 inches) is a bit short. Ron Crowe
Electric or Gas, that is the question
I to have to sail out of a channel to get out in Rehoboth Bay, DE. I have been using an electris 38lb thrust motor and am in need of a new battery or have been thinking in the lines of a 2hp 4 stroke Honda. Has anyone out there had an electric and then gone to gas or the other way around? I would be interest in your feed back.
I to have to sail out of a channel to get out in Rehoboth Bay, DE. I have been using an electris 38lb thrust motor and am in need of a new battery or have been thinking in the lines of a 2hp 4 stroke Honda. Has anyone out there had an electric and then gone to gas or the other way around? I would be interest in your feed back.
- Jan 22, 2008
- 519
electric to gas convert
Yes I went from electric to gas and much prefer the gas for endurance. I found with the electric, that I had about 3 good hours of juice and sometimes up to 5 hours if I never full throttled it nor used it continuously, but with gas, I could go all season on one tank of 5 gal. In fact I am considering going down to a 1 or 2 gal tank, to reduce the amount of space taken up and gas spoilage. I think my Susuki 5 hp is about 1976 vintage so it pulls easy and starts easy also. Two or three pulls, and I am away. Our lake however is moving towards 4 stroke exclusively, so as I look to move up, I am also thinking electric start. Some of the motivation for this is ease of starting, but I am also thinking, that I could then run some electrics, such as lights and perhaps a radio, although on a previous boat, I used those only minimally. The electric start would be nice though.
Yes I went from electric to gas and much prefer the gas for endurance. I found with the electric, that I had about 3 good hours of juice and sometimes up to 5 hours if I never full throttled it nor used it continuously, but with gas, I could go all season on one tank of 5 gal. In fact I am considering going down to a 1 or 2 gal tank, to reduce the amount of space taken up and gas spoilage. I think my Susuki 5 hp is about 1976 vintage so it pulls easy and starts easy also. Two or three pulls, and I am away. Our lake however is moving towards 4 stroke exclusively, so as I look to move up, I am also thinking electric start. Some of the motivation for this is ease of starting, but I am also thinking, that I could then run some electrics, such as lights and perhaps a radio, although on a previous boat, I used those only minimally. The electric start would be nice though.
I use a 2.5 HP
I use a 2.5Hp on my 19' Mariner 2+2 at Kerr lake and on the river at Oriental N.C. I have not had any problems getting were I need to go even with a good head wind. I have thought about going to a 4 stroke, but I do not want the weight that goes with it. Good sailing Les
I use a 2.5Hp on my 19' Mariner 2+2 at Kerr lake and on the river at Oriental N.C. I have not had any problems getting were I need to go even with a good head wind. I have thought about going to a 4 stroke, but I do not want the weight that goes with it. Good sailing Les
24 volt electric
I found a 24 volt electric motor in a pawn shop. The shaft was way to long for my boat so took it to an authorized MinnKota shop and had the shaft shortened. He also made up a power cable for me to run from in front of the mast where I keep the batteries, to the stern. I made a small deck for the batteries to sit on in front of the base of the mast under the cuddy. I installed a two battery charger monitor and the batteries stay in the boat during sailing season. I keep the boat on a trailer and just plug in the charger when I get home from sailing. The motor is around 67 lbs. thrust and works very well for me. I had had a 12 volt motor 30 some lbs. thrust that worked fairly well but not in any kind of wind. The 24 volt has all of the power that I need.
I found a 24 volt electric motor in a pawn shop. The shaft was way to long for my boat so took it to an authorized MinnKota shop and had the shaft shortened. He also made up a power cable for me to run from in front of the mast where I keep the batteries, to the stern. I made a small deck for the batteries to sit on in front of the base of the mast under the cuddy. I installed a two battery charger monitor and the batteries stay in the boat during sailing season. I keep the boat on a trailer and just plug in the charger when I get home from sailing. The motor is around 67 lbs. thrust and works very well for me. I had had a 12 volt motor 30 some lbs. thrust that worked fairly well but not in any kind of wind. The 24 volt has all of the power that I need.
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