I am a new owner of an Oday 222. I am assessing the older 2 hp outboard(if it works) and possibility of electric motor. Main use will be to leave slip area. Very short distance to open water. Dike protected marina also. Is there much experience with electric and what size motor etc. Thank you.
electric motor vs. outboard
- Thread starter mark t7660
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Gas outboard
Mark, For that size boat, I'd get, at the very least, a 6 HP outboard for it. Even though your slip is on a lake with no swift currents, there are going to be days when the wind is going to be strong, and an electric motor or even a small 2 HP gas outboard just isn't going to cut it. I've been running a 1999 two-stroke 8 HP Johnson Sail master with a charging system on my 222, and this engine is great for where I go in salt water with strong currents and occasional strong winds. One other thing that you should keep in mind is; A sailboat powered by an outboard will not turn on a dime unless you can use the rudder and the outboard to steer her. So when you get your outboard, try to practice steering both forward and in reverse using both the outboard thrust and the rudder. Always make sure that the rudder blade is all the way down when you do this so that the prop doesn't hit it. Another useful technique when motoring into tight areas is to always use the wind to your advantage, and this is where the power of a larger engine comes in handy on a windy day. If you should over-shoot your mark when pulling into a dock on a windy day, a strong outboard will help you to recover before you either hit the dock, or even worse, hit another boat. Good luck with your 222. I know that you're going to love it as much as I love mine. Smooth Sailing! Joe
Mark, For that size boat, I'd get, at the very least, a 6 HP outboard for it. Even though your slip is on a lake with no swift currents, there are going to be days when the wind is going to be strong, and an electric motor or even a small 2 HP gas outboard just isn't going to cut it. I've been running a 1999 two-stroke 8 HP Johnson Sail master with a charging system on my 222, and this engine is great for where I go in salt water with strong currents and occasional strong winds. One other thing that you should keep in mind is; A sailboat powered by an outboard will not turn on a dime unless you can use the rudder and the outboard to steer her. So when you get your outboard, try to practice steering both forward and in reverse using both the outboard thrust and the rudder. Always make sure that the rudder blade is all the way down when you do this so that the prop doesn't hit it. Another useful technique when motoring into tight areas is to always use the wind to your advantage, and this is where the power of a larger engine comes in handy on a windy day. If you should over-shoot your mark when pulling into a dock on a windy day, a strong outboard will help you to recover before you either hit the dock, or even worse, hit another boat. Good luck with your 222. I know that you're going to love it as much as I love mine. Smooth Sailing! Joe
RE: Vote #2 for Gas Outboard
Mark, I have to agree with Joe. I have a little 3.5 hp for my dingy and I suppose it could push my O'day 25 on a calm day for a short distance. I have a Honda 7.5 Four Stroke and it sips the gas and has just enough that I feel fairly confident getting out of trouble with it with enough power. The Johnson Sailmaster Joe mentioned seems to be a very dependable, popular and adequate motor for the 22 - 26 foot boats and I have seen plenty in well maintained shape for less than $1,000 on my local Craigslist. Good luck. Chuck
Mark, I have to agree with Joe. I have a little 3.5 hp for my dingy and I suppose it could push my O'day 25 on a calm day for a short distance. I have a Honda 7.5 Four Stroke and it sips the gas and has just enough that I feel fairly confident getting out of trouble with it with enough power. The Johnson Sailmaster Joe mentioned seems to be a very dependable, popular and adequate motor for the 22 - 26 foot boats and I have seen plenty in well maintained shape for less than $1,000 on my local Craigslist. Good luck. Chuck
Been there done that
I have an Oday 22. Had a large electric motor that I used for just the reasons you stated. It was all well and good until the wind kicked up and the motor didn't have the testorone (
I have an Oday 22. Had a large electric motor that I used for just the reasons you stated. It was all well and good until the wind kicked up and the motor didn't have the testorone (
have used both
I used a 55# thrust electric on a 575# boat and a 1300# boat. I would say that it was okay in the harbour and pushed me around at about 3 knots without any wind. However, there was no way it was going to get me home with a headwind. I moved to a 2.5 hp motor for the 1300# boat, and it moves it along at about 5.5. I would not trust it to get me home fast in a storm either, but at least it moves me at hull speed, and I can carry a spare gas can for more energy. When my 55# thurst motor was all I had, the power was noticably less as the battery time was reduced. My 3 knots turn into 1.5 knots. Go with as much weight as you can afford. For a 22, I have seen motors of up to 9.9 hp and they will move you into a headwind, without much decrease in max speed from a no wind day. Increased weight on the transom however is the trade off. Most 22's would not have a motor smaller than 4hp.
I used a 55# thrust electric on a 575# boat and a 1300# boat. I would say that it was okay in the harbour and pushed me around at about 3 knots without any wind. However, there was no way it was going to get me home with a headwind. I moved to a 2.5 hp motor for the 1300# boat, and it moves it along at about 5.5. I would not trust it to get me home fast in a storm either, but at least it moves me at hull speed, and I can carry a spare gas can for more energy. When my 55# thurst motor was all I had, the power was noticably less as the battery time was reduced. My 3 knots turn into 1.5 knots. Go with as much weight as you can afford. For a 22, I have seen motors of up to 9.9 hp and they will move you into a headwind, without much decrease in max speed from a no wind day. Increased weight on the transom however is the trade off. Most 22's would not have a motor smaller than 4hp.
Rule of Thumb
I read an article by a Marine Surveyor where he said he looks for 2 horsepower per each 1000 lbs of weight as adequate power. My experience supports that estimate - when I first got my 1400 lb O'day 192 I used the Honda 2hp that I already had for my Potter 15. It worked okay as long as the wind was under 15kts and there wasn't much chop. Under more adverse circumstances I felt I needed more power. Since the 192 is considerable lighter than your 222 I'd have to say that using a 2hp motor would be inadequate under everything but the most benign conditions. If you figure that a 222 with a couple folks aboard is going to weigh in at about 2500 lbs, the 2hp/1000lbs rule would call for about 5hp, similar to what those that have experience with the 22 and 222 are suggesting. On my Potter 15 I did try an electric trolling motor with about 30 lbs of thrust. It was pretty disappointing, even on a boat that weighs less than 1000lbs loaded. I would consider that more as an electric alternative to paddling than as a substitute for a gasoline powered outboard.
I read an article by a Marine Surveyor where he said he looks for 2 horsepower per each 1000 lbs of weight as adequate power. My experience supports that estimate - when I first got my 1400 lb O'day 192 I used the Honda 2hp that I already had for my Potter 15. It worked okay as long as the wind was under 15kts and there wasn't much chop. Under more adverse circumstances I felt I needed more power. Since the 192 is considerable lighter than your 222 I'd have to say that using a 2hp motor would be inadequate under everything but the most benign conditions. If you figure that a 222 with a couple folks aboard is going to weigh in at about 2500 lbs, the 2hp/1000lbs rule would call for about 5hp, similar to what those that have experience with the 22 and 222 are suggesting. On my Potter 15 I did try an electric trolling motor with about 30 lbs of thrust. It was pretty disappointing, even on a boat that weighs less than 1000lbs loaded. I would consider that more as an electric alternative to paddling than as a substitute for a gasoline powered outboard.
The rule of thumb sounds valid to me
Dave, I think that the HP to boat weight rule of thumb is pretty valid and a good general rule to go by. I don't think that I would ever stick a 9.9 HP Johnson Sailmaster on my 222 because it's not only overkill, but it's a heavier engine than the 8, and they had electric start, which I didn't need. What I really needed was the charging system that the Johnson Sailmaster 8HP had in it, which the 6 didn't have. I used to do a lot of night sailing every weekend during the boating season, and I needed to keep my 100 AH battery up for my nav lights, radio, and autopilot. Also, the Johnson had just come out with the shift control in front of the engine, which is a heck of a lot better than the shift on the side of the engine. So this is what gravitated me toward the Johnson Sailmaster 8 HP. At any rate, we all agree that Mark should have something larger than a 2 HP, and that an electric motor is out of the question for this boat. I should also add that he's going to need a long shaft and if he decides on a four stroke engine, he needs to make sure that his motor bracket is strong enough to support the weight of it, as the four strokes are heavier than the two strokes. I like two stroke outboards myself, and I hope that they continue to make them. Although, I'm told that they no longer make Johnsons and they continue to make Evinrude, which is OK with me. They were always the same identical engine with a different name on the engine cover. Joe
Dave, I think that the HP to boat weight rule of thumb is pretty valid and a good general rule to go by. I don't think that I would ever stick a 9.9 HP Johnson Sailmaster on my 222 because it's not only overkill, but it's a heavier engine than the 8, and they had electric start, which I didn't need. What I really needed was the charging system that the Johnson Sailmaster 8HP had in it, which the 6 didn't have. I used to do a lot of night sailing every weekend during the boating season, and I needed to keep my 100 AH battery up for my nav lights, radio, and autopilot. Also, the Johnson had just come out with the shift control in front of the engine, which is a heck of a lot better than the shift on the side of the engine. So this is what gravitated me toward the Johnson Sailmaster 8 HP. At any rate, we all agree that Mark should have something larger than a 2 HP, and that an electric motor is out of the question for this boat. I should also add that he's going to need a long shaft and if he decides on a four stroke engine, he needs to make sure that his motor bracket is strong enough to support the weight of it, as the four strokes are heavier than the two strokes. I like two stroke outboards myself, and I hope that they continue to make them. Although, I'm told that they no longer make Johnsons and they continue to make Evinrude, which is OK with me. They were always the same identical engine with a different name on the engine cover. Joe
6HP Tohatsu
I have used the 6HP Tohatsu, 25 inch shaft model (includes a modest battery charging system) for the past 2 years. The engine has been reliable, easy to start and quiet. It is just adequate for my 272 in protected waters and should be more than adequate for the 222. Approx 60 lbs, $1500 Good luck
I have used the 6HP Tohatsu, 25 inch shaft model (includes a modest battery charging system) for the past 2 years. The engine has been reliable, easy to start and quiet. It is just adequate for my 272 in protected waters and should be more than adequate for the 222. Approx 60 lbs, $1500 Good luck
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