Engines for Hunter 26, 1994 water ballasted

[Larry O]

Hello Hunter Owners,
Thinking of buying a new 9.9 outboard for my Hunter. Any recommendations or disrecommendations out there?

Also thought I might get a power tilt but wondering if it can be mounted on the stock mounting bracket. Any thoughts there?
Thanks,
Larry

 

[Ray Bowles]

We had a Honda 9.9 longshaft on our 95 H26 and it was perfect. It was a manual start and required manual raising. I would recommend the electric start but personally I think the power tilt is a problem waiting to happen. The stock mount on our boat was fine for mounting the Honda. That motor had a small charging system that would have trouble powering a flashlight but I've heard the new motors are better equipped.
The Honda is not cheap but worked very well.
Ray

 

[Sailavie1]

If I may, I would like to add a question to this thread; has anyone installed a manual motor tilting rig for their outboards? I have a 9.8 hp on my H25 and it feels like I am going to fall overboard when I lower the motor due to the weight and reach required. I am contemplating rigging a simple block and line from the motor to the boat to help tilt it up or down. Has anyone done this or something like it that works?

Thanks
Andre

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Larry O

The 1994 year was the first model year of the Hunter 26 as I introduced it. The transom is not designed for outboards over 10 hp. Honda and the rest of the motors are all good but some will say Honda whiler others will say for example Mercury. If you are planning to mount outboard motor controls in the cockpit, you will have to buy the style Honda with the remote provided. It will not come with a remote tiller and that alone is not good for back up steering. So just be cautious unless they changed that in the past few years. As for Mercury, Nissan and Tohatsu, under 10 hp, they are all the same motors as all are built By Tohatsu which I believe is the oldest manufacturer of outboards in the world. By the way, Tohatsu also makes parts for other engine manufacturers as well.

The biggest suggestion is to add the additive to combat ethonal unless you can get straight gas and let the fuel run out of the carb every time so the carb will not gum up.

The Honda I think is the heaviest and probably the most expensive as you are paying for the name.

dave condon

 

[isaksp00]

I can't see how you could easily install power tilt, at least, basing on experience with my H23, which may be quite different. I think you would need (or really want) a mount that can lift the engine vertically, so the long leg on the longshaft (which you likely will need) can get fully out of the water when not in use. I have a Honda 8, and yes, it is a bit heavy (like 85 lbs or so), but pulling up the mount and then manually tilting the leg up is not that hard, and mine came wiht a rather old mount. I think the newer ones (like Garelick?) are likely easier to lift and lower. If you do use a lifting mount, not sure you would need power tilt, or possibly even be able to mount it. I would guess the savings on not buying power tilt should easily buy a lifting mount.

 

[tgrass462]

Crossing my fingers

After much thought and deliberation (a lot of it here on this forum) we narrowed our search (for a new Outboard for our 1999 H-260) to a 9.9 Yamaha Hi Thrust with power tilt and a 9.9 Mercury Big Foot with manual tilt. For a variety of reasons - we went with the Mercury. The big foot option is a geared down lower unit - I'm hoping that the extra thrust provided will help move our displacement hull around much better than our current 8 HP 2-cycle tohatsu.

Tom Grass
Creve Coeur, Mo

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

The two cycle 8 hp was capable of moving but sometimes barely in heavy current as I had tested that boat in all kinds of currents and the one I used the most was near NOB in Noffolk where the channel is dredged at the mouth of the James River but also a good place to see if the motor musters up particularly when a ship or sub approaches and you have to get out of the way.

Remember the Mercury is built by Tohatsu and parts are interchangeable. Also, add the additive to combat ethonal and let the carb run out of fuel after every time you use the engine. In salt water, make sure you flush often with the motor muff or any specified attachement.

As for the James River, it starts in my back yard which will happen in a couple of years. Fair Winds.

crazy dave condon