H23 Outboard Size suggestions

RobertG-NJ · Jun 18, 2010

Hi

I am a fairly new owner myself but I did have to get a new outboard and did some research so I can tell you whats available. I replaced a 8HP Honda with a 6HP Tohatsu, which is the same as a Nissan or Mercury. The 7-8-9HPs are the same engine and weight, as are the 4-5-6HPs so you might as well go for the higher HP in each group. Some people go for the 9HP but the 6HP is sufficient. I sail in protected coastal waters between barrier islands and the NJ mainland and I have no problem at all with a 6. If you are in a lake I think anything more is overkill. The weight savings of 6HP vs 9HP is a significant 50% or 55lbs vs 90lbs and less strain on the mount and transom. Ocean going and river sailers might want to comment on the need for more HP for those areas.

I would recommend the 25" shaft, but no less than the 20". The Tohatsu I have is a 6HP for sailboats with a 25" shaft and a high thrust low pitch prop made for displacement craft for moving mass not for speed like a power boat. (See article - google "Tropical boating - choosing a prop").

isaksp00 · Jun 18, 2010

My '91 H23 (which I bought used, and am now restoring, so I have not sailed her yet) has a removal (portable) Honda gas tank that stores under the starboard opening seat cover in the cockpit. It is not in the "bilge" area under the seats, if that is what you mean (my battery is down there, in the port lazarette). The gas hose goes from the top of the tank, over the transom and to the motor on the port side - there is no through-hull in the transom. The cable that recharges the battery goes through a small (maybe 1/4 inch?) hole drilled through the transom more or less directly in front of the engine, above the mount. There is a small stainless "hood" screwed to the transom (I forgot the correct name of this thing) over the hole, so the wire leads up from below - the hood prevents water from above getting to the hole.

Ron Roman · Jun 18, 2010

Not more than 9hp. with the long shaft.

MrUnix · Jun 18, 2010

These boats originally came equipped with a Nissan 5Hp 2-stroke outboard. They did not have and alternator, so there was no electrical connection to the battery. Space for a gas tank is provided under the aft starboard cockpit seat. There were no through-hull fittings for the gas or electric connections, so in a stock configuration those just got routed over the top of the transom to the engine. Many owners have modified the boat to route the gas lines various ways through the transom and have done the same with the electrical connection if their engine had that ability.

Cheers,
Brad

Bill Jones · Jun 19, 2010

Weight

A friend of mine bought a 23 that came with a Honda 9.9 four stroke. Way too much motor for the boat. She even lists a bit in her slip. I'd think no more than a long shaft 6 hp.

Bill Jones

kloudie1 · Jun 19, 2010

I had a similar boat for years with a long shaft 7.5 HP Honda 4 stroke, 1978 model.. It was fine .. coastal sailing was no problem.. It used only about 1/8 gallon of fuel per hour at slow cruise.. and was quiet compared to any two stroke.. 9 HP is probably max/a bit big and 6 is probably minimum..

carboman · Jun 19, 2010

I have a 1995 Evinrude 8 HP Yachttwin longshaft, two stroke that weighs 65 lbs. It's on the stock bracket and works well. Don't think I would go much over that weight. I can lift it off and easily store it in the cabin.

jblersch · Jun 20, 2010

This is my first season with my 2001 H240 which came with a Suzuki 6hp. Generally it moves the boat fine in my inland lake and is very light (about 50-60 lbs), but I would like a longer shaft. Last week, however, we had a doozy of a storm pop out of nowhere and the 6hp could hardly move the boat close to the wind... made me wish for a few more hp just in case.

peptobysmol · Jun 21, 2010

Although having the gas in the lazarette seems like a good idea, one thing to keep in mind is that the fumes may permeate the whole cabin from the cap vent. I'm sure some have done this so I'd like to hear what they have done to alleviate this from happening.

MrUnix · Jun 21, 2010

peptobysmol said:
Although having the gas in the lazarette seems like a good idea, one thing to keep in mind is that the fumes may permeate the whole cabin from the cap vent. I'm sure some have done this so I'd like to hear what they have done to alleviate this from happening.

That is one thing about the early Catalina 22s that I didn't like and was quite amazed at.. there is a place for the gas tank under the port cockpit seat which is unvented, and gas fumes can and do make their way into the cabin. To top it off, there is no easy way to strap down the tank, so a good knock down or even possibly severe heel could cause gas to spill into the bilge making an even worse situation.

Cheers,
Brad

RobertG-NJ · Jun 21, 2010

Brad (Mr Unix) you make a good point which made me think about the tank location for the H23. Neodem, the fuel tank location is as stated by IsakspOO, under the starboard opening seat cover in the cockpit. The battery should be in the lazarette on the port side close to the bulkhead (it was on my 88, looks original), not with the fuel tank in the cockpit.

Back to Brad's comment about knockdowns and the tank location, that fuel tank space on the H23 is covered by a lifting seat cover that will also fly open in a knockdown and there is no provision for securing the tank which will be sent flying or floating out. I had not even considered this but it sounds like it would be a good idea to secure the tank in some manner. Has anyone done this?