Help needed.

Knuttle · May 3, 2010

Bill B. on Guntersville Lake, Guntersville, Alabama.[/quote]

Are the bridges across the lake high enough to sail under, over 25' above the water?

I googled Guntersville Lake an it appears that if you can not get under the bridges, you will have about 2 mile sails. If you were planning on sailing on a much larger lake or if you have long channels to the launching ramps you may wish to consider a motor.

So while motors are nice, when you are learning to sail it is best to lean with out a motor. This forces you to learn to handle the boat in all kinds of wind conditions. Making the boat go when the wind is very light helps you to learn about the wind. When the wind is to much you can always get in.

The literature from the manufacturer recomend is less than 10 hp.

Depending on the date your boat was manufactured you will either have a 12" draft if manufactured after Dec 1970, or 18" if manufactured before.

http://macgregor.sailboatowners.com...l&id=163&Itemid=888&brand=Macgregor&bmodel=21

I picked my V-21 in 1970 and have sailed it on inland lakes from 600 to 30000 acres. I have never gotten around to putting a motor on the boat.

Phil V25 · May 3, 2010

Welcome Aboard Bill

On my old V21 I had a 9.9 HP and it was more then enough power. Others have used smaller and did OK. According to MacGregor the boat is rated maximum at 10 HP (I suspect it has more to do with weight). I would go with the "long shaft" and I'm not sure is that means 20". There have been several with the B&S and I haven't heard them say anything good about them especially if salt water is involved. If price is the main factor look for a good used one, checked out by a qualified mechanic. BTW I liked the performance of my V21 better then the V25!

J Alfred Prufrock said:
I am a complete novice and dumber then dirt when it comes to boats. I recently purchased a 21ft Mac and need to buy a motor for it.
What horsepower motor would others recommend. I will be on an in-land lake, mainly close to shore( until I get some more training in sailing).
Do I need a 15" or 20" shaft?
What are the opinions on the Briggs and Stratton 5hp on sale on iboat.com for $699.00?
All info will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

Bill B. on Guntersville Lake, Guntersville, Alabama.

MrBill_FLL · May 4, 2010

6hp, 20-25" shaft.
but you could get by on a 4hp, long shaft.

<IMHO>

Sumner · May 4, 2010

We bought a used 5 HP Nissan on Craigs list for $600 and have been very happy with it. It is the long shaft (20 inch) and we use it on the dinghy....

.....but have also used it on the Mac once when the Honda didn't start. It pushed the Mac fine into 20+ mph winds. We got the long shaft for the reason of using it on the Mac if the other motor didn't work and I had to raise the transom on the dinghy.

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor/zodiac-3.html

The Tohatsu 4, 5 and 6 HP outboards are all the same and they also make the same model for Nissan and Mercury. You can convert a 4 HP to 5 or 6 with a $130 carb change at any time, but the 4 HP would be fine.

http://www.onlineoutboards.com/

Good luck,

Sum

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID
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timebandit · May 4, 2010

I don't think there are any Macs out there with a 9.9HP that have ever been able to say that they ran the engine at full throttle. It's only hanging back there because it is the smallest of the electric start motors and you can even get some with electric tilt I seem to remember.

Mac M'S and X's excluded of course and maybee a 19.

My 25 runs at hull speed at 1/2 throttle with a 8HP 2 stroke and most docking is done at an idle or just above.

The motor is locked in position.

GLSail · May 4, 2010

Have a 4hp 2 stroke short shaft on my 21 that came with the purchase. So far it has been more than enough power. I thought that real rough waves would bring the prop out of the water but that has not happened yet. Suprised me by pushing the loaded boat 7-7.5 mph at 3/4 throttle.
Gerald
Getting out of the calm spots.

roger10055 · May 5, 2010

i have a 21' venture, use it on a lake. i've used a 4 hp forever, works great. the only issue has been fighting ocean currents in rivers as it is too small for that. a 7 would be better there.

ChockFullOnuts222 · May 6, 2010

I have a V2-22, and I've run 2 different outboards on it:

1972 Evinrude/Johnson 9.5 hp. Great motor, despite its age and fuel economy. Ran strong and moved the boat along nicely near full throttle (keel up). I only stopped using it because the recoil starter assembly fell apart, and the carburetor was getting twitchy.

1980's Johnson 6 hp sail drive (long shaft). Hate it. It does start easily, and does get very good fuel economy (less than half of the other engine's fuel usage), but it is weak. It runs better with the top cover off (to get more air), but it still only delivers maybe 3/4 the speed that the older 9.5 hp motor did. I never have problems motoring into the wind, but it has me biting my nails whenever I dash in to shore to get away from stormy weather.

It's just my opinion, but I would recommend something between 7.5 hp and 9.9 hp.

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