Help Picking Out a New Outboard Motor for a Hunter 23.5

[evan709]

Hi,

I'm still new to sailing a boat of this size so I appreciate all the help I get from Forum members.

I have a 1993 Hunter 23.5 which I bought used three years ago. It came with an old 9.9HP outboard motor with a long shaft. Now the motor won't start and the potential repair bill has me thinking of getting a different motor.

There's no recommendations for outboard motors in the manual for the boat. I believe a 9.9HP motor is probably too big for this boat. What size do other owners have that seems to work well? Also, is a long shaft required?

Thanks,

Evan

 

[Dennis Kitchen]

If I replace my 5hp on my 23.5 it will be a Tohatsu 6 hp 4stroke sailpro with XL shaft.
Dennis

 

[Tony_Furst]

I have the Tohatsu 6 horse 4 stroke standard shaft with an external fuel tank and it works great. I'm sailing on an inland lake that gets rough due to the shallow depth and I haven't had any issues.

 

[evan709]

If I replace my 5hp on my 23.5 it will be a Tohatsu 6 hp 4stroke sailpro with XL shaft.
Dennis

Thanks for the input Dennis. Why do you prefer the XL shaft and why a 4 stroke over a two stroke?

 

[Dennis Kitchen]

EV,
I have a long shaft 2 stroke now. When you tip the motor up to sail or store it invariably leaks fuel from the carb bowl somehow and when the fuel evaporates it leaves oil which drips onto the motor well. When heeled to port and motor sailing or raising sail the prop sucks air with the long shaft motor; why I want a XL shaft. Finally, quieter and ( I hope ) less vibration and a small charging generator for the battery.
Dennis

 

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[Crazy Dave Condon]

Mac hp on that boat suggested is 8 hp

 

[isaksp00]

You may want to look at the forums in iboats dot com, as that site specializes in outboards and outboard issues. I have a Honda, and the forum section on Honda/Tohatsu/Nissan is very helpful and at least two pro mechanics who do Tohatsu work offer invaluable advice. I have been able to do all maintenance myself on my Honda by getting advice, and lurking, on that site. The Tohatsu line (which makes Nissan and I think also smaller Merc engines) generally gets high marks. I think the Tohatsu branded motors are less expensive than the other brands' identical motors.

While a 2-stroke will be lighter, I am not sure you can even buy new 2-strokes in the small engines anymore due to EPA regs. My 8HP Honda is a bit heavy for my 23 (I can barely lift it to put on the bracket when on the trailer). I would definitely go with at LEAST the long shaft.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

The above is good poop or advice. Thank You Mr. isaksp00. Two stroke engines you have to add the oil to the gas mixture whereas the four stroke is heavier and has their own oil resivouior (misspelled) but quieter and better fuel efficiency. You may need to beef up your bracket from inside. Also use straight gas not the ethanol or corn crap as I call it unless you have to and then make sure you add the additives and let the fuel run out of the bowel or simply let the engine run out of gas by shutting off the fuel supply.

 

[Rick Webb]

While most of the motors in that size offer little real difference the Mercury has a feature that is worth some extra money.

The shifter is in the throttle handle. Twist it one way for forward the other for reverse. This makes it a one handed operation to control the engine. with one hand on the engine tiller and the other on the boat tiller maneuvering it tight spaces is very easy.

 

[Johann]

I replaced the 4 hp long shaft Suzuki that came with my 23.5 with the tohatsu 6 hp xl. The long shaft prop would come out of the water in larger waves. The xl never did. The tohatsu was great, although if merc makes a 6hp xl the shift on the throttle sounds nice.

 

[Justin_NSA]

Orrrrrr...you could go electric like a Torqeedo. Then there are also propane options as well. I've seen both in our club.
Was there a reason for the 9.9? Rough weather? Currents?

 

[MrEd]

Be aware that the terrific shifter integrated into tiller handle feature is not available on Mercs under 8 hp. The smaller motors and the 8 and 9.9 Tohatsu use a separate shift handle. Other than that, Tohatsu and Merc seem identical except for the labeling.

 

[Rick Webb]

The 8hp motors are also two cylinders and significantly smoother running.
I have a 2 stroke 6 with the grip shift but mine is also a 2 cylinder and apparently a twin to the 8 and 9.9 motors of it's vintage

Were I to buy a new motor I'd go up in HP for the grip shift and take the smoother running two cylinder as a bonus.
Mine will probably keep running and I'll never get the chance.