Hunter 240 What is the best motor for a 240?
- Thread starter Fast Ed
- Start date
Hi, Ed, see you're in NC. What kind of waters do you sail on? Lakes?, bays?, ocean edge? That'll help us to help you. Also, do you have a range of hp in mind? Have you started to your own search for available models from Tohatsu, Mercury and Honda for electric starts? I used to own a C22 and C25 of SF Bay and both used 7.5 hp engines and were fine, so I'm guessing that or a 9.9 for you.
There are a lot of choices. Read reviews. BTW....I had an H26 and could push at hull speed at 1/2 throttle on a Tohatsu 6. You don't need to go any larger than a 6 for a 240. Some people here will talk about head wind and currents ...head wind might actually be a thing but currents not so much. Hull speed is hull speed regardless of current. I would recommend you stay at 6 HP or below. A smaller engine is easier to mount, burns less gas, easy to remove and bring home for maint... and weighs less on the transom. When I got mine, I was very interested in an OB with an alternator. But later I added solar so... that became less of an attraction.
Get the extra long shaft version of whatever you choose.
BTW: I really liked my Tohatsu. It was a pull start but it always started by the second pull.
Get the extra long shaft version of whatever you choose.
BTW: I really liked my Tohatsu. It was a pull start but it always started by the second pull.
To reiterate about @rgranger said, solar is far better than an alternator. Alternators dump a small amount of current and widely fluctuating voltages into the battery. It's just enough to start it next time.
I had a 94 4hp Mercury that was made by Tohatsu. I hated it. It always started but a few times it took me 20 minutes of pulling before it came to life. When I moved to a bigger motor, I didn't hook up the battery cable right away. I never thought that an electric start would have enhanced the sailing experience as much as it did. I also think it's good in emergency situations.
I had a 94 4hp Mercury that was made by Tohatsu. I hated it. It always started but a few times it took me 20 minutes of pulling before it came to life. When I moved to a bigger motor, I didn't hook up the battery cable right away. I never thought that an electric start would have enhanced the sailing experience as much as it did. I also think it's good in emergency situations.
For kicks and grins, I looked at the Online Outboard website the 8hp Mercury is available with an electric start. The other awesome thing about the Mercury is the twist grip shifter. You can shift from forward to reverse by twisting the throttle handle back across neutral without taking your hand off of the motor tiller or your eyes off of what is around you. With one hand on the boat tiller the other on the motor tiller you can steer with both, and it really makes for some great maneuverability.
That feature makes the Mercury the best option.
That feature makes the Mercury the best option.
The first motor on my H260 was a 1hp Yamaha. This pushed the boat just fine in calm conditions. Any wind, boat wake, current and I didn't have enough power. I upgraded to a 9.9hp Yamaha, the max weight for my motor mount. You don't need more hp than that to reach hull speed. (Under 6kts) The real key to successful motoring these models was linking the motor to the rudder, so the thrust can be aimed.
I agree with what @Rick Webb said about being able to steer with both the motor and tiller. I would not recommend connecting the motor to the tiller but many people disagree with me on this one.
On the H240 and the H260, the motor is fixed in place. Does not pivot. There is no motor tiller. If there was, it would be unreachable from the helm station. That is why so many of us change it and link the motor to the rudder.
I have a Mercury 8hp electric start with alternator. I think I got 15 mpg on the Erie Canal. Very efficient and the alternator kept the lights on. I can easily control the motor by hand from the cockpit and mine has wheel steering. I find the 8hp four stroke to be all the power I need.
The big advantage of a 9.9 Prokicker is that transmission control is available on the throttle. This allows you to shift from forward to reverse without removing your hand from the throttle. I think its a huge advantage while docking to be able shift into reverse without looking back at your engine.
George
George
We have a Honda 8 HP 4 stroke on ours. We have also used the Mercury 5 HP 4 stroke. Both engines ran at roughly 1600 to 1800 rpm and provided sufficient thrust. If our engines were any older, I would definitely be looking at electric start for the 240. No problems locking the engine and using the 240 tiller to steer.
I have a Honda 9.9 that came with mine - It's heavy for the boat and hanging off the starboard side (along with the battery) induces some heel. There's JUST enough room to kick it up and out of the way with the size of the cowl. Does the job.
If I was picking something from scratch, I'd opt for the lightest ~10hp 2-cycle I could find, but those are an endangered species.
If I was picking something from scratch, I'd opt for the lightest ~10hp 2-cycle I could find, but those are an endangered species.
I bought my boat (Hunter 240) used. It came with a Honda 8 hp outboard. I could almost water ski with it. I had to pull it as it refused to start during the second year of ownership. It is in my garage if anyone wants it. Lot of new parts. Still doesn't work.
I bought a Mercury (Tohatsu) propane 5 hp. I have two propane tanks hanging in the fuel compartment, side by side. I use almost one tank a year and the most I have paid for a refill is $9.00. I wish that it had an electric start but it is so easy to pull through I have gotten used to it. My Honda was manual also. You have to turn on the gas, pull it through three times and wait a full 60 seconds. Repeat as necessary. It you sail twice a week it will start in three pulls. Wait three weeks and you will pull six or eight times. this has been the only downside. Like all outboards it cavitates if it is on the windward side of the boat but it's only at issue if you get to close to the lee shore in a strong wind.
I bought a Mercury (Tohatsu) propane 5 hp. I have two propane tanks hanging in the fuel compartment, side by side. I use almost one tank a year and the most I have paid for a refill is $9.00. I wish that it had an electric start but it is so easy to pull through I have gotten used to it. My Honda was manual also. You have to turn on the gas, pull it through three times and wait a full 60 seconds. Repeat as necessary. It you sail twice a week it will start in three pulls. Wait three weeks and you will pull six or eight times. this has been the only downside. Like all outboards it cavitates if it is on the windward side of the boat but it's only at issue if you get to close to the lee shore in a strong wind.