is a 4 hp to small for my 22 oday?
- Thread starter Robbie G
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Outboard motor size
That's kind of a hard call because of the area where you sail and the size of your boat. I'm not sure if a 4 hp can stem a foul current in places like Wood's Hole on the Cape. My Johnson 8 was able to do it and maybe a 6 Hp could do it also. I'm not sure. For all around motoring up the Cape, I would use at least a 6 HP. A four will work OK in the harbor, but for my 222, an 8 Hp has always got me through Wood's Hole and I've motored through all the passages in the Elizabeth Islands including the Canapitsit Channel. We get strong currents in the Tiverton RI basin sometimes and my 8 is able to get through in foul currents. I think that a 4 would push that boat real nice, but I'm not sure how it would do in a strong current in a narrow passage. Joe
That's kind of a hard call because of the area where you sail and the size of your boat. I'm not sure if a 4 hp can stem a foul current in places like Wood's Hole on the Cape. My Johnson 8 was able to do it and maybe a 6 Hp could do it also. I'm not sure. For all around motoring up the Cape, I would use at least a 6 HP. A four will work OK in the harbor, but for my 222, an 8 Hp has always got me through Wood's Hole and I've motored through all the passages in the Elizabeth Islands including the Canapitsit Channel. We get strong currents in the Tiverton RI basin sometimes and my 8 is able to get through in foul currents. I think that a 4 would push that boat real nice, but I'm not sure how it would do in a strong current in a narrow passage. Joe
conditions
I agree with Joe that conditions are a factor in motor size as well as boat size. Buy the engine that will be used in the worst of conditions. Namely: Driving into a 25 knot blow and you are in a 'have to' get back/there situation. I have to think that a 4 HP engine is a little under powered for a breeze on the nose of any velocity. For a little more money you can get a lot of peace of mind. However if you KNOW that you will never ever be in on-the-nose windy conditions then the four will probably work OK.
I agree with Joe that conditions are a factor in motor size as well as boat size. Buy the engine that will be used in the worst of conditions. Namely: Driving into a 25 knot blow and you are in a 'have to' get back/there situation. I have to think that a 4 HP engine is a little under powered for a breeze on the nose of any velocity. For a little more money you can get a lot of peace of mind. However if you KNOW that you will never ever be in on-the-nose windy conditions then the four will probably work OK.
4 Hp Yamaha
I have been using a 4hp Yamaha 4stroke on my boat for the last two years. Went with the 4hp because i was concerned about the weight of the larger engines putting a strain on the transom. These old boats were not designed to carry heavy 4cycle engines. The 4hp Yamaha pushes the boat to hull speed at 2/3 throtle and wind and current have not been a problem.
I have been using a 4hp Yamaha 4stroke on my boat for the last two years. Went with the 4hp because i was concerned about the weight of the larger engines putting a strain on the transom. These old boats were not designed to carry heavy 4cycle engines. The 4hp Yamaha pushes the boat to hull speed at 2/3 throtle and wind and current have not been a problem.
4 HP Yamaha outboards
I agree with you on that one Larry. If you can get away with using a 4 HP where you sail, that's great. The larger 4 strokes are certainly heavier, and you need a heavy duty transom bracket for them. I helped a friend deliver his O'Day 272 from the Cape to Bristol RI, last year. His boat had a 10 HP Yamaha four stroke on the back and it ran beautiful. They're great engines.
I agree with you on that one Larry. If you can get away with using a 4 HP where you sail, that's great. The larger 4 strokes are certainly heavier, and you need a heavy duty transom bracket for them. I helped a friend deliver his O'Day 272 from the Cape to Bristol RI, last year. His boat had a 10 HP Yamaha four stroke on the back and it ran beautiful. They're great engines.
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