I have a 4 HP Merc outboard on my '83 H25, which is usually sufficient. But what is optimal? What is the limit? Hunter Marine wrote me, "Our archives do not go back that far, to 83, to say what we recommended as a maximum. I don't know what other owners have done. Usually on a boat that size we don't recommend anything bigger than an 8 HP." Anybody with confirming or denying experience? Rick
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My 9.9 works fine...
It's powered me through some pretty rough seas, and I never felt under- or over-powered. I have a Yamaha 9.9, 4-stroke, regular shaft motor on a sprung mount. --Jon Bastien '78 H25 'Adagio'
It's powered me through some pretty rough seas, and I never felt under- or over-powered. I have a Yamaha 9.9, 4-stroke, regular shaft motor on a sprung mount. --Jon Bastien '78 H25 'Adagio'
9.9 on mine also
My 1976 25ft. hunter has a 9.9 two stroke. I have never ran the motor at top rpms because anytime I run at about five knots the boat will go bow down, the engine then is too far in the water.If you have a fixed mount then you couldn't run the engine at top rpms without submerging the engine. I have a mount that can be adjusted to help with this problem.But you can't adjust the mount without stopping and adjusting. What this means to me is I think the 9.9 is the biggest you can use,and get all the horse power that you paid for.And a smaller motor might work fine.This is all based on one or two people in the cockpit.
My 1976 25ft. hunter has a 9.9 two stroke. I have never ran the motor at top rpms because anytime I run at about five knots the boat will go bow down, the engine then is too far in the water.If you have a fixed mount then you couldn't run the engine at top rpms without submerging the engine. I have a mount that can be adjusted to help with this problem.But you can't adjust the mount without stopping and adjusting. What this means to me is I think the 9.9 is the biggest you can use,and get all the horse power that you paid for.And a smaller motor might work fine.This is all based on one or two people in the cockpit.
Prop Change.
Richard, We have a H26 with a Honda 9.9. I realized your boat is smaller but something I found interesting might apply to the 23' class as well. Even at the lowest rpm my motor runs at, it pushed the boat faster than I wanted or needed in the marina. Also, long power runs back to the barn, on still days, meant the engine ran at rpm's to low for clean combustion and not high enough to recharge our battery. I changed to a lower pitch prop and it is like having a new engine. Just a thought. Ray
Richard, We have a H26 with a Honda 9.9. I realized your boat is smaller but something I found interesting might apply to the 23' class as well. Even at the lowest rpm my motor runs at, it pushed the boat faster than I wanted or needed in the marina. Also, long power runs back to the barn, on still days, meant the engine ran at rpm's to low for clean combustion and not high enough to recharge our battery. I changed to a lower pitch prop and it is like having a new engine. Just a thought. Ray
9.9 is Fine
I have a Mercury 9.9 which powers my boat right up to hull speed with ease. It is somewhat lacking in horsepower to push the boat into heavy seas. Boat rides fine with this motor mounted on the centerline and it seems in keeping with other sailboats of the size and generation.
I have a Mercury 9.9 which powers my boat right up to hull speed with ease. It is somewhat lacking in horsepower to push the boat into heavy seas. Boat rides fine with this motor mounted on the centerline and it seems in keeping with other sailboats of the size and generation.
Johnson 9.9 scoots me along mighty fine
I have a one year old Johnson 9.9 longshaft on a spring mount centered on the transom. I cruise in the San Francisco Bay. I've been out in some pretty snotty stuff and I scoot along just fine, even against incoming tides. The trick is getting the motor at the right height and angle for optimum performance. You don't want to be redrilling the spring hinged mount. One you've got it "dialed in" you will be very satisfied with the performance of a 9.9.
I have a one year old Johnson 9.9 longshaft on a spring mount centered on the transom. I cruise in the San Francisco Bay. I've been out in some pretty snotty stuff and I scoot along just fine, even against incoming tides. The trick is getting the motor at the right height and angle for optimum performance. You don't want to be redrilling the spring hinged mount. One you've got it "dialed in" you will be very satisfied with the performance of a 9.9.
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