Can anyone advise me regarding the safe/allowable motor horsepower for a Mac 25 "1976".Read somewhere that 10HP was rated in 1976.Has this changed over the years due to weight and power improvements.If so please advise.
Motor horsepower for Mac 25
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Motor Horsepower
I don't know if this will be of any help, but on my 1985 25 ft. MacGregor I have a 8 hp mariner.
I don't know if this will be of any help, but on my 1985 25 ft. MacGregor I have a 8 hp mariner.
9.9 hp
I have a 1976 mac 25(sail #624)and i use a honda 9.9 hp.I have a buddy who has a later model of the same design and he uses a 15 hp.He says the if he had it to do over he would have gone with a 9.9. He has told me that mine is more fuel effiecient the 15 and doesnt give you much more power.
I have a 1976 mac 25(sail #624)and i use a honda 9.9 hp.I have a buddy who has a later model of the same design and he uses a 15 hp.He says the if he had it to do over he would have gone with a 9.9. He has told me that mine is more fuel effiecient the 15 and doesnt give you much more power.
My 10hp Honda still runs great after 23 years.
I have noticed in storage that they range from 7.5 to 10 hp. I understand that anything over 10 is fruitless and a waste of gas. I did find last time out that the motor is suffering from erectile tiller disfunction. Just another sign of old age? Quick fix anyone? Frank
I have noticed in storage that they range from 7.5 to 10 hp. I understand that anything over 10 is fruitless and a waste of gas. I did find last time out that the motor is suffering from erectile tiller disfunction. Just another sign of old age? Quick fix anyone? Frank
I have a 6 hp Merc that
I bought for my 25. The boat and the motor are new to me but used. Do you just start the motor and aim it straight and use the tiller to steer?
I bought for my 25. The boat and the motor are new to me but used. Do you just start the motor and aim it straight and use the tiller to steer?
Aiming
Some steer with the tiller, some with the motor, some tie the motor and tiller togeather. Personally I steer with the tiller. But I started on larger boats (inboards) and don't expect to turn that tight. Actually, if there is any breeze I sail in to the dock. I started my out board once last year (spring check up) and didn't use it again all summer. This year I will get some new gas (the gas in the tank is 4 years old now). It's a sail boat, and I think the motor is ugly hanging back there. I may take it and the bracket off this spring.
Some steer with the tiller, some with the motor, some tie the motor and tiller togeather. Personally I steer with the tiller. But I started on larger boats (inboards) and don't expect to turn that tight. Actually, if there is any breeze I sail in to the dock. I started my out board once last year (spring check up) and didn't use it again all summer. This year I will get some new gas (the gas in the tank is 4 years old now). It's a sail boat, and I think the motor is ugly hanging back there. I may take it and the bracket off this spring.
my 9.9 is enough
I have a 9.9 Honda on my 25. A few years ago I had to tow my friend's 21 foot cuddy cabin after it wouldn't start. It definately wouldn't win any race but the little Honda did just fine. 46 feet of boat with 9.9 hp, not bad. I steer with the motor until the water is deep enough to drop the rudder. I have 4 ft of MLW in the channel and at my dock. I could probably get in and out with the rudder down but have bumped with the keel up at low tide so don't bother. As soon as I clear the breakwater the rudder goes down. About a hundred yards more and I can drop the keel and raise the sails. The Chesapeake is amazingly shallow for some distance out from the shore.
I have a 9.9 Honda on my 25. A few years ago I had to tow my friend's 21 foot cuddy cabin after it wouldn't start. It definately wouldn't win any race but the little Honda did just fine. 46 feet of boat with 9.9 hp, not bad. I steer with the motor until the water is deep enough to drop the rudder. I have 4 ft of MLW in the channel and at my dock. I could probably get in and out with the rudder down but have bumped with the keel up at low tide so don't bother. As soon as I clear the breakwater the rudder goes down. About a hundred yards more and I can drop the keel and raise the sails. The Chesapeake is amazingly shallow for some distance out from the shore.
I'm curious
"I did find last time out that the motor is suffering from erectile tiller dysfunction. Just another sign of old age? Quick fix anyone? " What are the symptoms??
We upgraded from a single lung 5hp Nissan to a 2 cyl 9.9 Merc on our 26S for the admiral's piece of mind. I will admit it runs smoother. No tiller envy here!
"I did find last time out that the motor is suffering from erectile tiller dysfunction. Just another sign of old age? Quick fix anyone? " What are the symptoms??
We upgraded from a single lung 5hp Nissan to a 2 cyl 9.9 Merc on our 26S for the admiral's piece of mind. I will admit it runs smoother. No tiller envy here!Put the lime in the coconut
and shake it all up. Call the Doctor in the morning and he'll tell you what to do! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7P59YBoz_o Steve P.
and shake it all up. Call the Doctor in the morning and he'll tell you what to do! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7P59YBoz_o Steve P.
8 HP is optimum for most 24 to 26 footers
If you only motor a short distance to and away from dock, a 6 HP will do. Any smaller than that, and you could get pinched on resale due to the under-sized motor. A 9.9 HP will work grest, but for many models these are just a de-tuned 15 HP outboard, and quite heaver. If you can find an 8 HP that isn't a detuned 9.9 (some are), that will give you the best power, to fuel efficiency, to weight ratio.
If you only motor a short distance to and away from dock, a 6 HP will do. Any smaller than that, and you could get pinched on resale due to the under-sized motor. A 9.9 HP will work grest, but for many models these are just a de-tuned 15 HP outboard, and quite heaver. If you can find an 8 HP that isn't a detuned 9.9 (some are), that will give you the best power, to fuel efficiency, to weight ratio.
Go smaller
Popeye, These 25's don't plane, so there is no point to adding much hp. The rental sailboats at Dana Point Marina in California use Honda 5's and do just fine. They are light, cheaper, start well and don't use much gas. Easy starting is really important to me. Leaning way over and pulling a starter rope gets harder the older you get. The only time most sailors around there use the engine is getting around the harbor. The longer the shaft, the better. (I know, I know! Shaft envy.)
Popeye, These 25's don't plane, so there is no point to adding much hp. The rental sailboats at Dana Point Marina in California use Honda 5's and do just fine. They are light, cheaper, start well and don't use much gas. Easy starting is really important to me. Leaning way over and pulling a starter rope gets harder the older you get. The only time most sailors around there use the engine is getting around the harbor. The longer the shaft, the better. (I know, I know! Shaft envy.)
5hp
I just replaced my 8hp envinrude(1984) with a 2006 5hp Honda 4 stroke. I have not noticed any difference in power. ALOT OF DIFFERENCE IN DEPENDABILITY. I'd like to put my boat in the ocean this summer for a trip or two and that is what I'm not sure about? Will I be under powered there?
I just replaced my 8hp envinrude(1984) with a 2006 5hp Honda 4 stroke. I have not noticed any difference in power. ALOT OF DIFFERENCE IN DEPENDABILITY. I'd like to put my boat in the ocean this summer for a trip or two and that is what I'm not sure about? Will I be under powered there?
tohatsu
My 26S came with a 1992 Tohatsu two stroke 8 hp, and I love it. This is the only outboard that I have ever been around, but I am consistantly amazed at its reliability. Last year I when to start it up after a winter in the shed, using the electric start(a nice feature that also tops off your battery during use). I hadn't connected the leads to the battery securly enough, so the starter didn't crank. Gave it one pull on the rope and almost fell off the boat - it started on the first try! It has a long shaft, and I turn both the motor and the tiller when manuvering in tight quarters, use just the tiller for regular motoring, and I have steered with just the outboard occasionally in very shallow water,especially when beaching the boat. It moves along at 6 to 7 mph, and seems to go a long way on a 6 gal. tank, although I haven't calculated mpg yet. It would be interesting to know what the actual difference is, in speed verses fuel efficiency, between 5, 10, and 15hp. I also wonder about the performance when fighting a current, something I have no experiance with yet. For lake boating, the 8 hp seems to be a good fit for the 26S.
My 26S came with a 1992 Tohatsu two stroke 8 hp, and I love it. This is the only outboard that I have ever been around, but I am consistantly amazed at its reliability. Last year I when to start it up after a winter in the shed, using the electric start(a nice feature that also tops off your battery during use). I hadn't connected the leads to the battery securly enough, so the starter didn't crank. Gave it one pull on the rope and almost fell off the boat - it started on the first try! It has a long shaft, and I turn both the motor and the tiller when manuvering in tight quarters, use just the tiller for regular motoring, and I have steered with just the outboard occasionally in very shallow water,especially when beaching the boat. It moves along at 6 to 7 mph, and seems to go a long way on a 6 gal. tank, although I haven't calculated mpg yet. It would be interesting to know what the actual difference is, in speed verses fuel efficiency, between 5, 10, and 15hp. I also wonder about the performance when fighting a current, something I have no experiance with yet. For lake boating, the 8 hp seems to be a good fit for the 26S.
Under powered IMHO
My experience with my 1978 V25 was that the 8 that was on it was just barely enough several times. I sailed mostly on the Chesapeake at the time and used to rent a slip on the West River. Coming out into chop and wind was often the case, and with the narrow channel where the slip was and the shallows right nearby that was barely enough to counter the windage and current. In the process of turning in confined spaces with alot of wind, you might want more power. In most conditions a 4 or 5 would be fine, however in high waves in the ocean or bays, you could find yourself wishing for more while winding out your motor. Fuel efficiency issues aside. Think of it like this, a Chevette can go 85 miles an hour, but it takes it a while to get there, and you wouldn't want to do that for too long. A Corvette can also go 85, with its higher torque and horsepower, and can get there much,much quicker and sustain it longer too.
My experience with my 1978 V25 was that the 8 that was on it was just barely enough several times. I sailed mostly on the Chesapeake at the time and used to rent a slip on the West River. Coming out into chop and wind was often the case, and with the narrow channel where the slip was and the shallows right nearby that was barely enough to counter the windage and current. In the process of turning in confined spaces with alot of wind, you might want more power. In most conditions a 4 or 5 would be fine, however in high waves in the ocean or bays, you could find yourself wishing for more while winding out your motor. Fuel efficiency issues aside. Think of it like this, a Chevette can go 85 miles an hour, but it takes it a while to get there, and you wouldn't want to do that for too long. A Corvette can also go 85, with its higher torque and horsepower, and can get there much,much quicker and sustain it longer too.
Another consideration
While an 8 or smaller may be sufficient, you may need a 9.9 to get electric start and an alternator to charge the battery. My 2006 Merc 8hp has plenty of power for my 25, but I wish I had the alternator.
While an 8 or smaller may be sufficient, you may need a 9.9 to get electric start and an alternator to charge the battery. My 2006 Merc 8hp has plenty of power for my 25, but I wish I had the alternator.
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