Motor Recomendation for 26d / 26S

anchorclanker · Dec 2, 2012

As long as you dont try pushing it faster than hull speed, the larger engine would run slower and quieter and use as little, or possibly less fuel, than a smaller engine at full power. Use your knot meter and push slightly below normal hull speed and you would be okay.

The weight will be an issue and youll need a very stout mount. Youll have to determine if the transom/stern, is strong enough, and possibly reinforce it.

Sumner · Dec 2, 2012

I'm wondering if the guy is talking about the Mac X and M. The high end recommended HP for an S or D is 10 HP and much less will push it at hull speed.

We got the 9.8 HP Tohatsu for the extra long shaft and the electric start. It pushes the Mac along at 5-6 knots at less than 1/2 throttle (about 10-12 mpg). I've had our 5 HP Nissan on the boat also and it will push the boat along at over 5 knots in 25 mph winds on about 1/2 throttle.

Dealing with currents though I'd go with the 8 HP or 9.8. The larger engines would just be a waste on the boat and more weight. The Merc and Evvinrude are now made by Tohatsu (along with them also making the Nissan) in the small 3 1/2 Hp to 15 HP range...

http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/020968.html

There is more on why we bought the 9.8 here (same as the Merc/Evinrude)....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor2/outside-25.html

...the 9.8 HP comes with an extra-high thrust prop that will also work on the other engines. We took it off and keep it as a spare and run a 4 blade 7 pitch prop that is also high thrust and like it. It worked great in tidal currents in cuts in Florida.

Good luck,

Sum

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onecoolair · Dec 2, 2012

Had a 91' 26 classic swing keel it came with a Nissan 8hp 2 stroke electric start...engine was great...But after getting caught in some pretty heavy stuff a few times I wanted more power. The dealer made me a deal on a tohatsu 25 hp 2 stroke. Epoxied a 3/4" piece of plywood inside the transom to stiffen things up a bit. I then thru bolted the motor to the transom. The standard prop that the engine came with was 5 knots at Idiol. Had to down size size prop about 3 times to be able to allow run engine to at proper rpms. My hollow 6.5 foot swing keel along with all attachment points and lift cable had been reinforced and was filled with fifty LBs of lead shot epoxied in so it made the boat much more stable when running without ballast. Especially since I was able to pump ballast from ballast tank when needing to freshen water in tank or before coming into boat ramp. It was nice being able to do 15 Knots when ever I wanted.

MrBill_FLL · Dec 3, 2012

Either way I'd reinforce the transom.

What are the lengths of the shafts? I'd get the longest. (that is IMHO, the most important issue).

I think you'll need to re-prop the 15 or the 20. and would guess the 15 and 20 will be less fuel efficient. but its just a guess. (lower rpms vs larger cc's)

fyi, you might want to add a simple cable like I did: (keeps honest people honest, and the OB connected to the boat...)

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h169/ftldiver2/MACGREGOR/P1010015.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h169/ftldiver2/MACGREGOR/PB180012.jpg

Sumner · Dec 3, 2012

Kokani said:
...

the 9.9 weights 44kg/98lbs

the 15 weights 50kg/110lbs

and 20 weights 50kg/110lbs

One thing you want for sure is at least the long shaft and on the weights the heaviest 9.9 is the extra long shaft electric start and according to this....

http://www.onlineoutboards.com/Tohatsu-9-8-hp-Outboards.html

...is 93 lbs. and if you didn't want electric start the long shaft is 84 lbs.

The 15/20 outboards....

http://www.onlineoutboards.com/Tohatsu-15-hp-Outboards.html

...weight 124 lbs. (elect. start) and 117 for the manual start long shaft outboards.

We have the 9.8 extra and the weight is getting up there to the point where it is very hard for me to lift it up there onto the transom on the trailer, but I'm in my late 60's. I couldn't lift the 15/20 up there.

I'd also be very careful trying to run faster than hull speed (7 knots). These boats are a displacement hull designed and not designed to try and plane with at higher speeds. I also wonder if a 20 would even get you past the 7 knots. The X and M have planning type hulls and those guys even have problems getting them up on the water with a 40 HP if they have any load at all. I don't think they can do it with anything less.

Here is an excerpt from the manual for the 26S (model after the D)..

1. ******** SPECIAL SAFETY WARNINGS *******
DO NOT POWER OR SAIL THE MACGREGOR 26
WITHOUT MAKING SURE THAT THE WATER BALLAST
TANK IS COMPLETELY FULL.
Unless the water ballast tank is completely full, with 1200
pounds of water ballast, the sailboat is not self righting. Without
the water ballast, the boat will not return to an upright
position if the boat is tipped more than 60 degrees, and will
capsize like most non-ballasted sailboats. Always, before
operating the boat, remove the 1" diameter vent plug located
in the compartment under the cabin access ladder, and
use your finger to make sure that the water level is no more
than 3" below the hole from which the plug was removed.
Then reinstall the plug.

We put in one day and went about 1/4 mile out before putting up the sails. Going out the boat handled very strange and didn't feel right under power. I then realized that we hadn't filled the ballast tank. Please don't try and run under power like that with the tank empty.

I think you would be very happy with either the 8 or 10 HP long shaft or if you are in the ocean I'd for sure get the extra long shaft. All of these motors are larger than the old motors and don't rotate very far in the well. This is not a big problem if you don't need to maneuver in tight spots and you can off-sett it some so that it rotates at least one way more. The other option is to make an additional mount like I posted above or like what Walt made to help the situation.

Good luck,

Sum

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Mike B1026 · Dec 3, 2012

Something just doesn't sound right.

Kokani said:
Hi everyone I reacently lost my ob motor I forgot to secure it with bolts or a cable and with high waves and sideways movement it got loose. (sleeps with the fishes).

Anyway Im lookong for may best option, i called a honda OB dealer and told me that he usualy sells 20 hp for the mac26, i was suprised but when 1 saw the numbers on a comparison chart i wonder if it may be worth to buy a 20HP, y was thinking the 9.9 option for me.

the 9.9 weights 44kg/98lbs

the 15 weights 50kg/110lbs

and 20 weights 50kg/110lbs

the diference is only 12lbs! and the price diference between the 15 and the 20 is 140 usd, not to much considering the power.

the 9.9 is 500 usd from the 15 and all share the same features.

so its a bit temping to consider the 20 hp for my boat, extra power for strong currents at sea, Also maybe on the comercial side it may be easier to sell a 20hp.

Please send me your experiences or recomendations with heavy 4 stroke engines. My locally available brands are Mercury, Evinrude, Honda and Yamaha.

Best regards

Doc_holiday · Dec 7, 2012

Will it even turn in that motor well? Will the prop eat the rudder?

Justin_NSA · Dec 7, 2012

I hope you heeded some advice here. More is not always better. All that HP won't do a lick of good if the prop is out of the water. Don't over drive the boat with it.