I am looking for guidance on powering a new 26M. Would a 25HP outboard be sufficient to maintain a moderate rate of speed if I am not worried about getting on plane or towing a skier?
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26M motor
I have a 26M with a 25 HP Mercury big foot. My boat tops out at about 10 mph. It motors nicely at 6 mph. You have to disconnect the motor while sailing as it hits the motor well when you turn and limits your turning.
I have a 26M with a 25 HP Mercury big foot. My boat tops out at about 10 mph. It motors nicely at 6 mph. You have to disconnect the motor while sailing as it hits the motor well when you turn and limits your turning.
Think about the future
On a Boat as new as the 26M I would shy away from smaller motors, especially for resale reasons. Somewhere down the road you may find yourself putting your boat up for sale and the smaller outboards will do nothing for resale value compared to the larger 50HP & higher. It is a dual purpose boat so putting a larger engine on makes it more versatile, you never know when you yourself might appreciate the bennefits of a larger motor. If larger motors are not your cup of tea then perhaps you should consider a traditional sailboat rather than a hybrid.
On a Boat as new as the 26M I would shy away from smaller motors, especially for resale reasons. Somewhere down the road you may find yourself putting your boat up for sale and the smaller outboards will do nothing for resale value compared to the larger 50HP & higher. It is a dual purpose boat so putting a larger engine on makes it more versatile, you never know when you yourself might appreciate the bennefits of a larger motor. If larger motors are not your cup of tea then perhaps you should consider a traditional sailboat rather than a hybrid.
Buy what you need for the present
I have a 26X with a 50hp. In the 4 years I have owned it, I have not had occasion to fully utilize the 50 horses. I think I have had it at full throttle only a couple of times and that was right after I bought it just to see how fast it would go. I don't know about the M, but you can make the motor stationary on the X by connecting the steering bar to the top of the rudder pivot pin. That is what I do and just use my rudders for steering while motoring up to 6 to 8 mph. No problems yet. And it steers a lot better under sail since it is not having to turn the motor while it is tilted out of the water. Of course every one has differnt ideas, but as I've said before, it's a shame that the "Big Motor" Mac owners look down their noses at Macs with smaller motors. I call them Motor Purists just like those Sailing Purists that look down their noses at all Mac owners. I didn't ask the question, but thanks to Randy for getting right to the point. And shame on me for rambling.
I have a 26X with a 50hp. In the 4 years I have owned it, I have not had occasion to fully utilize the 50 horses. I think I have had it at full throttle only a couple of times and that was right after I bought it just to see how fast it would go. I don't know about the M, but you can make the motor stationary on the X by connecting the steering bar to the top of the rudder pivot pin. That is what I do and just use my rudders for steering while motoring up to 6 to 8 mph. No problems yet. And it steers a lot better under sail since it is not having to turn the motor while it is tilted out of the water. Of course every one has differnt ideas, but as I've said before, it's a shame that the "Big Motor" Mac owners look down their noses at Macs with smaller motors. I call them Motor Purists just like those Sailing Purists that look down their noses at all Mac owners. I didn't ask the question, but thanks to Randy for getting right to the point. And shame on me for rambling.
25hp should work great
If you have a 25 hp it should work great for your boat. If going fast is not your plan. The greatest concern is control. The 26M doesn’t handle well under power. It takes a bit of getting use to. The boat, even without sail, because of its high sides, is a sail. So look out when the wind is blowing. This is where more power might be needed. But I feel that the 25hp will provide plenty of back up power to get you out of a jam.
If you have a 25 hp it should work great for your boat. If going fast is not your plan. The greatest concern is control. The 26M doesn’t handle well under power. It takes a bit of getting use to. The boat, even without sail, because of its high sides, is a sail. So look out when the wind is blowing. This is where more power might be needed. But I feel that the 25hp will provide plenty of back up power to get you out of a jam.
OBM
It depends on how and where you plan to use your boat. I had an 8 hp obm on my first 26X and I was happy with that because I sailed mostly on inland lakes. On my second 26X I put a 50 hp obm because I was sailing primarily on the Great Lakes, the Atlantic, and the Gulf of Mexico. I was able to outrun a storm on Lake Michigan with the 50. I consider it a safety feature. (Safety first, safety, then everything else.)I seldom use it at WOT but it's nice to have if you need it. The boat was designed for it. I don't think I've heard anyone say they wish they had gotten a smaller obm. If you are going to be sailing in the Gulf, I suggest a 50. (I don't sell obm's)
It depends on how and where you plan to use your boat. I had an 8 hp obm on my first 26X and I was happy with that because I sailed mostly on inland lakes. On my second 26X I put a 50 hp obm because I was sailing primarily on the Great Lakes, the Atlantic, and the Gulf of Mexico. I was able to outrun a storm on Lake Michigan with the 50. I consider it a safety feature. (Safety first, safety, then everything else.)I seldom use it at WOT but it's nice to have if you need it. The boat was designed for it. I don't think I've heard anyone say they wish they had gotten a smaller obm. If you are going to be sailing in the Gulf, I suggest a 50. (I don't sell obm's)
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