New sailor, just purchased a 1984 Hunter 20. What size outboard would you recommend? Will use it around very crowded marina and there will be summer days without wind. We are in Kentucky and lake is surrounded by mountains. What size do I need to push boat at hull speed? At what point does weight of motor become more important than HP? Thanks
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Pete
new outboards
First let me suggest that any motor you buy be a 4 cycle. They are great compared to the 2 cycle engines. I would guess that a engine in the 10 hp size (15 max) would be plenty to move your boat around. Check the owners manual (or hull plate) for the mfg suggested size and max rating.
First let me suggest that any motor you buy be a 4 cycle. They are great compared to the 2 cycle engines. I would guess that a engine in the 10 hp size (15 max) would be plenty to move your boat around. Check the owners manual (or hull plate) for the mfg suggested size and max rating.
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Bill L
motor size
I push my 88 Hunter 23 wing keel boat at hull speed with a 5 HP Nissan 2 cycle. Around 11-6 someone replied to a similar question with the following equation to calculate your HP. HP = (Displacement/1000) x 2 Good Luck
I push my 88 Hunter 23 wing keel boat at hull speed with a 5 HP Nissan 2 cycle. Around 11-6 someone replied to a similar question with the following equation to calculate your HP. HP = (Displacement/1000) x 2 Good Luck
4 or 5HP - 4 Cycle!
Gary: If you get a 4 cycle engine this should be plenty of power to move a 1700 lbs boat. If you go to a bigger engine you are going to have all of that extra weight hanging out over the stern. Check the weight of the engines when you start shopping. Quite a bit if differnence in the brands. Really depends on what you want. The Nissans are nice engines and they are reasonably prices too.
Gary: If you get a 4 cycle engine this should be plenty of power to move a 1700 lbs boat. If you go to a bigger engine you are going to have all of that extra weight hanging out over the stern. Check the weight of the engines when you start shopping. Quite a bit if differnence in the brands. Really depends on what you want. The Nissans are nice engines and they are reasonably prices too.
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Gary
Thanks
Thanks for the help. Being a math teacher I like that formula Bill. My boat weighs 1700 lbs, yielding an answer of 3.4 HP. Even allowing for plenty of gear weight, a 5 HP should be plenty. Especially if it pushes a 23 footer well. Sure is nice to have a place to go for help. Gary
Thanks for the help. Being a math teacher I like that formula Bill. My boat weighs 1700 lbs, yielding an answer of 3.4 HP. Even allowing for plenty of gear weight, a 5 HP should be plenty. Especially if it pushes a 23 footer well. Sure is nice to have a place to go for help. Gary
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Rick Webb
Two Additional Considerations
Two cylinder engines tend to run smoother than the single cylinder ones. If the weight for the next size motor is the same consider the more powerful. Typically the only difference between the two is the carburetor.
Two cylinder engines tend to run smoother than the single cylinder ones. If the weight for the next size motor is the same consider the more powerful. Typically the only difference between the two is the carburetor.
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John Powell
Check control location, too.
This doesnt relate to motor size, but I have found it to be an important feature. Check the control location for the motor. I had a Honda that had the forward/reverse lever on the bottom of the motor toward the back. It was a major pain to be trying to maneuver the boat in the wind and needing to use reverse. I would be trying to go forward into my slip but I had to look back and down to locate the lever. Not pleasant when the wind is blowing and the boat is moving toward a fixed object. John
This doesnt relate to motor size, but I have found it to be an important feature. Check the control location for the motor. I had a Honda that had the forward/reverse lever on the bottom of the motor toward the back. It was a major pain to be trying to maneuver the boat in the wind and needing to use reverse. I would be trying to go forward into my slip but I had to look back and down to locate the lever. Not pleasant when the wind is blowing and the boat is moving toward a fixed object. John
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Rick Webb
Good Point John
I am not sure I would have thought to look and consider that. I have a Mercury 6 HP on my 23.5 with the grip shift, twist one way for forward the other for reverse. Comes in real handy for those near miss docking attempts.
I am not sure I would have thought to look and consider that. I have a Mercury 6 HP on my 23.5 with the grip shift, twist one way for forward the other for reverse. Comes in real handy for those near miss docking attempts.
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