Need some help deciding on an engine

[Squadron]

I've got a H22 that came with a 8HP Evinrude long shaft, manual start. Last year as we were cruising around we found that this would get us where we're going (although not in a hurry, which is fine). However, when we were taking my parents out for a cruise we were greeted with a wide array of new and interesting noises and smells...

...just as the engine died. We took it into a mechanic, and lo-and-behold the engine fried itself. The best we could figure, the motor's water pump gave out and without a drink of water, the engine tried to cool itself using all the nice plastic and rubber bits (and some metal bits), which didn't work out too well. Since it'd cost around $1k to fix the engine up, and even that's not guaranteed to work, we're now in the market for a new engine.

From looking around, it looks like Tahatsu is the type of engine to buy, but I could use some help deciding a few things:

1. Power - We had an older 8HP 2-stroke engine on there, and that seemed fine, but I'm not sure how much of the power was eaten up by age and grime. Should I step up to 9.9HP for this type of boat? Or could I safely step down to 6HP? I've heard that having more power but not having to use it is better for the longevity of the engine.
2. Start mechanism - I hated our pull start. It never worked right, and was always a hassle. I always had to start it so I couldn't go prep for launching while the fiance started the engine. However, it looks like Electric start would have to be wired into our electrics or get its own battery.
3. Brand - It looks like Nissan engines are just a rebranded Tohatsu, is this really the case? Should we consider any other brands?
4. Length - Our current engine is a long shaft, but every once in awhile in choppy waves it would pop the prop out of the water, so I'm considering an X-Long (25") shaft. Anyone have any experience on these, or downsides to using a longer shaft?

Thanks for any help you can give. This is a fairly major purchase and one I'd rather not have to do again for several years, so I'm trying to make sure I get it right.

 

[C Jones]

Just my opinion but if your on a lake with no current or tide I would go with the 6hp
My 5hp Nissan does an ok job on our lake. We have a h22 on our lake and he runs a Nissan 4hp. Of course I'd like more power but it's not needed. I think the Tohatsu, Nissan and Mercury are the same engine in the 4hp, 5hp and 6hp models built by Tohatsu. Good luck Charles

 

[Squadron]

Thanks!

I'm actually in Charleston, SC (a marina on the Cooper River) and the tide is fairly strong. Not sure if 6HP would still get the job done, though, I don't have a ton of experience pushing the boat against strong tides, as I've been very careful to try to time my returns with the tide.

 

[Sublime]

FWIW, my 260 has a 5hp motor on it. Generally they have 9hp motors on them.

 

[inarathree]

My Tohatsu 6Hp SailDrive pushes my H22 at hull speed (according to GPS). It has gotten me home when conditions were too bad to sail. Even the admiral can pull start it.

 

[Bill Jones]

I think you'll find most of the common small hp outboards are built by the same manufacturer. I'd go with a 6hp four stroke.

 

[Clark]

A compromise is the 8HP Tohatsu w/ electric start. All that is required for wiring is to run the supplied cable to the battery. With that said, the 6HP would provide plenty of power and if more punch is required, a different prop can be fitted. No direct experience with an XL shaft but all reports are that they work just fine. A downside would be that when sailing, it would have to be tilted a bit higher to get the foot out of the water.