The original owner of my 1980 O'Day 25' had a yanmar 1 GM 6 hp diesel installed in 1983. On monthly club cruises to specific locations, one can't pick your best wind and just sail. It never gave me the power I needed to motor against 15 knot winds, currents, tides, etc at more than 2 knots. Under calm conditions, 4.5 knots at cruising rpm was about tops. Now its time to pull the engine to replace a front seal. Since I wasn't happy with it when it was at its best, I'm going to switch to a four stroke outboard. Typically, the other boats in the marina from 23's to 26's with out boards are using 9.8's and 10's. I actually want to go BIGGER so I can cruise at hull speed against almost any conditions without over working the new outboard. What have been your experiences and satisfaction levels with a ten horse outboards on a twenty-five O'Day and have any of you gone BIGGER and had good experiences? Feel free to pick on me. larry
Outboard Engine
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Outboard for a 25 O'Day
Myself, Larry,--I love Johnson Sailmaster engines. I have a 1999 Johnson 8 HP. 2 stroke with an alternator, on my O'Day 222, and it's very dependable. The controls are right in front of the engine where you need them. Johnson also makes a 9.9 4 stroke Sailmaster, which would be more in line for your 25. It has the alternator, and electric start. The 15 HP Johnson is the same engine as the 9.9, so I'm told. The only difference is the carburetor. With that said; last Monday, I helped my friend deliver his 1986 O'Day 227 sloop wing keel, from Marion Ma. to Bristol RI, and we had to motor most of the way because of poor wind conditions. He has a Yamaha 10 HP 4 stroke with electric start, and I was amazed at how beautiful that engine ran and pushed this 27 along. All the controls are right in front of the engine on the outboard tiller, making it very easy to control. We motored from Hadley's Harbor in Wood's Hole Ma., all the way to Bristol Rhode Island with no problems and the gas consumption was very good for the distance that we had to travel. Most of the O'Day 25s and an O'Day 26 in our club, have 9.9 outboards on them. This is about the going engine for these boats, but if you think that you need a little power, you can go a little bigger. You may want to look into getting a different propeller for your new outboard. Some props are pitched to offer more power, and some offer less with more speed. Good luck! Joe
Myself, Larry,--I love Johnson Sailmaster engines. I have a 1999 Johnson 8 HP. 2 stroke with an alternator, on my O'Day 222, and it's very dependable. The controls are right in front of the engine where you need them. Johnson also makes a 9.9 4 stroke Sailmaster, which would be more in line for your 25. It has the alternator, and electric start. The 15 HP Johnson is the same engine as the 9.9, so I'm told. The only difference is the carburetor. With that said; last Monday, I helped my friend deliver his 1986 O'Day 227 sloop wing keel, from Marion Ma. to Bristol RI, and we had to motor most of the way because of poor wind conditions. He has a Yamaha 10 HP 4 stroke with electric start, and I was amazed at how beautiful that engine ran and pushed this 27 along. All the controls are right in front of the engine on the outboard tiller, making it very easy to control. We motored from Hadley's Harbor in Wood's Hole Ma., all the way to Bristol Rhode Island with no problems and the gas consumption was very good for the distance that we had to travel. Most of the O'Day 25s and an O'Day 26 in our club, have 9.9 outboards on them. This is about the going engine for these boats, but if you think that you need a little power, you can go a little bigger. You may want to look into getting a different propeller for your new outboard. Some props are pitched to offer more power, and some offer less with more speed. Good luck! Joe
Outboard
I currently have a 15hp Yamaha 2 stroke and even for it's age it pushes the boat well. The recomendation for a O25 is no bigger than 15hp. Todays 4 stroke have more thrust so a 9.9 hp will do fine. More power than that will not give you more speed.
I currently have a 15hp Yamaha 2 stroke and even for it's age it pushes the boat well. The recomendation for a O25 is no bigger than 15hp. Todays 4 stroke have more thrust so a 9.9 hp will do fine. More power than that will not give you more speed.
Outboard motor...
I have a 1979 Oday 25, and last summer replaced the 7.5 Honda 4-stroke that came with her with a new Mercury 9.9 Longshaft 4 stroke. Love it. It has more than enough horsepower to do what I need it to do. The Mercury 15 is the same motor as the 9.9, just a different carb. (correct me if I am wrong). I only wish I had the charging kit that comes with some models. The extra horsepower would be nice, but unless your boat planes, more horsepower will not make it go faster. What will make a noticeable difference is adding a thrust directing device, to take more advantage of the power the motor is already making. No sailboat does well beating into the wind under power. Hull speed is what it is, hull speed. The only way to make it go noticably faster is to keep it on the trailer and pull it where you want to go. A larger motor just weighs more and burns more fuel, and it harder to lift up the bracket. Which by the way, if you have the original bracket, you will have to upgrade that as well. I would be interested to hear and see more of the diesel installation in your 25, I have only seen one of those before. Just my 2 cents. Ross in Tampa 1979 Oday 25 "Lola"
I have a 1979 Oday 25, and last summer replaced the 7.5 Honda 4-stroke that came with her with a new Mercury 9.9 Longshaft 4 stroke. Love it. It has more than enough horsepower to do what I need it to do. The Mercury 15 is the same motor as the 9.9, just a different carb. (correct me if I am wrong). I only wish I had the charging kit that comes with some models. The extra horsepower would be nice, but unless your boat planes, more horsepower will not make it go faster. What will make a noticeable difference is adding a thrust directing device, to take more advantage of the power the motor is already making. No sailboat does well beating into the wind under power. Hull speed is what it is, hull speed. The only way to make it go noticably faster is to keep it on the trailer and pull it where you want to go. A larger motor just weighs more and burns more fuel, and it harder to lift up the bracket. Which by the way, if you have the original bracket, you will have to upgrade that as well. I would be interested to hear and see more of the diesel installation in your 25, I have only seen one of those before. Just my 2 cents. Ross in Tampa 1979 Oday 25 "Lola"
Careful with the mounting bracket
Before you buy a four stroke, make sure the outboard bracket you have is robust enough to support it. Four strokes weigh considerably more than their two stroke counterparts of similar hp, and also generate more torque. That additional thrust may be too much for a bracket not engineered to take it. If your mounting bracket is from the 80's, you can bet it wasn't made to accomodate the thrust from a four stroke. If you are buying a bigger engine to get more thrust, then you really should strongly consider upgrading the bracket too. Unfortunately, changing the bracket can be a real pain. Chances are that a replacement bracket will require the drilling of new mounting holes in the transom, and maybe beefing up the transom with a backing plate or sheet of plywood. Also, if your bracket is not mounted directly on the transom but has a "spacer" block, you will have to replace or rebuild that block too (the replacement bracket probably won't fit on it), or figure out a way to make the new bracket work without one. When I repowered about three years ago, I at least had the option of sticking with a two stroke engine and my existing bracket; now, no one is making small (<15hp) two stroke engines anymore.
Before you buy a four stroke, make sure the outboard bracket you have is robust enough to support it. Four strokes weigh considerably more than their two stroke counterparts of similar hp, and also generate more torque. That additional thrust may be too much for a bracket not engineered to take it. If your mounting bracket is from the 80's, you can bet it wasn't made to accomodate the thrust from a four stroke. If you are buying a bigger engine to get more thrust, then you really should strongly consider upgrading the bracket too. Unfortunately, changing the bracket can be a real pain. Chances are that a replacement bracket will require the drilling of new mounting holes in the transom, and maybe beefing up the transom with a backing plate or sheet of plywood. Also, if your bracket is not mounted directly on the transom but has a "spacer" block, you will have to replace or rebuild that block too (the replacement bracket probably won't fit on it), or figure out a way to make the new bracket work without one. When I repowered about three years ago, I at least had the option of sticking with a two stroke engine and my existing bracket; now, no one is making small (<15hp) two stroke engines anymore.
Want to see the diesel?
Ross: Thanks so much for the insites. Had the coincidental opportunity to meet a sailor who had just had a 15 Nissan 4 stroke installed on a 27 whatever. They invited me over for a look see and the sailor of the two agreed with most of what you said. I'll probably go with the 9.8. What happens to the diesel, I haven't decided. My O'Day is located at the Boca Ciega Yacht Club in Gulfport, Florida, wet slip #50. Your welcome to check out the diesel anytime. 4600 Tifton Dr So. Drive 49th st So to one block short of the end of 49th St at the Bay. Turn left on Del Rio Way So. Go 2 1/2 blocks. Boca Ciega, 2nd yacht club on the right.
Ross: Thanks so much for the insites. Had the coincidental opportunity to meet a sailor who had just had a 15 Nissan 4 stroke installed on a 27 whatever. They invited me over for a look see and the sailor of the two agreed with most of what you said. I'll probably go with the 9.8. What happens to the diesel, I haven't decided. My O'Day is located at the Boca Ciega Yacht Club in Gulfport, Florida, wet slip #50. Your welcome to check out the diesel anytime. 4600 Tifton Dr So. Drive 49th st So to one block short of the end of 49th St at the Bay. Turn left on Del Rio Way So. Go 2 1/2 blocks. Boca Ciega, 2nd yacht club on the right.
O'Day outboard
Thanks Guys. Your responses all jibe and have helped me decide (and save a few bucks too)on the 9.8.
Thanks Guys. Your responses all jibe and have helped me decide (and save a few bucks too)on the 9.8.
Are you sailing this weekend?
I might take you up on that offer. Would love to see the diesel installation. Have a great weekend. Ross in Tampa
I might take you up on that offer. Would love to see the diesel installation. Have a great weekend. Ross in Tampa
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