Hello everyone, I have an '84 222, recently purchased late 2012, have yet to splash it. Am looking for an outboard, but not sure if a 6hp would have enough guts to push the 222. I believe the boat weighs 2200#. Very difficult to find a good running used outboard. They all seem to be very old and weigh over 100#! I may have to break down and buy a new one. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, George
Outboard Motor HP vs boat weight
- Thread starter George68fs
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I have an 8 hp sailmaster on my 222. The log book tells the tale of the PO's when the boat originally had a 4 hp sailmaster and they traded up to the 8. They really complained of the lack of power with the 4 (and no reverse), but raved about the 8. The 8 is a very good choice IMHO. 6 would likely be okay on in calm winds and light current, but add the two and you might be going nowhere if your trying to run into them.
I would stick with an older 2 stroke unless CO has banned them. If so, a good used Honda 7.5 would be a good choice too, if you can find one, as long as your mount is adequate. But whatever you choose iit definitely needs to be a sail boat motor, or at least a basic long shaft.
I would stick with an older 2 stroke unless CO has banned them. If so, a good used Honda 7.5 would be a good choice too, if you can find one, as long as your mount is adequate. But whatever you choose iit definitely needs to be a sail boat motor, or at least a basic long shaft.
use the search engine to locate this post... "Yes, we did it! Catalina",. its only a couple pages back at this time, so you may be able to find it by looking...
it has some good information that may be enlightning in choosing the proper sized motor for your boat....
George,
Find out if you can power your boat with a two stroke on the lake and if you can, look around for a Johnson long shaft 8 hp two stroke with a charging unit. Try to find an engine from 1999 on because these engines have the shift right in the front. The older Johnsons had the shift on the side.
Most of the 1984 O'Day 222s came through the factory without a 1" stainless steel tension bar attached to the wood post of the galley cabinet to the bolts of the mast tabernacle. Does your boat have one of these? If not, I'll be glad to give you the info and sketch of it with all the dimensions. This tension strut is something that I feel that this boat really needs for extra mast support.
Find out if you can power your boat with a two stroke on the lake and if you can, look around for a Johnson long shaft 8 hp two stroke with a charging unit. Try to find an engine from 1999 on because these engines have the shift right in the front. The older Johnsons had the shift on the side.
Most of the 1984 O'Day 222s came through the factory without a 1" stainless steel tension bar attached to the wood post of the galley cabinet to the bolts of the mast tabernacle. Does your boat have one of these? If not, I'll be glad to give you the info and sketch of it with all the dimensions. This tension strut is something that I feel that this boat really needs for extra mast support.
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I am on Lake Monroe and all I really use my motor for is to get in and out of the marina, or to occasionally putter home if the wind dies or time is limited. For that, my 4hp, 4 stroke is fine. It probably pushes me along around or a little below hull speed, but it's light enough for my wife to raise and lower and therefore the trade offs are worth it.
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Good point, Joe. I believe mine had it as an option, but with the piddly amount that I use it, I wonder how useful it would be. I had an old and beaten 8hp Mariner that was unreliable, but honestly I wouldn't mind going back to a two stroke. Most are less finicky than four strokes; I know people who leave theirs full of gas, hanging on their boats all winter without any problems. That would be the death of mine- I practically have to put it in an incubator over the winter.
The mechanic who worked on my outboard cooling system last year told me to disconnect the fuel hose while the outboard is running and let the gas drain out of the carburetor to the last sputter after I've put my boat on the mooring for the day. Wayne does this on his boat but I never have, so I started doing it. After a couple of weeks my engine started running crappy. I'm going put some carburetor cleaner in it this year and start leaving the hose on as I've always done.
As far as putting my outboard up for the winter goes, I always fog the engine and stick my outboard down the cellar for the winter with the lower unit draining and she always runs great in the spring.
I don't have a gasoline/water separator in my fuel line. All I've ever done is shake my fuel tank before I start the engine when I fist go to use my boat. Whatever is in that tank will get mixed with the gas and go through the engine with no problems.
As far as putting my outboard up for the winter goes, I always fog the engine and stick my outboard down the cellar for the winter with the lower unit draining and she always runs great in the spring.
I don't have a gasoline/water separator in my fuel line. All I've ever done is shake my fuel tank before I start the engine when I fist go to use my boat. Whatever is in that tank will get mixed with the gas and go through the engine with no problems.
good carburetor cleaner/conditioner and fuel additive all in one = Sea Foam, at any autoparts store...
Hi George -
When I repowered the 222 I had, I bought a 4-stroke 6hp Tohatsu and it worked well even in some bigger wave conditions on Lake Michigan. I think the total weight was 55 lbs. The only problem I had was that in stronger waves hitting on the stern quarter, on occasion the head would turn. To fix that, I bought the Powerthruster that was advertised on this site. It fixed the problem in addition to protecting the rudder from the prop and also helped with fuel consumption a bit.
The one thing I would worry about is the ethanol in the fuel. Whenever possible, I would use pure gas which you can still buy at a few stations in Wisconsin. If I had to buy fuel with ethanol, I would try to use it quickly. I also ran the fuel out of the carb at the end of each day by disconnecting the fuel line, pulling the choke at the end as it started to sputter to leave very little fuel in the engine. The Tohatsu never gave me any trouble in the 4-5 years I had it using that approach.
Also, I didn't have the tension bar on my 85 222 so I used Joe's plans and had my brother-in-law make one for me. Both of these are shown on one of my albums on this site (http://forums.oday.sailboatowners.com/album.php?albumid=2157). The tension bar reduces flexing on the cabin top, since the mast-step is not directly above the compression post in the cabin.
Overall, the 222 is an excellent boat and I'm sure you're going to be happy with it. I sailed it a lot on Lake Michigan, and also trailered it out to Seneca Lake in NY, Kentucky Lake, and to my parents lake in southern MO. The guy who bought it sails out of Corpus Christi now.
Good luck with it.
Dave
s/v Lagniappe
O'Day 25
When I repowered the 222 I had, I bought a 4-stroke 6hp Tohatsu and it worked well even in some bigger wave conditions on Lake Michigan. I think the total weight was 55 lbs. The only problem I had was that in stronger waves hitting on the stern quarter, on occasion the head would turn. To fix that, I bought the Powerthruster that was advertised on this site. It fixed the problem in addition to protecting the rudder from the prop and also helped with fuel consumption a bit.
The one thing I would worry about is the ethanol in the fuel. Whenever possible, I would use pure gas which you can still buy at a few stations in Wisconsin. If I had to buy fuel with ethanol, I would try to use it quickly. I also ran the fuel out of the carb at the end of each day by disconnecting the fuel line, pulling the choke at the end as it started to sputter to leave very little fuel in the engine. The Tohatsu never gave me any trouble in the 4-5 years I had it using that approach.
Also, I didn't have the tension bar on my 85 222 so I used Joe's plans and had my brother-in-law make one for me. Both of these are shown on one of my albums on this site (http://forums.oday.sailboatowners.com/album.php?albumid=2157). The tension bar reduces flexing on the cabin top, since the mast-step is not directly above the compression post in the cabin.
Overall, the 222 is an excellent boat and I'm sure you're going to be happy with it. I sailed it a lot on Lake Michigan, and also trailered it out to Seneca Lake in NY, Kentucky Lake, and to my parents lake in southern MO. The guy who bought it sails out of Corpus Christi now.
Good luck with it.
Dave
s/v Lagniappe
O'Day 25
Thanks Trinkka, I am installing a compression post by the end of February, I hope. If you can e-mail me some photos or sketches that would be great. As for the OB I am interested in a 6hp Tohatsu 4 stroke, 25" long shaft, with an installed alternator. I don't know if you can mention prices on this site, but it is not overly expensive. I have seen quite a few used 8hp's on Craigslist, but none of them mention having an alternator. Like I said, any help or info I can get from you great people is appreciated. George
AFAIK, any Johnson 8 HP Sailmaster will have a charging coil. Its rated at 8 amps, and should make 5 amps above 2000 rpm. I personally always felt Mercurys were among the best motors, but in sailboat motors, Mercury hasnt really offered a true sailer, leaving a sailmaster the only true choice, least wise if you live in NA.
Four strokes are okay, and if you live somewhere two strokes are banned you obviously have no choice. But they are much heavier for the same HP, are much more complex, and are much rougher (shake/vibration) at low speed compared to a two stroke.
A two stroke twin fires twice every revolution, and with the two piston throws 180 apart make the engine inherently balanced. A two stroke twin will idle down quite slow while remaining smooth. A four stroke twin fires once each revolution, and with both pistons going up and down together, they are inherently unbalanced. This is why we have all the threads about needing stronger motor mounts and beefed up transoms in regards to four strokes. They are shakers.
My personal choice would be a good used 8 hp two stroke Johnson sailmaster (making sure it has the charge coil, if thats important), followed by a good used Honda 7.5 extra long shaft. If I were buying new, I would only buy a 4 stroke because sooner or later all 2 strokes will be banned, and it would be a Honda. All Honda's are four strokes BTW, they never made a two stroke to the best of my knowledge.
Four strokes are okay, and if you live somewhere two strokes are banned you obviously have no choice. But they are much heavier for the same HP, are much more complex, and are much rougher (shake/vibration) at low speed compared to a two stroke.
A two stroke twin fires twice every revolution, and with the two piston throws 180 apart make the engine inherently balanced. A two stroke twin will idle down quite slow while remaining smooth. A four stroke twin fires once each revolution, and with both pistons going up and down together, they are inherently unbalanced. This is why we have all the threads about needing stronger motor mounts and beefed up transoms in regards to four strokes. They are shakers.
My personal choice would be a good used 8 hp two stroke Johnson sailmaster (making sure it has the charge coil, if thats important), followed by a good used Honda 7.5 extra long shaft. If I were buying new, I would only buy a 4 stroke because sooner or later all 2 strokes will be banned, and it would be a Honda. All Honda's are four strokes BTW, they never made a two stroke to the best of my knowledge.
George -
You can also get the alternator kits for the 4-stroke Tohatsu's. I bought mine online and didn't buy the alternator kit for it. In retrospect, I would have added it at the time I bought it since the additional cost was not that much. At that time, my power needs were pretty minimal though.
Dave
s/v Lagniappe
O'Day 25
You can also get the alternator kits for the 4-stroke Tohatsu's. I bought mine online and didn't buy the alternator kit for it. In retrospect, I would have added it at the time I bought it since the additional cost was not that much. At that time, my power needs were pretty minimal though.
Dave
s/v Lagniappe
O'Day 25
I like the Tohatsu four stroke outboards. A friend of mine has the 9.9 Hp with the electric start and charging system on his Seaward 22. It pushes that boat right along with very little effort. They're nice and quiet and the stream of water that comes out the back of that engine is highly visible at all times. You can mention prices on this site. Just save the politics for the "War Room."
Go to this area of the site George: http://forums.oday.sailboatowners.com/album.php?albumid=372&page=3
If you need additional info, just email me at sailtrinkka1986@verizon.net
Joe
I acquired a 192 a few years ago that came with a 4 stroke, 9.9 hp, Yamaha, same vintage as the boat: '86 or so. Well taken care of, runs like a top.
My sailing partner cancelled any ideas about going for smaller, lighter because the 9.9 is electric start and she felt that if anything incapacitated me, she wouldn't be able pull on a cord to start the thing. Resigning myself to this piece of Medicare era wisdom-totally appropriate to both of us-I have since, sailing on Lake Champlain-weather forecasting thereat is unreliable-embraced the fact of having more horsepower with gratitude. Some days the wind and chop are totally unpredicted and alarming.
The marina dishes out unleaded gas and my sail mate has also wisely ultimatemed me that the Yamaha will winter at the dealership where they will properly maintain it for about $50 a year. Can't beat it. Sounds like insubordination, but is the proven voice of female wisdom.
I have an 8 horsepower Tohatsu with charging and electric start on an Oday 240 (disp 3600 lbs) that works great. I didn't need one this big but I wanted a twin to cut down on vibration and I wanted an alternator. Fuel consumption is almost 2 litres per hour at 6 knots and 1.25 at 5 knots. I previously had a 6 horsepower Nissan on a C&C Redline 25 (disp 4200 lbs). This combination would do 4.5 knots into a chop.
Hope this helps.
Hope this helps.
When researching what OB to buy for my N17 I saw several recomendations that you should have 1HP for each 500lb of displacement. Using that you want a minimum of 6hp. One thing is sure. If you buy too small an OB, you won't be happy. If it is a little more HP than you need, you will just run at a lower throttle setting.
The considerations others have given are good. I would also consider how you willl be moving the motor around. A Tohatus 6hp weighs about 60lbs. An 8hp or 9.9 will be pushing around 100 lbs.
If you are trailering you may not won't want to leave the OB on the motor mount while on the road. You will want something you will be able to handle taking it on and off the boat without putting your back out.
The considerations others have given are good. I would also consider how you willl be moving the motor around. A Tohatus 6hp weighs about 60lbs. An 8hp or 9.9 will be pushing around 100 lbs.
If you are trailering you may not won't want to leave the OB on the motor mount while on the road. You will want something you will be able to handle taking it on and off the boat without putting your back out.
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