Outboard Motor?

[Jim remensnyder]

I recently bought a 1988 26.5 Hunter without a motor and controls. Reading in the 26.5 owner comments, most owners state the original 20" shaft Nissan motor cavitates in a swell. Would a 25" shaft motor be better, or would it drag in the water in the up position?If you were to buy a new motor, which brand would you buy for the 26.5? Two stroke or four stroke? 9.9 hp or 15 hp?What brand of controller came with the boat?

 

[Dan EBert]

Erie

My old H240 had the ext. shaft and same motor. During a trip to Lake Erie with 2.5 foot swells the prop came out several times. Added note: You can lift/tilt the motor up during a sail. I did this on my H260 with a Honda 4-stroke (Great Motor).

 

[Frank / MD / H260]

Out board?

I agree with Dan. I have a new H260 with a 9.9 Honda. It's a hundred pounds or so, so it's not something you can carry around, but gets great mileage and it moves the boat easily at an idle speed. In my mind it's my main piece of safety equipment, and it has safed our butts, many a time.

 

[Mark P.]

Hunter 26.5

Jim,I believe I may have seen the boat you bought - located in Clinton Township, MI? I looked at it - you probably got a good deal! Anyway, the solution I was thinking about was to use my custom-made solid alum. motor mount which I had fabricated for my (sold) Hunter 23. The transom angles are the same. I was thinking of that with an extra-longshaft Honda 9.9 remote control. You can purchase an outboard "power tilt" unit for about $350 from West Marine or Boat US, and you'd have a good package. Anyway, I still have that motor mount, even though I sold my Honda 9.9! Let me know if you're interested in seeing a picture of the motor mount.-Mark

 

[Paul W.]

go 4 stroke

I am repowering my 26.5 with a 4 stroke. The increase in weight will be offset by the increase in range and reliability. The prop will come out more frequently from boat wakes than swells in my experience.