I am looking at purchasing a new outboard motor. I currently have a 9.9 suzuki it is a breast. I want to get the lightest motor possible that will push me at least 5 knots crusing speed. I am wanting to get an extra Long shaft motor with a battery charging. My question is, is there anyone out there who has a 6 horsepower engine on their o'day 25 and how fast does it move your boat? at what throttle setting? and how does it perform in heavy wind?
Outboard sizing for a 25
- Thread starter captian dave
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I have a Honda 7.5 4 stroke, which has the charger out put (60 watts, I believe). Moves the boat along just fine. I sail primarily in Narragansett Bay and we'll get some weather occasionally. I did have tons of problems with the 10% ethanol, but Starbrite has seemed to have taken care of that problem.
Not sure about going to a 6 HP.
I generally sail on a lake where currents are nonexistant. I will however trailer my boat out to california to visit the offshore Islands (Catalina, Santa barbara and santa cruz islands) this year. The currents in the eastern pacific in southern califormia generally are not all that strong because of it being deep waterand the tides are nothing when compared to the east coast. My only concern is wind and the fact I may have to motor many miles. I see that most of the 8hp motors are only long shaft 20" as opposed to 25". I would assume keeping the prop in the water is more important than horse power. or am I wrong? I don't want to go to a 9.8 horse because of weight and additional cost. What are your thoughts?
Just a quick thought-you may know this- most of the 8 and 10 horse 4 strokes are 2 cylinder engines. Most 5 and 6 horse 4 strokes are 1 cylinder. I love my 5 horse Tohatsu on an O'Day 23 for fairly mellow bay cruising. But if I were going out to Catalina, motoring for long periods, at higher throttle settings, I would pick the 10 horse. The twin cylinders have a better, smoother, more balanced feel when asked to really put out the power. Good luck- have fun!
Thanks for all your input. It has really helped. I have decided to get an 8 hp long shaft with a 4 bladed high thrust prop. I believe that it will give me the push I need with the gas savings I want.
Captain Dave:
Remember that new motors are four stroke and as such weigh a lot more than old two stroke motors. When your boat was built, the weight of the motor was for two stoke motors of the times. Suggest you check archives about beefing up mount to handle any moder four stroke high thrust engines. No point in loosing your motor in the drink.
Ed K
26
Remember that new motors are four stroke and as such weigh a lot more than old two stroke motors. When your boat was built, the weight of the motor was for two stoke motors of the times. Suggest you check archives about beefing up mount to handle any moder four stroke high thrust engines. No point in loosing your motor in the drink.
Ed K
26
Capt. Dave,
I would look around for a good used Johnson 8 HP 2 stroke with a longshaft from 1999 up. I have one on my O'Day 222 that I bought new. The 1999 8 HP has the shift lever in front of the engine and it also has the charging system. There are at least three businesses in my area that completely reconditions these engines to almost new condition. I'm not too fond of 4 strokes, myself. So I'll let it go at that, but this is my second Johnson and it runs beautiful and is very dependable. They're a light engine for the same HP. I'm going to keep mine going for as long as I can.
Joe
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