PLEASE HELP ME I'M BEING BLOWN TO SHORE

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J

J STUART

Yesterday my wife and I took our 19' O'day Mariner out for the first time. I was using a short shaft 3hp engine ( won't make that mestake again) for aux power. I knew that we had 10 to 15 knot winds and 2' to 4' seas. After comming out of the channel I did not have enough power to turn into the wind to raise the main, and we were being blown sideways toward shore. In desperation we turned with the wind and raised the main and just escaped being blown ashore. What size engine do you guys suggest for a 19' O'day?
 
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Rich

8hp

Get atleast an 8 hp nisson, and just as important a long shaft, there is a differance. I used the 8 for years on a Macgregor 26 in all kinds of wind no problem. Good Luck
 
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Bill Yale

7.5 hp

I have a 20' O'day and I use a Honda 7.5 four stroke long shaft. It has enough power to move my boat in the wind.
 
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Jeff O'day 20 "Alexandria

8hp More than Enough

We have an Evinrude 8hp Yachtwin extra long shaft on our O'Day 20 and it is more than enough. If anything it's a bit oversized just because of it's weight.
 
J

Justin - O'day Owners' Web

Probably six

J - First, you may be able to make your engine somewhat more efficient. Is the prop deep enough? It the prop correctly pitched? I have been able to move my 25 in calm weather with my 3.3, though any wind would have been the end of the mission. That said, and eight would be perfect but I'd bet a six would do the trick too, and at a somewhat better price. Is there anyone you know with an engine you could try out? Justin - O'day Owners' Web
 
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Rich

unless it's a Seagull, then 5 will do

We used a 5HP long shaft Silver Century Seagull, made in 1980, on our 20' cruising boat for years. At 3/4 throttle, the motor could push the boat at hull speed. Four hours against a wicked Chesapeake chop proved the motor was more than enough to handle a boat of this size. Most other outboards "made" for sail power merely have a larger diameter and pitch prop. The Seagull is designed from the ground up to push a displacement hull. Torquey at low RPM. Other features such as a metal impeller (with clearance... can run along a sandy bottom without galling, as a rubber impeller will), quality alloys and fine grain castings, and simple construction for easy fixes, make these fine and tough sailboat auxilliaries.
 
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Warren

O/B Size

I would suggest that the "short" shaft may have been the problem, not the 3 HP. You don't say what make the 3 HP is. I used a 3 HP Johnson (long shaft) on my O'Day 22 for many years. The "22" is quite a bit heavier than the "19". Sounds to me like the prop was not deep enought in the water to get "bite", with the waves & all. If the motor was overeving....it had lost it's "bite". "Cavitation" may have also been a problem...this is when the prop is too close to the surface and is sucking down air. At that point it looses it's efficiency. Getting the prop deeper in the water with a long shaft (20") may solve your problem. GOOD LUCK!
 
J

J STUART

thanks for the information

Thanks for the input guys, I will now look for a 6 to 8 hp long shaft. thanks again jd stuart
 
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