Switching to outboard motor

[Paul]

Instead of rebuilding my Atomic 4, I am considering replacing it with, say, a 9.9hp outboard. Other than the loss of horsepower, what other issues have people faced in making a similar transition? How difficult is it to attach the motor mount, run the cables and lines, etc.? Where should I go for "how to" info. and diagrams?I sail Lake Ontario and the surrounding waterways and only run the motor when absolutely necessary, which isn't often. I don't need a lot of thrust as I'm typically not in a hurry. For those people who have made the switch, what do you like and dislike about your new set up?I look forward to reading your advice, commments, and suggestions.Paul

 

[Bob Shafer]

switching to outboard for C 27

I ahve a '75 C 27 with the outboard well in it. I use an old Mercury 9.9 which is plenty of power. I have seen C 27's with diesels or A 4's that have bitten the dust and are powered now with an outboard mounted low on the transom. I would think an electric start OB extra long shaft would be essential. Just don't mount the bracket too low so you cannot get it up. Also, mounting on a bracket and not in an OB well will enable you to use any OB you want. The Catalina OB wells will not house the new OBs with much larger heads,either the two or four stroke models.Good luck.

 

[Tom Monroe]

OB is enough power

When my new-to-me C27 was launched last week, I had to power through 4-5 ft waves and 30 gusting to 40 winds on the nose around to the marina (mast not up yet so couldn't sail). The Honda 9.9 4-stroke, mounted low and with the extra long shaft, handled it beautifully.I don't use a motor much either, but it was nice to discover what the OB was capable of.Tom MonroeCarlyle Lake

 

[Bob Camarena]

You'll sail faster

You'll be impressed with how much faster you sail without dragging that prop through the water. Plus, assuming that you remove the A4, you'll gain a tremendous amount of storage and lose some weight as well.I sailed a C-27 for several years that had an old 9.9 Hp Johnson mounted in the stock transom well and was very happy with it.

 

[Echo Gulf]

Yamaha

Paul, we use a Yamaha 9.9 4 stroke Hi-thrust (extra long leg)on our C27. In my opinion the boat and motor are a match made in heaven.Echo Gulfsv Sea Raven

 

[Paul]

What sort of Motor Mount?

Thanks for the insights. What sort of motor mount do you recommend? (I have seen some for upwards of $900, which seems pricey.) I'm a sailor on a budget.

 

[Tom Monroe]

something heavy duty !!

Hi Paul ...I just finished working through the problems associated with efficiently using an outboard on my '86 C27. I have a Honda 9.9 4-stroke, and the thing is wonderful ... powerful, quiet, fuel efficient. But it is also heavy!!If you go to stearnsinc.com you find some adjustable mounts, some of which indicate that they are designed for newer, heavier motors. Get something quite heavy duty cause if you think about the way an outboard will wave around back there in a following sea, that's a lot of transverse sheer pressure on the mount.Also, I found that trying to squeeze between the pushpit, backstay, etc made it very difficult to release and raise the motor. Tilting it worked OK, but I couldn't get it raised. So on the advise of a guy on the C27 listserve site, I attached a spare vang tackle between the lifting bracket on the outboard and the top rail on the pushpit. Easy as can be to pull the motor up now, and the tackle shares the load with the bracket.Tom MonroeCarlyle Lake