Update: What size outboard on your Mac 25

justsomeguy · Apr 12, 2016

Greengas said:
I am looking at buying a 1988 2 cycle 9.9hp motor for my 1980 Mac 25

Plenty of power. The major consideration is how deep the prop will be in the water.
I use a 4-horse long shaft, but an extra-long shaft would be better in my situation.

justsomeguy · Apr 12, 2016

Greengas said:
Let's see, how to reply without going into the gutter I too am concerned about the length of the shaft. While the motor is a long shaft it might not be able to put the prop deep enough into the water to get the job done. I wonder if there are other Mac 25 owners who use a regular long shaft vs an extra long one.

If you search, you'll find that this is a much-covered subject in these forums. General consensus is "extra-long is better".
Is "gutter" a euphemism for "rabbit hole"?

THECUSCUS · Apr 12, 2016

I have a 9.9 Sailmaster , extra long shaft, electric start and battery charging ability. I am very happy with this motor and the motor bracket.

Joe A · Apr 12, 2016

I too have the Sailmaster 9.9 extra long (25") shaft with electric start and small alternator. I consider it perfect for my 26S. One day I was trying to get back to the Jersey shore in a small craft advisory with the wind right on my nose. I had old baggy sails then and the boat couldn't point well at all so I had to motor. The prop was out of the water more than it was in. I was really grateful for those extra 5 inches.

Sumner · Apr 12, 2016

If you are only doing lake sailing I'd consider the long shaft adequate (used one for some time). We wanted elect. start and wanted to get the controls up higher to be in reach better so replaced the Honda long shaft with a Tohatsu 9.8 extra-long shaft. (only their 6 HP Sailpro, which doesn't have elect start and the 9.8 come in an extra-long shaft version.

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor/outside-index.html

I mounted it a little higher so now the prop is in the water at a depth between a long shaft and extra-long shaft but closer to a long shaft. It worked fine in the ocean most of the time on previous trips but on the Bahama trip I got into worst conditions and it would come out of the water at times for a couple seconds. If I went back there or to the ocean I think I'd drop it back down to the extra-long shaft depth.'

So if ocean sailing is going to happen I'd look for the extra-long shaft myself.

The other option to think about is electric start vs. pull start. We had pull start with the Honda and it worked fine for a while as I could pull start it but Ruth couldn't. Then on Lake Powell we got into a bad storm situation...

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/MacgregorTrips-3-Powell09/09-10-9-Powell-09.html

... and I fractured and screwed up my shoulder and couldn't pull start the outboard for 3 days and neither could Ruth so we sat in a remote side canyon. That was how we came to the conclusion that we needed electric start for safety purposes. If you sail with someone who can start the outboard if you were to go overboard or be injured then I might consider the 6 HP sailpro or an equivalent but again if sailing on the ocean the extra thrust of the larger prop on the 9-10 HP can be welcomed at times,

Sumner
==============================================================
1300 miles to The Bahamas and Back in the Mac...
Endeavour 37 Mods...
MacGregor 26-S Mods...http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/endeavour-main/endeavour-index.html
Mac Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida, Bahamas

THECUSCUS · Apr 12, 2016

If I recall, it is 25".

centerline · Apr 12, 2016

I have a 10hp honda... there is no need to go bigger than 10.... long shaft is the best, and if you want to afford it, mount the motor on a jack plate..... this will allow you to raise the motor higher after tilting it so that it fully clears the water when heeled under sail...

mine is installed on a jack plate of sorts.... a garhauer outboard bracket. it has all the unnecessary/unwanted handles and springs removed, and is rigged with a small 1/4" multi-part blocks so I can get a 5 part reeving...... and I lower the prop as much as I want into the water, and cam-cleat to hold the line....

one of these types of brackets could be built/modified with a longer set of arms, and so increase the range of elevation that could be achieved.... and I planned to do that, but found it is unnecessary with my motor....
I can lift the long shaft motor on the "jack plate", then tilt it up and it will never touch the water at any degree of heel, and yet lower it in the water so the lower motor cowling is 3" off the surface...

centerline · Apr 12, 2016

Greengas said:
Centerline I was able to follow just about your entire post. But what exactly is a jack plate? Is that what a adjustable motor mount is called?

specifically, the word "jack plate" was introduced when motor mount brackets were fitted with hydraulic or electric lifting mechanisims.... and instead of swinging up and down like small outboard brackets do, they usually raise and lower vertically on rails...

I use the term jack plate loosely, but still within the description because you can raise or lower it to any height that you want, rather than the typical adjustable bracket that has particular settings, some of which can only be used either fully up, or fully down.....
with the 5part tackle, you can easily raise or lower to any level you want to, and without the difficulty of finding the correct position to lock it in, or unlock it, or leaning thru the rail and over the transom to do it... all of which is not easy to do on any of the models on the market today.

unlike a hydraulic or electric jack plate, you can NOT adjust the 5part while under power.

Piotr · Apr 12, 2016

4-cycle 2010 Mariner 6hp long shaft. Power is more than enough, but with 1-ft waves I have to start bringing the crew and railmeat into the cockpit to keep prop in the water. With extra long shaft even 4 hp would be good enough...

timebandit · Apr 12, 2016

I have a 8hp 2 stroke Yamaha long shaft with a 6 amp lighting circuit that will keep the battery charged. I do use the boat under power until the wind comes up.

RussC · Apr 12, 2016

6hp Johnson 2 stroke long shaft. if you trailer sail, a larger 4 stroke is just too dang heavy for an old man to lug around and 6 hp is plenty of power for me.

willsnow · Apr 12, 2016

The extra long shaft found on most manufacturers "sail" models will come in real handy if you are ever in big waves - either ocean swells or crossing wakes. We love our Tohatsu 6hp. Went on a 4 day cruise last fall, put around 6 hours on the engine and used maybe 2 gal of gas. And only weighs 60 lbs!
(edit) and be wary of an outboard that old if you don't know it's history 100%. The 1991 6hp 2 stroke that came on my boat would run fine at idle all day, over heat and quit if you throttled up. We spent $650 getting it overhauled. Got 2 solid months of reliable use, after which it crapped the bed. Won't even stay running anymore. That's when/why we broke down and spent the money on a new motor that I can be sure gets taken care of...
You could be in a situation where that motor working is the difference between putting your boat back on its trailer at the end of the day and losing it on the rocks...

TortugasRoyal · Apr 30, 2016

I had a British seagull, small thing, slow but torqey, 4 blade prop. Took a 35 mph wind and waves to stop it. Then just roll out a little headsail to help and start tacking. I considered glassing in a jet ski drive in the stern of that m25 just for grins and jokes.

Freedom77 · May 1, 2016

Have 1984 Honda 7.5 four stroke. Plenty of power and not too heavy. Don't have to mix gas and oil. Remember three things when putting anything on your yatch. WEIGHT, WEIGHT,WEIGHT...

Tsatzsue · May 2, 2016

I have the same as Cuscus. 9.9 extra long shaft with electric start and charging. It is perfect. Sea prop. I have higher rpm's to reach hull speed but have all the power in reverse and forward with that prop. Looks like Mickey Mouse ears. We have some nasty currents out here in New England, I've use all that 9.9 hp on many occasions. Its tough when hull speed is only one knot above the current in the Cape Cod Canal. People walking were going faster than us. hahaha. West end of the canal in a chop would dunk the motor than it would come up completely out of the water. Longer is better.

I motored from Martha's Vineyard through Woods Hole to Fairhaven on three gallons of gas!! Starter spring broke on that trip and the starter was down. Rope start all weekend! That was at about 5 knots.

Motored back from Cuttyhunk to Westport with a broken throttle cable. Mill pond flat sea, Had to operate it with my thumb the whole way. The nail finally grew back. hahaha! Love that motor.

Had issues with water flow at Martha's Vinyard last year. Steaming. Was the water tube grommet as it turns out. Found it jammed in the head after I blew out the exhaust water box gasket testing the motor. That was fun. Seems like these boats are designed to test us all the time. Pic of prop and motor at it most challenging (looks like a urinal!)

Happy Sailing
Ken B.
Cmdre - North East Trailer Sailors