So, I am now the owner of a 1975 Venture 22 and am fairly pleased with it. It has the usual old boat problems but seems nice and solid. I took it out last weekend for the first time, under power to get a feel for the hull and such without dealing with sails. I was a little disappointed to only make 3 kts with 10 hp on a day with light wind (12 kts) and small chop (1-2 ft). This makes me think it may be under powered. Is there any guidance as to max advisable hp on this boat?
Venture 22 - max hp?
- Thread starter jpmckay
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You don't want more than a 10 hp outboard for a boat of that size. Not sure how old the outboard is or if it is a short or long shaft. But, most sailboats require a long shaft and back in the day they made outboards designed for sailboats with more thrust than top end speed. I would suggest a 3-bladed prop for power and a long shaft. If the motor is as old as the boat, then maybe it doesn't have the power of a modern outboard. I have a fin keel 22 foot boat with a 5 hp Nissan long shaft 2 stroke and it pushes that boat through the water easily at 5 knots regardless of the sea condition (unless very bad). I am sure my boat is heavier than yours.
more info needed.
waves, wind, current, type of engine, length of shaft, prop type, full power? bottom growth? dragging an anchor?
a 8 hp should push you at 5-6 knots, easy. 6hp is normal for a 22.
10hp is way over powered.
-you have an engine problem (IMHO).
ex: I have a 9.8 and can do 6knts on a 26'.
waves, wind, current, type of engine, length of shaft, prop type, full power? bottom growth? dragging an anchor?
a 8 hp should push you at 5-6 knots, easy. 6hp is normal for a 22.
10hp is way over powered.
-you have an engine problem (IMHO).
ex: I have a 9.8 and can do 6knts on a 26'.
We've yet to get our '78 Mac22 into the water (soon) but I may have a little info that might help you. (If Im wrong, please: someone correct me.)
First: here's the specs for our boat because I believe yours is the same as mine:
The 1978 MacGregor 22-foot Sloop
Manufacturer’s Specifications
LOA: 22'
LWL: 19'6"
Beam: 7'4"
Draft (max.) 5'6"
Draft (min.) 1'
Cockpit length 6'2"
Sail area 177 sq ft
Sail area genoa 178 sq ft
Displacement: 1800 lbs
Keel weight 500 lbs
Berths 5
Outboard max 10 hp
Hull Speed: 5.92 Knots (6.81 mph)
Notice the MFG says "ten max". I thought about it, and asked around of the folks who know, and I went with a 6hp designed for sailboats: longer shaft, light weight, economical, etc.
The way I understand it: unless we're doing something unusual (like sailing down a 20-foot wave in front of a 75-knot gust in the Alenuihaha Channel) neither of our engines will take us faster than the Hull Speed. The 10 will be quicker in the short term (accelerating, maneuvering, etc.) than the 6; but the top speed will be the same for both of us.
It's a hull thing. At 5.92 knots, the bow of our boats generates a single wave stretching from fore to aft along the waterline. Try to accelerate beyond that speed and the boat "settles down into the trough" of that wave. That generates more drag, which slows the boat down and prevents us from exceeding Hull Speed.
So basically: more power will get us to Hull Speed quicker, but won't take us faster than hull speed.
My thought was: is the extra cost, weight, and fuel consumption of a 10-HP worth it, in comparison to the 6HP Sail Pro? I took what I considered good advice and went with the 6. I don't think we'll be dissappointed. You might have other priorities, though.
Hope this helps, and good luck with your boat.
VBR,
Pat
I also have the same boat as you do and I use a very inexpensive 5hp Briggs & Straton OB. I can do 5 to 6 knots (6mph) without any problem. If I roll up the keel and move weight to the back of the boat, I can do a little better than that. You have something else going on.
Yep,
There is something wrong. My 26S will do 7mph on a 8hp 4stroke.
Funny though, when I bought the boat the PO said it was ready to go,so I went and put it in the water. The motor would hardly push the boat and it seemed to vibrate a lot. Never having a 4 stroke before, I didn't realize that it was only running on one cylinder. I put new spark plugs in it even though the old ones looked OK, and that did the trick. Instant power.
So, maybe ??
Good luck with it.
Jim
There is something wrong. My 26S will do 7mph on a 8hp 4stroke.
Funny though, when I bought the boat the PO said it was ready to go,so I went and put it in the water. The motor would hardly push the boat and it seemed to vibrate a lot. Never having a 4 stroke before, I didn't realize that it was only running on one cylinder. I put new spark plugs in it even though the old ones looked OK, and that did the trick. Instant power.
So, maybe ??
Good luck with it.
Jim
One additional thing. Not sure if you are in TX or not (googled the marina and found one there), but if you were in an area with tidal or any other currents and using a GPS then that might have been your speed against a current over ground, but not the actual speed vs. the your speed and the current speed against you.
In Florida on the GPS we saw over 8 knots going with the current and under 4 against it, but the boat was close to hull speed both times. We saw the same thing using the dinghy and taking the GPS with us.
Now if you have say a fish finder/depth finder with one of the speed wheels on the transom you should be getting a better idea of your through the water speed.
We also easily ran over 5 knots on partial throttle into 20+ mph winds using a 5 HP Nissan on our Mac, so you should have way more than enough HP,
Sum
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]============================[/FONT]
Our Endeavour 37
Our MacGregor 26-S Pages
Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida
Mac-Venture Links
In Florida on the GPS we saw over 8 knots going with the current and under 4 against it, but the boat was close to hull speed both times. We saw the same thing using the dinghy and taking the GPS with us.
Now if you have say a fish finder/depth finder with one of the speed wheels on the transom you should be getting a better idea of your through the water speed.
We also easily ran over 5 knots on partial throttle into 20+ mph winds using a 5 HP Nissan on our Mac, so you should have way more than enough HP,
Sum
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]============================[/FONT]
Our Endeavour 37
Our MacGregor 26-S Pages
Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida
Mac-Venture Links
Had V-222 for five years. Mercury 4 hp 2 cycle long shaft. Could reach hull speed with no problem. Started with short shaft merc 4. Would cavitate in swells. Check engine? Check prop pitch? 10 hp probable weighs a lot and ya don't need the added weight.
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