Merc
Hi Dave.I am going to a Merc. 9.9. It is too big to tilt up out of the transom, however I am getting a bracket from Breeze Industries that will allow me to mount the motor on the stern, as opposed to in the transom cutout. I am actually considering closing in the transom.I know that many people leave the motor down when sailing, and I do this as well, even with the current engine. It seems to have little impact on sailing performance (although it must in some way).The fellow just down the dock from me has exactly that setup. He leaves his 9.9 Merc motor down all the time, and he has rigged up a kind of "sock" that he puts over the leg in the water while at the dock. This sock keeps the ocean critters from making a home on his engine. He says it works out quite well, and has not affected sailing ability.