What size motor/engine

[okial]

I own a Daysailor 1, 17 footer. I'm thinking of purchasing an outboard.

I'm not aware of any documentation available that would indicate the proper size limit, in hp for a boat of that length. Is there a formula? I was thinking of a 6hp, 20" - 25" long shaft. I understand the weight of the engine is a factor to considefor if it is to heavy the nose comes out of the water.. This engine ways in at 55 llbs. Add 3 gals of gas to that and its looking like 85 +- lbs back there.

3/4/5 hp engines/motors are about 41 lbs and the only additional weight fuel wise is about a quart of gas which is in a built in tank on the motor. That would be a solution but would limit my day, if sailing conditions were to change. Not an option I would consider unless it would be the only option.

Thanks

Okial

 

[Ross]

That is a small, light sailboat. 3 or 4 Hp is plenty. Don't worry about the small tank carry spare fuel in a separate can in the bow of the boat. You could simply supply it with oars and get where you needed to go.

 

[oldiesrocker2001]

Unless you are sailing in tidal waters, a 17-footer can be powered by as small as 2.5 hp. I used a 2.2 2stroke on my 17 footer and for a while on my 21(a bit small for that) and once used it against the current in heavy chop during a storm for nearly 3 miles still on the internal tank. If you go this route, make sure the spare can is lashed down securely.

 

[Jim]

I would go bigger, then if you move up the engine can

go with you.

Tohatsu Outboard 5 is 44.1 lbs.
http://www.outboardmotor.net/motors/352.html
Tohatsu Outboard 8 is 60 lbs
http://www.outboardmotor.net/motors/350.html

 

[OldCat]

4HP plenty on a 22 footer

I have found 4 hp plenty on a J22 - even in thunderstorm microburst winds it does not require full power to heave too under power, at least on the lakes that I sail. I suspect even 2.5 hp would be fine on a 17 - though the idea of getting a 4-6 for your move-up was interesting.

OC

 

[Rick Webb]

Smaller motor With External Tank

The Tohatsu motor and I am sure others have the option to use an external tank.

I would go ahead with the long shaft, it is always nice to have the prop a little deeper in the water when it gets rough.

http://www.onlineoutboards.com/4hp_tohatsu_outboard_motor.html

4 HP is as large a motor as you need, You gain absolutly nothing and that extra weight is a big deal. Try to find an old 2 stroke around they are much lighter.

 

[chuckwayne]

day7sailer outboard

a 3 horse is plenty-I used a 3 on my Day Sailer on th ocean in some fairly heavy seas with no problem.

 

[Steve Dion]

Re: day7sailer outboard

The rule of thumb for an inboard diesel is 1HP for each 500 lbs of displacement. I don't know if this is valid for a gas outboard.

Many of these engines are the same weight for a group of engines. Sometimes you can get a 5 or 8 hp engine and they are the identical weight.

Most of the time a little extra HP is not a bad idea if you are near the edge.

 

[Ross]

Re: day7sailer outboard

The problem with rules of thumb is that thumbs come in so many sizes! I run 10 hp in a 10,000 pound boat and get 5.5 knots out of a posible 6.3 for 20 hp.

 

[abe]

I have a Capri 16 with wing/draft keel...

I think the boat wts about 1350lbs. I've had 2.5hp and a 4hp. The 2.5 just doesn't cut it....with people on board it will not make hull speed. The 4hp is perfect. I also think that Tohatsu makes on of the lightest engines around and worth looking into. Good luck.
abe

 

[bffatcat]

outboard size

If I recall about 40 years ago a friend of mine had An oday daysailer. It weighted about 650 lbs. Usually 1 hp per 1000 lbs displacement has been considered adequite. A 2hp would be more than adequite. I just replaced
the outboard on my 5000 lb displacement 26 footer with a 8 hp 4 cycle tohatsu. It moves the boat a hull speed about 6kts at 1/2 throttle and my boat has a keel. My 20 year old 8hp 2 cycle merc needed 80% throttle to push the boat at hull speed. The tohatsu is over kill It weights 83 lbs. too heavy for me to pick up. I wish I`d bought a 5hp. Please dont make the mistake I did and get a motor to big and heavy for the boat

Bffatcat

 

[sailaway78]

2.5 Hp

I would get a 2.5. The bigger motor is going to be harder to handle on and off the boat, use more fuel, and not gain you much if any speed. And after all you just need it for in and out of a slip/mooring/ramp anyway. I would recommend getting one that has a neutral, and is not always in gear. I have a 2HP Suzuki for my dinghy. Weighs about 26 or 27 lbs.

 

[Skipper]

smaller is better

Suzuki 2.5 horse.
30 lbs, remarkably easy to install and stow
water cooled
Tiller mounted lockable throttle
shifter (no clutch IE: Honda)
Reasonably long shaft
loads of thrust, more than enough for 17 footer.
$750
Runs an hour at 3\4 throttle on a tank of gas(about a quart). Much longer at lower throtttle settings.
Bring a one gallon gas can. Easy to refill. Total run time = 5 hours.

If 2.5 is not enough (It likely is) then they have a 4hp as well which also has an optional alternator if your boat has an electrical system. 4hp would be the biggest motor I would put on a 17 foot daysailer.

 

[Wayne M]

I would

go with a 4hp long shaft. Find a used 2 stroke to minimize the weight. Like others have said if you need more gas carry spare gas in a can and lash it down.

 

[Tom]

I have an older Oday 17

My little 2.5 hp works just fine, in fact when I first got the boat (used) I used a little electric trolling motor to move around the harbor. It didn't work to well when I got out onto lake Michigan though, thats why I got the little outboard.

Tom
s/v GAIA

 

[okial]

Re: outboard size

Thanks. That seems to be the concensus.

 

[okial]

Re: outboard size

Thanks. That seems to be the concensus.

A bit more clarification - Size seems to be an important factor. In considering Tohatsu & Nissan, the two most affordable outboards, 3.5 hp is where they start offering a long shaft, so 2 or 2.5 is not an option. On the used market, long shafts seem to be scarce. Common point of agreement it seems is keep it down if at all possible for weight is something to seriously consider. Point taken. Thanks to all.....

okial