What Size Outboard

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davenlynn

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May 22, 2011
159
MacGregor 25 San Diego
I need to buy a new outboard motor for our Mac 25, as the old one is too heavy for me to lift on and off. Will a 3 1/2 or 4 HP work? I'm not looking to get the boat on a plane or set a new speed record.

Thanks,

Dave
 
Tsatzsue

Tsatzsue

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May 16, 2011
555
Macgregor V-25 Charlton, MA- Trailer
I wouldn't settle for less than 9.9hp. You will need the power in currents and bad weather. Trust me. I have a V25 and my Johnson 9.9 long shaft sail master is perfect. I trailer and it goes on in April and comes off in october.
 
Sumner

Sumner

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Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
Tsatzsue said:
I wouldn't settle for less than 9.9hp. You will need the power in currents and bad weather. Trust me. I have a V25 and my Johnson 9.9 long shaft sail master is perfect. I trailer and it goes on in April and comes off in october.
Click to expand
I agree. Maybe an 8 also, less HP on a lake might be fine, but not out on the ocean and I would want electric Start for safety. We learned that the hard way....

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

.... Also look at higher thrust props.

Sorry the above doesn't help with the weight problem. We don't take ours off while trailering,

Sum

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Our Endeavour 37

Our MacGregor 26-S Pages

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links
 
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Hollyweirdos

Hollyweirdos

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Sep 16, 2011
346
Venture 17 Hollywood,FL
I have a 5 on my 17. I wouldn't want any less for it. Top speed under power is about 6 or 7 kts.
 
Sail123

Sail123

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Oct 6, 2011
678
CM 32 USA
There is two critical parts of this story I am missing.

What size outboard engine do you have now?

Is it 2 stroke or 4 stroke?

2 stroke engines are a bunch lighter.

You need a 9.9 hp 2 stroke I would think. You can go up to 15 hp 2 stroke, but that just makes the engine heavier. I would not go smaller.
 
willardj

willardj

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Nov 30, 2011
31
MacGregor 25 Savannah
It really depends where you live and the kind of water you will be playing in. I have an 8hp 2stroke and would say it's to small. Our problem is we have 8' tides and the currents suck big time. When we're trying to put it back on the trailer we have to plan the tides just right to get back at low water movement time. Say an hr before or after high or low tide. Needless to say we are faster under sail than with our motor.

Jaime
 
D

davenlynn

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May 22, 2011
159
MacGregor 25 San Diego
I have/had (just sold) a 9.9 Merc, 4 stroke. It was too heavy to handle and I really don't like trailering the craft with the engine attached. The trailer is an '82 MacGregor and is quite short, which makes the rear end of the boat vulnerable to heavy bouncing. And yes, I did secure the motor firmly. San Diego Bay is really quite placid; rarely is there a "super" tide, and the current in the Pt. Loma channel is mild when we go out to sea. Except in whale season we stay mainly in the bay.
 
Freedom77

Freedom77

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Jul 29, 2010
1,392
Macgregor 76 V-25 #928 Lake Mead, Nevada
Have used a Honda 7.5 longshaft for over 30 years. I think anything less would be underpowered in tight quarters and heavy air. I don't think there is an appreciable weight difference in a Honda 7.5 4 stroke and say a merc 4hp 2 stroke longshaft which I originally had and it proved to be okay in flat calm but in high wind it was dicey. P.S. I was shocked to see how much outboards cost these days!!
 
D

davenlynn

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May 22, 2011
159
MacGregor 25 San Diego
Shock is right! I've paid less for a good boat, with a motor. (been a while, though)
 
Sumner

Sumner

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Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
You might get away with a 4,5 or 6 HP Tohatsu (they also make the merc and Nissan same HP models) with one of the high thrust props you can order, the one that comes stock on the sail pro model...

http://www.onlineoutboards.com/Tohatsu-6-hp-MFS6CUL.html

You can order it separately and put it on any of the other HP long shaft models.

Problem is they are still 60 lbs.. We have the 5 HP model and used it on the Zodiac, but it was dicey getting it from the Mac on and off the inflatable so we changed to a 40 lb. 3 1/2 HP Tohatsu, but that is just too small for the 25 in my opinion.

How far do you trailer? Maybe look at coming up with a way to get the outboard on and off the boat. I developed a winch system to use, but it is slow. If I have to I can lift the 9.8 HP on and off the boat, but it is a real struggle, so I'm sympathetic to your situation.

Ruth is unable to pull start even the 5 HP and I can't stress enough how import it is to have more than one person on board that can start the outboard. With only one and they go over how do you maybe get back to them. This might not be an issue for you?

Sum

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]============================[/FONT]

Our Endeavour 37

Our MacGregor 26-S Pages

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links
 
cscott

cscott

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Oct 18, 2007
188
Macgregor 26S - 1993 Aumsville, OR
I have a 2007 Honda 8hp extra long shaft electric start on my 26S, and have no problem with speed or currents. I sail in the San Juan Is. and the Puget Sound. However, you do have to pay attention to the current tables as some times the current is much stronger than your hall speed. Try the Narrows by Gig Harbor in the PS for instance. I also like the fact that the Honda has a large charging current to bring the batteries up sooner.

Chuck
 
timebandit

timebandit

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Jun 3, 2004
1,863
Macgregor 25 So. Cal.
As far as the Hondas go the 8hp and the 9.9hp are the same weight, around 100 pounds.

The 5hp is a single cyl. at around 60 pounds and does come with a long shaft (20") but not an extra long shaft.

Five hp should be enuff IF you can get a high thrust prop for it.
 
willardj

willardj

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Nov 30, 2011
31
MacGregor 25 Savannah
I think the Tohatsu's are about the lightest ones going right now. I am looking at this one now. 2012 Tohatsu 9.8 hp Four-Stroke Outboard ttp://www.onlineoutboards.com/Tohatsu-9-8-hp-MFS9-8A3EFUL.html Its a bit more than I want to pay but at 92.6 lbs. it may be worth it. The 4 stokes should have a bit more power than the 2 stoke I have.
 
MrBill_FLL

MrBill_FLL

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May 4, 2005
4,062
Macgregor 26d Ft Lauderdale, Fl
san diego? and a M25 6hp min, 8-9 IMHO.

-the good news is the 25 has the garlick type bracket so you can get the engine lower.

honestly, if its just the weight of the current motor, you can add springs or a block and tackle setup to make that easier...
 
MrBill_FLL

MrBill_FLL

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May 4, 2005
4,062
Macgregor 26d Ft Lauderdale, Fl
hmm, the OP removes it to trailer? - missed that.

on a different boat I drilled 4 holes in the cowling to make a bridle, or rope lift. then would lower it with my legs.

maybe you could get in the boat and use something like this...

if you have a pickup, they do make inexpensive hydraulic cherry pickers. (~$150).

how much current going in and out of 'insane diego'
 
timebandit

timebandit

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Jun 3, 2004
1,863
Macgregor 25 So. Cal.
I hang the motor from the ground with the mount all the way down.

Hang the rudder at the same time.

I have a idea to use the magic pole to extend the boom for a full length tent and by just attaching the main halyard to the end to take the load of the outboard and a light weight block and tackle I would have a crane to lift the motor.

 
F

Fred Villiard

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Dec 28, 2009
397
Macgregor M25 trailer
TB you just made my day, I've been trying to think of a way to lift my motor, and your pole is so simple.


Thanks

Fred Villiard
 
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