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Outboard Power question

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FlyinFinn
Deckhand

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6 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/01/2010 : 14:19:37

Sorry for two 'newb' questions in a row, but it seems everyone is running a 9.9 four stroke outboard with a long or extra long shaft...

Is that the ideal power for this boat?
No bigger? No smaller?

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 09/01/2010 : 15:03:31

Some of that depends on the lake you choose. If you're looking to sail Lake Erie and the Chesapeake, size matters.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9075 Posts

Response Posted - 09/01/2010 : 19:32:52

8 is plenty for almost anywhere. The Honda 8 is the same engine as the 9.9, cammed for a little more low-end torque and less high-end HP (for $300 less). My Honda 8 XLS was more than ample on the heavier C-25 for the nastiest stuff Long Island Sound ever threw at me. Against big chop and 35 knot winds, it pushed me at 5 knots at 2/3 throttle. More throttle simply didn't move it better--it just caused the stern to squat, increasing drag, making more noise, and burning more gas. A 9.9 or 15 would've been no different. On a lake where chop is not significant, 6 will work fine and be much easier to mount and dismount.

One criterion is whether you can get a 25" (XL) shaft. Another, for some people, is the availability of electric start.

Bigger than 9.9 is just adding weight for no gain in drive. The boat can only go a maximum of 6.3 knots through the water. 5.5 is the practical maximum under power--above that the "squat" begins. Currents don't change this--you can only go so fast through the water whether it's moving or not. Wind and waves do have an effect, but 8 hp gets you through them. Between 8 and 9.9, just pick the one with the features, price, and local service you want.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 09/01/2010 19:45:11

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4302 Posts

Response Posted - 09/01/2010 : 19:49:35

What Dave said!

I have a 8HP Suzuki and I've never had a problem in Galveston Bay winds up to 18 knots.

If you put it on the lake you mentione din your other post I would go with a 6 or a 8 max.

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Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 09/01/2010 : 20:09:03

5 years ago the 8HP Honda XLS was a favorite on this site. It since (IMHO) has been replaced as the favorite by the <s>Toshiba</s> Tohatsu 9.8 XLS because Online Outboards offers association members a discount and it comes with an electrical starter which has the added benefit of charging your battery while running. Even without the discount the <s>Toshiba</s> Tohatsu cost much less than the Honda. Power wise there is not much difference between an 8HP and a 9.8HP.

Edited by - Sloop Smitten on 09/02/2010 06:58:15

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 09/01/2010 : 20:29:12

Tohatsu, not Toshiba! When I bought our Nissan (same as Tohatsu) from Onlineoutboards, the 8hp unit was not available in BOTH electric start and 25" length, so we bought the 9.8hp model. They are good people to deal with.

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Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9075 Posts

Response Posted - 09/01/2010 : 20:43:00

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dmpilc
 Tohatsu, not Toshiba! When I bought our Nissan (same as Tohatsu) from Onlineoutboards, the 8hp unit was not available in BOTH electric start and 25" length, so we bought the 9.8hp model.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I thought it was Sumitomo...

But that's what I meant about features and price... They're all good. Availability of service is a criterion worth considering, too.

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3439 Posts

Response Posted - 09/02/2010 : 03:31:09

This Forum is great for getting feedback such as in this case your questions regarding outboards. As was mentioned regarding availability of service, let me add to that. You may when checking out local service also ask the mechanics what they think of the outboards they normally service. You may get some interesting feedback. Then weigh what feedback you have gotten here, throw in price considerations and then roll the dice. I think you will find that most have been happy with what they went with regardless of outboard mfr.

In my case, a local marina near me sells most of the popular brands - Honda, Tohatsu, Yamaha, Johnson. I forget if they sell Mercury. I went with the Honda 9.9HP long shaft. It is haevy but I also changed the std outboard motor bracket which was designed for lighter 2 stroke outboards to same mfr (Garhauer) 4 spring model suitable for the heavier outboards made by Honda and Yamaha. The Tohatsu has the advantage that it is significantly lighter than the other mfrs outboards and that is of benefit when it comrs time to lift the outboard off the bracket - much easier. The Honda has the probably the greatest charging capacity at what I believe is 12 amps but if you only keep your outboard on minimal time getting in and out of the marina, then charging capacity may not be such an important factor. Some of the mfrs such as Honda no longer have a choke control, they do it electronically. I have had my Honda for about 4 1/2 years and that is one feature I really like - No messing with pulling out or adjusting a choke control. Anyway, there are differences between the outboards. I do think a long shaft model is something to get as my old outboard had a regular shaft and when motor boats would cause wakes, that was when I mostly noticed the need for a long shaft to keep the water intake sufficiently below the water line. Once again, it is rare you see a posting about someone that bought a new outbaord regadless of mfr and and has posted negative comments. At least not enough postings of that nature to rule any mfr out.

Edited by - on

FlyinFinn
Deckhand

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6 Posts

Response Posted - 09/02/2010 : 07:37:09

Thank you all so much! Great info...and quick!

I will look into the tohatsu...big fan of Honda in general though.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9075 Posts

Response Posted - 09/02/2010 : 10:03:16

I'm unsure of Larry's meaning of "long"... Most outboards in this range come in three sizes: Short (for a 15" transom), Long (20") and Extra Long (25"). Add a couple of inches to those numbers and you get the height from the top of the transom (or bracket) to the anti-cavitation plate above the prop. I liked the plate to be at least 5" below the surface on a C-25 at rest.

Except on a pond, XL is recommended for a 25' sailboat--the boat's length provides a longer lever to lift the prop out in chop or boat wakes, and walking to the foredeck can lift the water intake out. X/L will cost a few more bucks, but it's more than worth it.

Most outboards 6hp and smaller don't offer an XL--just S & L.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 09/02/2010 10:06:31

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3439 Posts

Response Posted - 09/02/2010 : 10:40:14

Dave - Thanks for the clarification. It's been awhile since I bought my outboard and forgot how they identified them. It is the extra long shaft. By the way, when my outboard is in the vertical fully up position at the finger slip, one prop blade is partially in the water. I use the outboard lowering it to the lowest position the bracket allows and then when sailing, I fully raise the outboard and put it in the tilt position and the outboard is then fully out of the water and does not touch the water regardless of tacking. Based on the original transom outboard bracket mounting holes and using same mfr outboard bracket 4 spring model, the extra long shaft worked out fine. But depending on each person's transom mounting, less than an ideal setup may exist for some. Just something to take into consideration.

Edited by - on

zebra50
Captain

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USA
408 Posts

Response Posted - 09/06/2010 : 08:20:40

I recently switched to the extra long shaft Tohatsu 9.9 and find it handles the boat so much better than the short 8hp I previously had. This is most noticable in reverse where I now have the shaft/prop below the bottom of the hull.

Edited by - on

jbkayaker
Captain

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USA
299 Posts

Response Posted - 09/06/2010 : 09:32:41

I used a 55 pound thrust Minn-Kota electric trolling motor for awhile. With a hefty golf cart battery, which is a true deep cycle battery with solid plates, it would be sufficient on a small lake.

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sailingroja
Deckhand

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USA
7 Posts

Response Posted - 09/06/2010 : 20:05:10

I have a shorter 8 hp Tohatsu. It powers the boat perfectly well in almost all situations, but if there are a lot of waves, the prop does clear the water briefly enough to make a lot of noise. I'm sure that a saildrive length engine would be preferable..but its not worth upwards of $2k to replace a 99.99% completely serviceable engine. I suspect the short engine may be preferable for trailering, but with my WK I doubt even that consideration applies.

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