Association Forum - Outboard motor questions

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Outboard motor questions

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

budd
1st Mate

Member Avatar

USA
45 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/09/2005 : 14:54:32

Having read much here about the correct outboard for our Catalina 25's I still would like comment on the following; What is the BEST outboard for the 25; I want info on the Quietest, easy starting, able to lift on and off; etc.
Thanks
Bud

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 11/09/2005 : 15:31:16

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by budd
 Having read much here about the correct outboard for our Catalina 25's I still would like comment on the following; What is the BEST outboard for the 25...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I don't think there is an absolute answer to this question. It is sort of like the question, "What's the best finish for teak?".

The perfect outboard depends on a lot of things like your sailing venue (inland, coastal, river current), if you like cockpit controls, alternator, electric start, 2-stroke, 4 stroke,..etc.

Since everyone has slightly different needs, everyone will have slightly different opinions on what is the best outboard for a C25. For me, the perfect outboard is one with an integrated shifter/throttle on the tiller.

Edited by - dlucier on 11/09/2005 15:33:45

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 11/09/2005 : 18:31:23

Add to what Don advised, the power tilt that some ob's have, and the Nisan four stroke motor and you would have something approaching the, "B E S T", outboard that you're looking for.

Are we allowed to mention money in this discussion?

Val on the hard DAGNABIT # 3836

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
5913 Posts

Response Posted - 11/10/2005 : 08:18:52

Each of us has our own personal requirements. Some of us are more sensitive to noise, and the quietness of the motor is crucial. For some of us, a lightweight motor is especially important, because of our physical impairments, or because we race, and dismount and stow the motor once we are underway. Some of us don't have the strength to pull-start a motor, or joint pain makes it more difficult. The question you have to ask yourself is, what is the order of importance, to you, of each of these qualities, and what compromises are you willing to make in order to get the motor that most closely meets your requirements. Then you should look for that motor.

If weight is crucial to you, 4 cycles are generally heavier than 2 cycles (although manufacturers are finding ways to reduce their weight), and electric start and alternators add to the weight. You can also decrease weight by using the smallest motor that will suit your needs. Most of us would agree that 10 horsepower is the most powerful motor that you are likely to need on a C25, regardless of where or how you use the boat. In less challenging venues, 6-8 horsepower is enough. If you're a cruiser, and frequently spend nights on the hook, an alternator is important. If you're a daysailor, an alternator is less valuable. I haven't bought a new outboard in years, but from following the forum, the Nissans and Tohatsus are brands that seem to be popular currently.

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 11/11/2005 : 18:09:47

Ditto to the above. I have been ably served by an Evinrude 9.9 2 stroke for 16 years. As I am now single handed cruising more and more, fuel economy is becoming an important issue. I'm hoping to step dwon to a Nison 8 hp 4 stroke, with power tilt and high thrust prop.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
5913 Posts

Response Posted - 11/11/2005 : 19:10:43

I'd like to add one other quality that a good outboard should have for use on a sailboat. It should be able to be easily tilted so that the prop comes completely clear of the water. I've seen several motors recently that dragged their prop in the water on one tack or the other, and I think any motor that does that (unless the boat is heeled very excessively) is completely unsuitable for a sailboat. Ask the salesman to show you how to tilt it, and if it can't be tilted so that the prop raises almost as high as the powerhead, it could drag in the water.

Edited by - on

budd
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
45 Posts

Response Posted - 11/12/2005 : 01:13:26

Thanks for all the replys, I'am looking for quite and power; so I think the Nisson or the Honda may be my first two choices, Now to do some research on those two.
Thanks again
Bud

Edited by - on

Doug
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
457 Posts

Response Posted - 11/12/2005 : 01:18:19

Look at the Yamaha motors too. I've had both Hondas and Yamahas, and loved my Yamahas.
Look for the Yamaha T8

Edited by - on

lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 11/12/2005 : 02:27:16

There's no such thing as a "perfect" outboard motor that satisfies all possible requirements that different people might have. I think the Yamaha T8 and T9.9 come close, in that they are very fuel efficient, quiet, easy to start, and the large diameter high thrust prop gives them more stopping power in reverse than most other motors. But as for portability, forget it. These Yamaha's are BEASTS, weighing in at nearly 110 pounds (135 if equipped with the optional Power Tilt feature), and most people contemplating buying one will need to add another $250 for a 4-spring Garhauer or Garelick super-heavy-duty motor mount. I've heard that Catalina 250 owners who have bought Yamaha High Thrust outboards recently, have complained that the powerhead case is larger than it used to be, restricting the ability to swivel the motor for maneuverability in tight places. If lowest possible weight is important, so that you can get the motor on and off the boat frequently, then you will want to look at non-electric-start motors from Nissan, Mercury, Tohatsu, and Honda. Actually, I think some of those motors are made by Tohatsu, the Mercury and Nissan, maybe? Stick with 4-stroke if you can afford the somewhat higher cost. A four stroke will be worth more at resale, and it will be more pleasant to use at low speeds since it won't have that smokey, smelly 2 stroke exhaust, and no worries about fouling the plugs if you are idling for an extended period (like waiting in a long line of boats to use a launch ramp or guest dock).

Edited by - on

PamC
Navigator

Members Avatar

171 Posts

Response Posted - 11/12/2005 : 10:14:39

We also have the Yamaha 9.9, 4-stroke with electric start & alternator. Granted it is the first and only ob I've owned, but I concur with Doug & Larry. It's quiet. It's easy to start. It's been dependable. It's fuel efficient - on a recent cruise with friends we used way less than half what their Merc 9.9, 2-stroke used. It is heavy, but I'm only 5'3" and not known for my upper body strength and I'm the one who usually handles raising/lowering/tilting. Two things the po did that I like - 1) Installed a light block & tackle between the mounts lift handle and the stern rail so it's easy to lift up and down and you only have to play ape to tilt it. 2) Installed the tiller extension kit so the shifting and throttle are on a sleeve that slides over the boat tiller. When we're motoring we have all controls in one spot, when we sail it slips off the tiller and we stow it in the coaming cubby.

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.