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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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buying a motor

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southern cross
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USA
123 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/26/2006 : 21:45:31

OK guys-
one more time. I am buying a motor, probably tommorrow, from Online Outboards. I think I have decided on the Tohatsu 6hp 4 stroke with the 25" ultra long shaft. I sail only on an inland lake here in Charlotte, NC. I beleive the 25" shaft is a necessity because of possible wake from larger power boats. But, does everyone agrre that 6hp will be enough for my 1982 C-25. Again, I have no plans of ever taking my boat to the coast and having to deal with larger storms, waves, tides and currents.
sorry for trying to once again solicit info, I just want to make the right choice. I know that 8hp and 9.9 hp motors are prefferable for many of you due to your sailing areas. But, again I am only on an inland lake and would never be required to motor over 3-10 miles and only in decent weather.

Any input from anyone would be apprecaited before I actually make the final call.

P.S. my reason for not getting the larger engines is that there is not a 25" shaft option on the Tohatsu 8hp and I do not beleive I can afford the 9.8 at this point.

Thanks,
Zach

southern cross 1982 C-25
TR FK #2867

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 07/26/2006 : 22:33:48

how about the 8 hp Nissan?

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southern cross
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USA
123 Posts

Response Posted - 07/26/2006 : 22:50:30

I don't beleive there is an 8hp 25" shaft option on either the nissan or tohatsu from online outboards

Z

Edited by - on

atgep
Master Marine Consultant

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1009 Posts

Response Posted - 07/27/2006 : 00:24:41

It sounds very reasonable and a great choice.There are only 2 downs IMHO. 1. The smallish prop will offer a little less power around the dock. 2. At resale, the new owner may scoff at the "tiny underpowered" engine. Whatever you do, get the 25" for sure.

Tom.

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3467 Posts

Response Posted - 07/27/2006 : 05:45:42

I have a new Honda 9.9 for Potomac River region near Washington, DC. The motor works great. While there have been times that I have been out and needed to rev it up a bit, those times are rare. Most times, I am travelling at near idle speed getting out or going into the marina. Then it is just going a bit faster to maintain direction as I hoist the sails. If I want to go upwind to another location, well then the motor works well for cruising at moderate power and and travelling at a fairly fast clip - a 6hp would have to labor more to do that but this use is rare for me and sound slike it will be rare for you. I have noticed other sailboats in my marina (of basically same size as ours), many with 8 or 9.9 hp motors and one or two with 6hp motors.

My thought is based on how you describe your motor uses, you would be fine with the 8 hp option but as you indicated, the 8hp may not come with a 25" shaft. Even if you were to get caught out there with less than favorable conditions, the 8hp will do the job. However, the 9.9hp is also a fine choice. The 6hp is in my opinion a bit undersized. We all learn to respect the water and my thought is that even if limiting sailing days to perfect weather days, there are always those days that one gets caught when having a motor to overcome bad conditions is beneficial. The 6hp will be able to handle probably all your sailing days as you describe but may not have enough in reserve for that one day when you get caught in bad weather and need some power to overcome waves, etc and possibly still having the sails up. You may never come across a day that you need the extra oomph. So...that is the dilemma.

On the plus side, the 6hp would be much lighter and daily use lifting it up has got to be a bit easier than an 8 or 9.9hp motor. When taking the motor off for servicing/end of season has also got to be much easier.

I guess only you can really weigh the decision factors - cost, ease of handling, respect for the sea based on your sailing area and individual preferences.

Edited by - on

DanM
Captain

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USA
256 Posts

Response Posted - 07/27/2006 : 07:36:35

Did you consider your outboard bracket? The vertical lift and counter-balance capacity may limit what you need.
I found that the vertical lift of the bracket from CD is greater than my old one, making the 25" shaft question almost moot. However, one would not expect to be motoring in heavy seas (with someone on the bow trying to douse the jib) causing motor cavitation.

Edited by - DanM on 07/27/2006 07:38:44

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 07/27/2006 : 08:20:56

According to their site, the 8 only goes up to 20"--a bad choice.

One factor I'll point out is that the 6 is a single cylinder, while the 9.8 is two. That means the 6 will make literally twice as much noise and vibration--if that means anything to you. (The Honda 2.5, for example, sounds like a truck using its jake-brakes!) Otherwise, I suspect it will be sufficient for your lake. You'd probably never run the 9.8 past half-throttle--you might end up using most of the 6 to get past 5 knots, and you'll probably have a lot less stopping power.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 07/27/2006 08:28:50

atgep
Master Marine Consultant

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1009 Posts

Response Posted - 07/27/2006 : 09:43:31

I have seen and heard the 6 hp Nissan and it is not loud. It is a very nice engine but will have more vibration than a 2 cylinder engine. The jack-brake sounding Honda 2.5 is an air-cooled weed wacker engine.

Tom.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 07/27/2006 : 10:14:03

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by atgep
 The jack-brake sounding Honda 2.5 is an air-cooled weed wacker engine.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Air-cooled, yes... But I've never seen a 4-stroke weed whacker.

Anyway, an engine that vibrates more, attached to a metal bracket on a big, hollow, fiberglass shell, is going to make more noise. (Conversely, the quietest outboard I've heard is the Honda 225, which is the V-6 from the Accord.)

Edited by - on

Heartbeat
Navigator

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USA
161 Posts

Response Posted - 07/27/2006 : 10:58:03

I asked this very same question recently. Lots of good advice both here and there. (My other post: http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=12806)

I currently have two 2-cycle outboards - a 4 horse (runs reasonably well) and a 6 horse that isn't running right now.

In flat water, the 4 horse will push me at about 4.75 knots. Put a little (6") chop on there, and I am stuck at 4.25 - 4.5. I wouldn't recommend a 4 horse unless it's just a to/from the dock thing. Although, I have made it work for my season so far this year.

The 6 horse is a nice engine - when it was running. In flat water at full throttle it would get us up to 6.25 - 6.5 knots. At 80% thottle, we cruised at 5.75 knots burning 3/4 gallon/hour. I cruised in Tampa Bay, Florida with this setup for several years. It worked great for me.

With that being said, I am now in the Detroit river. I feel I need a 8hp XLS for the current and big boat wakes that we get. Unfortunately, the only one currently on the market is the Honda, which is too much $$ for my pocketbook. Here is to hoping that next year Tohatsu makes an 8hp XLS.

Make your own choice...

-Matt Q.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 07/27/2006 : 17:46:36

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Heartbeat
 ...Unfortunately, the only one (8 hp 4-stroke) currently on the market is the Honda, which is too much $$ for my pocketbook. Here is to hoping that next year Tohatsu makes an 8hp XLS.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
...and Yamaha (for the same or more bucks and the same or more weight). I agree that 8 is all just about anyone needs--my Honda 8 is the same engine and prop as the 9.9, but timed for less high-rpm hp and more low-rpm torque (so I've been told). I doubt that I ever push it above half throttle, even for stopping at the dock, so I'd never see that extra 1.9 hp. Tohatsu's 8 is also the same as the 9.8 engine. The only reason for not offering an XL is inventory. If they do, it'll probably be with alternator and electric start only, as on the 9.8, and the price probably won't be a great deal less.

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FrankV
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USA
135 Posts

Response Posted - 07/27/2006 : 22:21:38

We bought the 8HP Tohatsu for inland lake sailing, and with the 20 inch shaft we have never had a problem with cavitation. It gets to hull speed at about 2/3 throttle. I think we over bought on the engine, and a 6 HP would have done fine and been much lighter. We have a fin keel short rig.

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