Association Forum - Engine Size (HP) for a New C-250?

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

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Engine Size (HP) for a New C-250?

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

Page: of 2

MartinJW
Navigator

Member Avatar

USA
241 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/19/2008 : 04:39:11

It looks like Catalina recommends 6 to 15 HP for the C-250, and it looks like most folks are using 8-9.9hp.

So, what size (horsepower rating) are you using on your C-250?

Any thoughts as to the optimum HP?

Thanks!

Martin

C25/250 Int'l Ass'n Member
2008 C-250 WK #973
"Bluebell"
Lake Tahoe, CA/NV

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 04/19/2008 : 08:25:23

I hgave a Tohatsu 9.8 extra long shaft that has worked well, current difficulties notwithstanding.

Edited by - on

JohnMD
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
207 Posts

Response Posted - 04/19/2008 : 09:03:18

I have a Yamaha 8hp, 2stroke, long shaft. It's just a little bit 'too small'. When you get caught in rough weather and you're driving thru that 30 mph headwind with those really big waves, it just barely gets the job done. I'm going to get a Tohatsu 9.8 this summer. It's the same engine as an 8hp, just tuned different. It costs 125 bucks more than the 8 and gets great reviews.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 04/19/2008 : 10:41:38

Honda 9.9 with 28" XL shaft and electric start.

Edited by - on

PDXSteve
Deckhand

Members Avatar

20 Posts

Response Posted - 04/19/2008 : 11:04:47

Mine had a 01' Yamaha 8hp (long shaft, power tilt electric start) when i bought it, I've upgraded to a 06' Honda 9.9hp (long shaft, electric start). Both are good for the Catalina 250, but the Honda and the Tohatsu's are better suited for these boats, IMHO.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/19/2008 : 13:46:30

Martin: What water are you in? How much are wind and waves an issue? Are you cruising, or just getting in and out of a marina or launch area?

I suspect JohnMD's problem was with shaft length--not hp. My ninety-something Honda 8 (now marketed as the "classic") had plenty of power for heavy conditions, but not enough shaft to keep the prop down. My 2003 (I think) extra-long Honda 8 was more than enough on the C-25 (heavier than the C-250)--I never came close to using full throttle, even to stop at a dock. It could stop the boat like running into a pillow.

As I've said too many times, the Honda 9.9 is overkill--the same engine tuned for higher revs you'll absolutely never use, for several more boat units. The 8 the better value. With Tohatsu, the 9.8 might be the better choice because of shaft length, and because it has a higher-pitch, smaller diameter prop... and it costs less than the Honda or Yamaha 8s. I know Arlyn Stewart has cruised Lake Huron (BIG water) on his C-250 with a Honda 8, and I don't recall any complaints about power. 8-10hp should take care of you just fine, but a 25" (extra-long) shaft is the key to utilizing that power going through chop or wakes big enough to pitch the hull.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 04/19/2008 22:17:40

willy
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
422 Posts

Response Posted - 04/19/2008 : 14:25:18

Martin
Dave has it right...it's more about making sure your prop is in the water than horsepower for rough weather...I mean the difference in thrust between an 8 and a 9.8 I suppose could be significant but I'm not convinced. I do believe that where you mount the motor and what shaft length you choose based on that is critical. I have an add-on rear motor mount on the transom and I find the 20" shaft keeps me from cavitating, but if I was going to mount it directly to the boat, I'd go for 25". I have the 8hp Tohatsu. People on this site are starting to think I work for the company as I'm always extolling its virtues...light weight, cost, reliability, quiet operation, electric start, trickle charger all for under $1800. I have never felt underpowered either in the ocean, bay, or more importantly, the inlets!
Willy

Edited by - on

SEAN
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
772 Posts

Response Posted - 04/19/2008 : 18:19:12

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">6 to 15 HP for the C-250, and it looks like most folks are using 8-9.9hp.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
we had a 15 hp mercury long shaft when we got our 250 , It would pop out in rough water .
so I sold it and bought a new 9hp 05 Honda power thrust extra long .

I like the Honda over the mercury , the choke is automatic on the Honda . but the Honda has a tiller arm rattle at 1/2 throttle ,so you have to back off the throttle or speed up .

I don't miss the power loss ,
but at the time if I had the money I would have stayed with a 15hp .

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 04/19/2008 : 19:18:52

The Hondas are available with a 28" shaft. Longer is better.

All of these motors - Honda, Yamaha, Tohatsu - are fine reliable motors.

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

Members Avatar

USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 04/19/2008 : 19:37:36

FWIW the Tohatsu XLS is 27-1/2 from my own measurements last weekend.

Edited by - on

Jarrett Anderson
1st Mate

Members Avatar

61 Posts

Response Posted - 04/19/2008 : 19:56:58

I run a Yamaha 8hp high thrust with a long shaft. It will push hull speed into the wind at half throttle.

Jarrett_/)

Edited by - on

piseas
Former Treasurer

Members Avatar

USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 04/19/2008 : 22:29:27

Gotta love Dave B. He always gets it right. Of course there are one or two more of equal status.

Steve A

Edited by - on

MartinJW
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
241 Posts

Response Posted - 04/19/2008 : 22:48:18

THANKS, everyone!

Honda, Yamaha, Tohatsu, Nissan... all sound pretty good, but there may be a slight advantage to the Honda or Yamaha (but they cost more than the others).

I'm definitely going with the 25" shaft.

So, all things considered, I'm going to go with the Honda 9.9hp, XL / 25" (w/ elec start and power tilt).

(I might have gone with the 8hp engine, but this isn't available with a 25" shaft.)

Thanks again,
Martin (& Kali)
2008 C-250 #973 (currently nameless)

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/20/2008 : 13:09:58

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by MartinJW
 ...(I might have gone with the 8hp engine, but this isn't available with a 25" shaft.)<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">You mean not in stock? It most certainly is available, for something like $300 less.

Edited by - on

willy
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
422 Posts

Response Posted - 04/20/2008 : 13:44:50

Martin I love the idea of Power Tilt...my one concern is... Is that puppy going to weigh about 140lbs with all the bells and whistles?

Edited by - on

MartinJW
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
241 Posts

Response Posted - 04/20/2008 : 13:50:53

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave Bristle
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by MartinJW
 ...(I might have gone with the 8hp engine, but this isn't available with a 25" shaft.)<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">You mean not in stock? It most certainly is available, for something like $300 less.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I think that we checked specifications with the Honda dealer, and there was something that we couldn't get with the 8HP Honda. We want (1) 25" shaft, (2) electric starter/alternator, & (3) power tilt; one or more of these were not available in the 8HP model, so we moved up to the 9.9.

Are you saying that all these options ARE available on the Honda 8HP, Dave? (Should I double-check on this?)

Thanks,
Martin

Edited by - on

MartinJW
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
241 Posts

Response Posted - 04/20/2008 : 13:52:44

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by willy
 Martin I love the idea of Power Tilt...my one concern is... Is that puppy going to weigh about 140lbs with all the bells and whistles?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I think that's about right ~ perhaps 130 lbs.

The problem is that my wife has a bad back; she can't use a pull-starter and has trouble raising or lowering the outboard, so we have to have electric start and the power trim.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/20/2008 : 15:24:07

Martin: According to Honda's site, power tilt is an option on the 8 and the 9.9. (See "Features" at [url="http://www.honda-marine.com/modelDetail.aspx?modelGroup=BF8"]Honda 8[/url].)

It could be that fewer 8s with power tilt are in the distribution chain than 9.9s, but apparently it isn't that they aren't a product. I believe the only difference between the two is the camshaft. (They didn't have power tilt on either when I bought mine--they added it later to match Yamaha.)

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 04/20/2008 15:25:37

MartinJW
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
241 Posts

Response Posted - 04/20/2008 : 16:08:16

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave Bristle
 Martin: According to Honda's site, power tilt is an option on the 8 and the 9.9. (See "Features" at [url="http://www.honda-marine.com/modelDetail.aspx?modelGroup=BF8"]Honda 8[/url].)

It could be that fewer 8s with power tilt are in the distribution chain than 9.9s, but apparently it isn't that they aren't a product. I believe the only difference between the two is the camshaft. (They didn't have power tilt on either when I bought mine--they added it later to match Yamaha.)
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Edited by - on

MartinJW
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
241 Posts

Response Posted - 04/20/2008 : 16:09:54

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave Bristle
 Martin: According to Honda's site, power tilt is an option on the 8 and the 9.9. (See "Features" at [url="http://www.honda-marine.com/modelDetail.aspx?modelGroup=BF8"]Honda 8[/url].)

It could be that fewer 8s with power tilt are in the distribution chain than 9.9s, but apparently it isn't that they aren't a product. I believe the only difference between the two is the camshaft. (They didn't have power tilt on either when I bought mine--they added it later to match Yamaha.)
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Dave,

You're right. There was some reason that we thought we needed to go with the 9.9hp, but the 8hp has everything we need (elec start, power tilt, 25" shaft).

I'll ask my Catalina dealer what he thinks.

Thanks!

Martin

Edited by - on

MartinJW
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
241 Posts

Response Posted - 04/20/2008 : 16:14:10

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave Bristle
 Martin: What water are you in? How much are wind and waves an issue? Are you cruising, or just getting in and out of a marina or launch area?
...
As I've said too many times, the Honda 9.9 is overkill--the same engine tuned for higher revs you'll absolutely never use, for several more boat units. The 8 the better value. With Tohatsu, the 9.8 might be the better choice because of shaft length, and because it has a higher-pitch, smaller diameter prop... and it costs less than the Honda or Yamaha 8s. I know Arlyn Stewart has cruised Lake Huron (BIG water) on his C-250 with a Honda 8, and I don't recall any complaints about power. 8-10hp should take care of you just fine, but a 25" (extra-long) shaft is the key to utilizing that power going through chop or wakes big enough to pitch the hull.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Dave,

We sail on Lake Tahoe exclusively (right now). Waves and wind CAN be an issue; unexpected storms can, occasionally, bring on 25-30 knots winds and 3-4 foot swells. Would an 8hp (25") handle this, or would we be in trouble?

NORMALLY, we just motor into and out of our little harbor. But perhaps 25% of the time we're motoring to get somewhere.

THANKS!

Martin

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/20/2008 : 16:16:11

Here's another reason favoring the 8 over the 9.9... On their website, they show the 8 on a Hunter (not great) and the 9.9 on a Mac 26M (ugh!)

Why anybody would buy a Mac masted powerboat and put a 9.9 on it is a mystery... Honda needs to upgrade those pages!

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 04/20/2008 16:19:44

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/20/2008 : 16:27:41

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by piseas
 Gotta love Dave B. He always gets it right. Of course there are one or two more of equal status.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Thanks, Steve... If only... I only try to pass along what I've learned--some of it from higher "status" contributors here, and much of it from over 55 years of sailing one thing or another. Sometimes I pass along more than I know.

Edited by - on

Jarrett Anderson
1st Mate

Members Avatar

61 Posts

Response Posted - 04/20/2008 : 19:31:55

Martin,
I am surprised you are not just referring to Tahoe as "The Lake". An 8hp high trust will have no problem pushing a 250 in the conditions you mentioned. The power tilt, starter and alternator are very nice to have-I would highly recommend! Enjoy!

Jarrett_/)

Edited by - on

johnsonp
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
606 Posts

Response Posted - 04/20/2008 : 20:23:06

MartinJW
I think you made a good choice in engine selection and extras.
I would suggest the 6 gallon tank as a future upgrade.
I had a place in South Shore 1972-2006 and sailed out of Tahoe Keys Marina until they kicked me out.
The only thing I wish I had for the C250 WK at Tahoe was a aspinnaker with a ATN sock.
You do not have the tides and current there so it really helps on those days when you seek the cats paw.

Make sure you keep in contact with Mike sometimes he forgets delivery dates.

I still can count to one hundred by ones so......I think I still have some status.

paulj

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/20/2008 : 21:07:00

Martin: Anywhere that the "power thrust" Honda 8 isn't enough, the 9.9 or even 15 won't be either, and the C-250 will be toast. You will virtually never, and I mean NEVER crank up the Honda 8 above about 2/3 throttle, and rarely above half. (More than that just makes a bunch of noise and wastes fuel.) It is plenty for your boat and your venue. And according to a Honda rep, the 8 has more lower-end torque than the 9.9. (I consider them dead-equal, except maybe on a planing hull.)

Edited by - on

Page: of 2

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.