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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Best Outboard for my Hunter 25?

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Randall
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123 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/12/2004 : 22:14:12

Hi gang,

I done did it-- I bought the 83 Hunter 25 I talked about recently. It is located in Canyon Lake TX at the Army Recreation Area, and is in darned good shape. I paid 4k for it, and it came with CDI roller-furling, central a/c (MarineAir 5000 btu w/ ducts to v-berth and main cabin) and a brutally big Magnum trailer. The trailer was designed for a 28 foot, 7,800 lb powerboat.

It also came with a tired old Mercury 7.5 electric start 2 stroker, which runs, but which I will never trust. So my question is: what motor would be best for a Hunter 25? I know that the "right motor" question has been covered many times before, but I don't recall any of the discussions being about ergonomics.

All five of my previous boats had transom-mounted rudders, so it was easy to slide back against the transom and comfortably steer with both the rudder and the motor in tight quarters. But the Hunter's internal rudder comes up through the cockpit floor, and there is a lazarette running across the stern to store fuel in. As a result, I sit too far forward to handle the boat tiller, AND the outboard tiller, AND reach around the far side of the motor to work the F-N-R lever during delicate docking maneuvers. I have spousal permission to buy a new outboard, but it must have electric start.

A quick check of outboard manufacturers show lots of candidate motors in the 8-9.9 hp range, with 20" and 25" shafts, but none of them describe where their controls are located. Do all brands (except Mercury) have the F-N-R control lever inconveniently located on the side opposite the tiller, thus requiring two hands to work the engine in close quarters?

I love the way Mercury engines have the F-N-R/throttle control on the tiller-- boat & motor tiller control in tight quarters, plus undistracted F-N-R control. My big gripe is that Mercury is cheesy enough to remove the retracting starter rope from their electric start engines, so you have no immediate back-up in case the battery dies. That is an inexcusably chintsy on their part.

--Do any other 4 strokers have tiller mounted F-N-R, and both electric & manual start?
--Do I absotively, posilutely need a 25" shaft outboard? I do intend to do some coastal sailing with this boat, but will largely be sailing inland lakes, and have never been in lumpy enough water to need an ultra-deep prop.
--The original owner's manual states that motors should be in the 60 lb range to prevent throwing her too far out of trim. The high-thrust Yamahas and Merc 25" shafts weigh in at 133 lbs, and the new Nissan 9.8's at 82 lbs for their base models. Which is more important for a cruiser-- thrust & prop depth, or lighter weight?
--And, one more time on the motor mount question: Is there an extra long travel mount that will allow a lighter 20" engine to function as well as a heavier 25" high-thrust motor in lumpy seas?

Randall
"Kite" '79 TR/SK dinette #1459
Central Texas

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2004 : 22:34:04

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Randall
 Hi gang,

I done did it-- I bought the 83 Hunter 25 I talked about recently. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Congrats on the new boat Randall...she sounds like a keeper!

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Randall
 ...I love the way Mercury engines have the F-N-R/throttle control on the tiller-- boat & motor tiller control in tight quarters, plus undistracted F-N-R control...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

The one handed operation of the integrated throttle/shifter on my Mercury is the greatest thing since sliced bread and is hands down easier to operate than my old motor with the shift lever.

The other nice thing about the Merc' is that the tilt lock is only engaged when in reverse. This means that you don't need to throw a lever to disengage the tilt lock, just simply reach back and tilt the motor up.

Edited by - dlucier on 04/12/2004 22:40:21

rford
1st Mate

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USA
73 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2004 : 22:50:56

Here's a Merc 9.9 Long Shaft with Elec Start (remote) and Pull Start:

http://www.smalloutboards.com/m9997elr.htm

My guess is that it wouldn't be too hard to add a pull start to a Merc with Elec. start.

Edited by - rford on 04/12/2004 22:53:20

Raskal
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USA
162 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2004 : 16:15:37

The "Party line" on this forum is that the best outboard for a Hunter is any non-Honda that comes with a Catalina 25 attached...

Rich Kokoska

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Derek Crawford
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USA
3323 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2004 : 18:00:33

Congrats on the new boat, Randall, and welcome back to Canyon Lake! Will you be joining the gang on the race course?

Derek

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2004 : 18:37:08

Don't the Yamahas also have the gearshift on the throttle?

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Randall
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Response Posted - 04/13/2004 : 19:04:39

Well, I guess a Mercury it will be. I have no interest in remoting the controls into the cockpit, because I still would have three levers to juggle: the boat tiller, the motor tiller and the remote lever. I want to be able to steer with both the engine & rudder, and have no other distractions.

Derek, I doubt my old fat girl (boat, not wife) will be racing anyone, but we'll heave to, beverages in hand, and watch the races. Maybe I can do some crewing. My Hunter's sails are original issue, and the factory jib was re-cut for use on the CDI furler, so I doubt her performance will be sparkling. She's also been in the water for years, and will doubtless need a bottom job. But just you wait-- once I get new sails and a bottom job, we'll..........heave to, beverages in hand, and watch, and look real pretty. I've popped in at Canyon Lake Marina several times recently, but you weren't around to finally meet in person. This summer for sure. My boat is named "Papillon" and is berthed on the inner end of the Army marina. Stop by sometime. If you see Jerry & Caroline, let them know that we're back at Canyon. And don't forget, the last time I saw him he bad-mouthed you. I told him that you and I talked Cat 25's on line, and Jerry said "Yeah, Derek likes to talks big, but all he really does is come out and win most all of the races." That ought to make you fighting mad!

Oh yeah, and Raskal, I (rep)resent your snide remark-- I have a Honda motor with a Cat 25 attached, sittin' in my yard as we speak. My Honda has given me 10 years of fine service, except whenever I needed it to idle, like when I was making a high wind docking maneuver in tight quarters. And when it would stall just as I was beginning to turn into my berth, and would refuse to restart as my boat drifted closer and closer to other vessels, while I furiously pulled on the rope.

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