Which motor for Macgregor 26C?

[Ricard_M]

I am currently looking for an engine for my Macgregor 26C, but I cannot decide how many HP I should get because I am finding lots of crossed information online....

The previous owner had a 15hp, but a lot of Macgregors I have seen normally have a 9.9HP engine.

What do you guys think? 15hp or 10hp?

Also is it worth to get the engine in the longest shaft configuration (some brands like yamaha, honda and tohatsu have the short version 15", long version 20" and the extra long or sailing version 25")?

Thanks for your help!

[Sumner]

Anything over the 10 HP is a waste in my opinion and if it weighs more you don't need that.

We went with a Tohatsu 9.8 over the 8 HP since we wanted the extra-long shaft and it only comes on the 9.8. If you are ocean sailing I'd suggest the extra-long shaft. There might be a few times you would be glad you had it to keep the prop in the water. Lake sailing a long shaft is fine. Don't get the short shaft though.

Our other consideration was we wanted electric start so that we are anyone else on-board could start the outboard if needed as a safety measure. Tohatsu has a 6 HP extra-long shaft but no electric start with it. I've been glad that I had the larger outboard a few times in tidal currents. There again if you are lake sailing and don't need the electric start the 6 HP would do the trick as it also comes with a high thrust prop,

Sumner

============================
1300 miles to the Bahamas and back -- 2015

The MacGregor 26-S

The Endeavour 37

Trips to Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[dlandersson]

Ditto

Anything over the 10 HP is a waste in my opinion and if it weighs more you don't need that.

We went with a Tohatsu 9.8 over the 8 HP since we wanted the extra-long shaft and it only comes on the 9.8. If you are ocean sailing I'd suggest the extra-long shaft. There might be a few times you would be glad you had it to keep the prop in the water. Lake sailing a long shaft is fine. Don't get the short shaft though.

Are other consideration was we wanted electric start so that we are anyone else on-board could start the outboard if needed as a safety measure. Tohatsu has a 6 HP extra-long shaft but no electric start with it. I've been glad that I had the larger outboard a few times in tidal currents. There again if you are lake sailing and don't need the electric start the 6 HP would do the trick as it also comes with a high thrust prop,

Sumner

============================
1300 miles to the Bahamas and back -- 2015

The MacGregor 26-S

The Endeavour 37

Trips to Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[Ricard_M]

Hi Sumner,

Thanks for the reply!

I am strongly considering to buy a Honda with extra long shaft and electric start (bigger altenator) for about 2500 euros.

However I still have something in the back of my mind telling me that I should go for more power (this is the first sailboat I own, so maybe that is the reason.....) but because I live in an area where we have lots of currebt my main doubt is always how well the engine will deal with strong currents+wind+load onboard with 10HP only.

[Sumner]

Personally I think you will do fine with 10 HP. I've been in 4+ kn currents and going into them the boat at max speed is only going to do about 2 kn as that is hull speed (around 6 kn). The 9.8 HP handled that and I'd taken the high thrust prop that came with it off.

I did my best to avoid situations like that and didn't get into them on purpose. You need to be aware of the tide charts and corresponding currents or you are going to get into trouble. Likewise if you run with a 4 kn current then you are going to have to run at least a couple kn over that to maintain steerage and then you are starting to get into an unwise situation also.

I've sat at cuts in Florida and the Bahamas waiting a few hours for the current to go down. This is especially important on an S, D or any of the earlier displacement hulls. The X and M guys live by a different set of rules to some degree...

https://youtu.be/nK1K1LUE-Qc

No way could one pull that off with a S no matter how much HP,

Sumner

=========================================================================================

1300 miles to the Bahamas and back -- 2015

The MacGregor 26-S

The Endeavour 37

Trips to Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[Ricard_M]

Sumner thank you very much for making it crystal clear!

It's settled. I will buy a 10 HP with electric start and if possible extra long shaft.

Thanks for the advice once more.