BEST ENGINE FOR A MAC 25?

[livingstone]

The Macgregor site said 10hp was the most you should put on the 25. But then I heard people on the site here say that 25 would be better, that "too much is never enough," etc.

What do you all think? Can the transom handle a stronger engine? What if I build a better motor rack mount? Can I put something with a little more chutzpah on this sucker? If I do, will it make any difference? Will this boat ever plane?

These questions and many more await you when you speak to...

Jack Livingstone

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

Jack...if you want a Mac 25 to plane...well I suppose anything is possible with a buncha reinforcement, mods, weight shifting, and even possibly removing the weighted centerboard for a classic centerboard. But getting it to handle enough HP for a plane--well I would consider just getting a Mac X in place of the loss in time, mods, $$$, and the big engine on a boat thats designed for sailing primarily. Imagine what an empty ballasted Mac X can do with a 140 HP revved up.

I had a Mac 26S previously, and it motored fine with an 8 HP, 2cyl. The nice thing was how that 8 hp could be removed anytime with ease. And it was like my dog, always ready to run, faithful, and dependable.

[Robert]

The Tohatsu / Nissan 18hp is light for its power, but heavier than it used to be
http://www.tohatsu.com/outboards/18_4st_spec.html
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The Honda 20hp is light for its weight and comes in a sailpower version with high thrust 4 blade prop:
http://www.honda-marine.com/modelDetail ... Group=BF20
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Yamaha "Portable" Outboards 20
http://www.yamaha-motor.com/outboard/pr ... specs.aspx
Yamaha High Thrust 9.9
http://www.yamaha-motor.com/outboard/pr ... specs.aspx
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Mercury 9.9 Bigfoot or ProKicker
http://northamerica.mercurymarine.com/e ... php?ID=111
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Suzuki has a gap in its lineup with no 100lb outboard and no high thrust portable.
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Evinrude nothing will load in my browser
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Johnson has a 2-smoke 9.9hp with a low 2.42 gear ratio and 20 inch shaft that will only cost you 77 lbs! Do you use water that has banned 2-strokes?
http://www.johnson.com/en-US/Engines/Sh ... tID=J99-2S

[Bawgy]

I have a Venture 24 and a tohatsu 8 hp with electric start. I used a 5 hp for two years and never had any problems going where i needed to . SInce I was going out in the ocean and camping for a weekend I bought the 8 to charge my house batteries. I think that the 8 or 9.9 would be plenty of power unless you want to go out in 25 knot winds all the time.