Outboard? Who needs an outboard?

[Sarge1572]

I am in the middle of rehabing a MacGregor/Venture 24. I hope to have it up and sailing by summer. I am looking for an outboard but don't know what I need. Several people have told me 10HP, but they can't say why. I just need a motor to manuver from the dock, under a bridge to another dock where I'll put up the mast and sails, on the way out, and then to get back at the end of the day. Will a 3 or 5 HP trolling motor be adaquate?

As long as I've got your attention, why are some outboards recommended for fresh water only, but none mention being suitable for salt water?

What's the benefit of a long shaft or short shaft outboard? And which do I want?

If you haven't guessed I don't know Jack about outboards. I've been sailing for a long time, and made a couple of trips to Hawaii and several to Mexico, but those weren't my boats and they had motors!! I've only owned sabots and Lido's, but crew for other people whenever the opportunity presents itself, but this outboard thing has me stumped. Any advise from you veterans is welcome and appreciated.

[Pouw Geuzebroek]

Serge. I have a Mac26X with a 9.9 HP outboard. I use it for just the things you mentioned, getting out of the Marina and start sailing as soon as possible. I think a 5 HP would do the job too, but the 9.9 gives me some extra assurance that I can get home sooner when a sudden thunderstorm appears and I am on the middle of the lake.
I need a long shaft, because the short shaft will not get the prop in the water. It all depends how high your transom is on the Venture.
Regarding the fresh water thing. I think it is only Mercury that makes that distinction, it is a marketing thing I gues. As long as you clean it out with fresh water after using it in salt water there is no problem, if you come from salt water and you have to go thru fresh water to get to your Marina, that will already do the job for you. If your Marina is on salt water you need some special hose to run fresh water thru the engine.

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

I had a Venture 21 for years. At first we used a little 3hp Sears motor that came with it. It worked well enough, but wasn't enough for longer transits under power. You will also find that most of the under 4hp motors don't have F-N-R. When they are running the prop is spinning. To go backwards you spin them around the other way. Not the best solution.

We moved up to a 6hp Yamaha with F-N-R and it was more than enough to push the boat at hull speed. I still have it as my dinghy motor. You should be fine with a motor in the 6-8hp range.

As far as shaft length, I would get the short shaft. This will make it more useful down the road. Since your boat has no transom designed for a motor you will need to install a bracket and can put it at the right height for the short shaft motor. Rather than a fixed bracket, I prefer the ones you can raise and lower that are made for trolling motors.

[Sarge1572]

Thanks very much for your reply. I am looking at the Briggs and Stratton air cooled 5HP 4 cycle. In the ads they recommend them for fresh water so I have to find out why. Perhaps a marketing ploy. I believe I want a 4 cycle because of the restrictions many marinas and fresh water facilities are placing on the 2 stroke engines because of pollution and I understand they are quieter.

Thank you very much for your input. Now all I have to do is start saving for a motor. My wife will be SO surprised when she gets it for her birthday. I should have the boat done by then so I'll have a place to sleep!!

Jeff

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

Any salt water motor can be used in fresh water. If a Mfg recommends theirs for fresh water it means it's components won't hold up in the more corrosive salt water environment. To be blunt, it has cheaper parts that will corrode. I can't say I have heard good things about the Briggs and Straton.

In the small outboards you'll find a lot of people with the Tohatsu / Nissan, some Mercury, and of course you can't go wrong with the Honda. That said my Yamaha has been bulletproof for the last 10 years. Someday I'll change the plugs.

[Mark Prouty]

I had an old 15hp once on my displacement hull sailboat. I went to a 6hp and obtained the same speed as the 15hp on my 20 foot sailboat. Once you reach max hull displacement speed, no matter what size motor you have, the boat won't go faster.


Don't buy a Briggs and Stratton. Please look at this thread:
http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=2225.

[Sarge1572]

Thank you all for your input. NO to B&S came in loud and clear!

I ignored sage advise once before and ended up in a combat unit in Vietnam so I am paying attention.

Now I have a good starting point to research what I'll ultimately buy. I have a better idea what to stay AWAY from and some good suggestions what to look at. Thank you for your advise, recommendations and warning.

The sun came out yesterday and I'm getting excited all over again. I even drained the water out of the boat again (it's sitting in the driveway covered but somehow it still gets in). I'm two projects away from starting on the boat. Then all I need is a couple of weeks of NO RAIN.

(Have you ever noticed how much nicer sailboat owners are than the rest of the population? Maybe we know how to relax AND spend time with our family.)

Thanks again, you guys have been VERY helpful,

Jeff

[mrbill]

You didnt mention where you sail. lake or coastal.

For costal sailors, where current and seas could be an issue, its really nice to have some reserve capacity in the OB.

ie., if the current is running 3 knts under the bridge, and you only make 3knts, you may not have enough power to keep you from being sucked under the bridge.

otherwise, smaller is better.

on a 24' I would say a 6hp is minimum..., but you may be able to get by with a 4hp on a lake.

also, on the shaft lenght, coastal sailers want the long shaft, as the stearn will tend to lift out of the water in waves, causing cavatiation.

(but the short shaft is more versitale, and better for dinks)

again, if a lake sailer, a short shaft with the ob bracket set (mounted), so the motor lower unit will get into the water, while still keeping the powerhead out of the waves when docked.


note: most OB's are killed by overheating them. 2nd most popular death is improper fuel (on 2 strokes). waterpump impellers should be part of an annual maintenance.

-IMHO ofcourse.....

[baldbaby2000]

I'm not sure what a Mac 24 is like. We had a couple Mac 25's over the years. The first one had a 5 hp Mariner 2-stroke. It was plenty. It would push the boat at almost 5 mph all day long.

The next boat we had an 8 hp Evenrude Yatchtwin 2-stroke. Again; plenty of power.

I don't know what kind of motor bracket you have. Ours would go up and down and lock in either position. We'd also tilt the motor up to keep it out of the water when sailing. I'd get a long shaft. We had to borrow a short shaft once and when one of us went to the front it would pull out of the water and sound like a popcorn fart; especially in swells. Also if you want to power sail, on one tack it will tend to come out of the water. It doesn't take much to ruin the impeller. If you want to see a picture go to http://www.rapidnet.com/~dt2000/boats_for_sale.htm