Cape Dory 22 outboard motor; smallest hp servicable

[Steve Laume]

I believe what Raymond is referring to is that hull speed is the limiting factor. All the power in the world is not going to move you over the ground any faster against an opposing current. If your engine is capable of moving you boat at a hull speed of 5 knots you will only move over the ground at 3 knots against a 2 knot current.

I am not sure about waves but it seems they would work against he hull and again more power would not do much for your situation.

A head wind is the only situation where a reserve of power might be to your advantage. If you have only enough power to bring you vessel to hull speed then wind resistance would decrease your speed. This could be overcome with enough power to bring the hull to maximum speed and overcome the forces of the wind.

I would still opt for a smaller engine and the increased sailing performance it would allow due to decreased weight rather than having a large amount of mostly unused power in reserve.

When we had the Typhoon the motor was mostly to move us in and around docks. On a rare occasion it got us home when the wind completely died and the sun was setting. There were also a couple of times when it was used along with the sails to beat into a nasty head wind. In that situation it was not doing all of the work so the sails made up for what hte engine might have lacked.

It's a sailboat, Steve.

[Klem]

Steve is correct that in a current situation, the limiting factor is hull speed so a larger engine will not help significantly. In a headwind and waves, a larger engine will increase your SOG. Both of these apply a force opposite to the one provided by your outboard so in order to increase speed, you must increase horsepower.

More important in my opinion than horsepower is the ability to put the horsepower down for an outboard. This means keeping the prop in the water (engine placement and shaft length), proper propeller, and proper gearing/pitch combination to stay in the engine's powerband.

[Jim Davis]

Having the reserve power to drive into wind and sea can be handy. However you rarely want to drive into seas where your bow goes under or the boat comes so far out of the wave you pound hard. As a rule of thumb, I generally cut back on the power when driving into heavy seas. The hard motion you induce is hard on boat and crew. If you find your desired destination forces you to punch into heavy seas you might want to consider a new destination.

For an OB powered sailboat a long shaft is good, but you really don't need more HP than will drive the boat at hull speed at half throttle in calm water. Anything more will only add weight, cost and increased fuel consumption.

[Ron Brassord]

I feel the need to get my two cents worth in here because I am the owner of a CD 22 referred to here-in.
What is the best motor for a CD 22?
The question should be what is the safest?
A husky sailer could paddle a 22 across the harbor in dead calm. A 2 hp will get it around fine in mild conditions and a 6 will handle most conditions.
So, why more, like an 8 hp?
Simple, the specially designed Yamaha 8 is engineered for slow sped heavy load sailboats. It provides all the power the boat can handle,and then some, resulting in a maximum safety factor.
Try powering into a 5 knot current or a severe squall with a lesser motor and the difference becomes quickly apparent.Frequently tidal currents in our inlet approach 5 knots, and small sailboats with smaller engines just can't cope.
What are the negatives? None really except the initial cost maybe slightly more. But larger engines working less may last longer and be more forgiving about the nasty ethanol?
The weight issue is minor. The difference between a 6hp and an 8 is about the same as a case of beer in the lazzeret and no one is going to convince me this will adversely effect trim or steering. Drinkinking it, yes, storing it no way.
Lifting the engine off and on, the smaller the better of course, but how often does this happen?
There are other plusses to consider. The bigger engine needs much less throtle at cruise making it much smoother , quititer, and fuel efficient. I think a larger engine is more reliable, maybe not. Backing down in a emergency is better, and so is jockying the boat around in a crowded situation.
So, my vote is larger is for me. Especially the electric start which is a marvelous safety item when you need power in a hurry and eliminates hanging over the stern yanking on a string.
I put a 9.9 on one of my CD25s and an 8 on another with ideal results.They have made uneventfull powered passages of hundreds of miles. The much reduced noise factor alone is huge.
The cost savings for smaller may evaporate in the long run?
Most important, sail safe, and sail often
Ron Brassord Lighthouse Point Fl.

[bifcondor]

The outboard with the least horsepower that is capable of pushing a displacement-hull sail boat at hull speed in calm conditions will push that boat through any conditions just as well as an outboard with greater horsepower.

For example, an 8 HP outboard will not punch a TY through rough seas any better than a 3.5 HP outboard (allowing for differences in prop diameter, pitch, so forth). The larger outboard will simply burn more fuel.

Better to spend your money on an extra-long shaft.

This is, or course, your opinion.

[Sea Hunt]

I know I am a rookie but it seems like Ron B. makes some good points about the 8 hp O/B versus a 4-6 hp O/B.

I know from experience that on two occassions I just barely had enough thrust to make it out of a channel with an incoming tide and a strong wind on the bow. I would have felt a lot safer with a larger O/B at those times.

I think perhaps a lot has to do with personal preference and what you are comfortable with.

[The Patriot]

I know I am a rookie ...

Still? You've been on board over four years and have over a thousand posts. This puts you in the Top Ten, so surely you deserve a promotion by now. Go for it!

[mgphl52]

I know from experience that on two occassions I just barely had enough thrust to make it out of a channel with an incoming tide and a strong wind on the bow. I would have felt a lot safer with a larger O/B at those times.

It could also be the pitch of your prop. The only time my 3.5 Seagull couldn't take me to weather was when the St Johns River was throwing 4-foot chop at me... the motor spent more time out of the water than in! However, if I could have kept the prop in the water, I'm quite sure all would have been fine. Instead, I threw out a hook and waited the squall out.

[Oswego John]

I know I am a rookie but it seems like Ron B. makes some good points about the 8 hp O/B versus a 4-6 hp O/B.

I know from experience that on two occassions I just barely had enough thrust to make it out of a channel with an incoming tide and a strong wind on the bow. I would have felt a lot safer with a larger O/B at those times.

I think perhaps a lot has to do with personal preference and what you are comfortable with.

Hi Robert,

A smooth politician has an arsenal of quips, quotes and other clever and witty sayings to cover most situations. I am definitely not a politician and am most definitely not smooth. However, I do have a few pet sayings to cover my six in many controversial areas.

Namely:
#1 Whatever it takes.
#2 To each his own.

#4 It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. (This could also apply to reserve HP.

NB: Because of a slight, temporary brain malfunction, I can't remember what #3 is. It will come to me later tonight, for sure.

When I first got my first Ty, it had a small OB motor hanging on the transom. It was maybe 2 or 2 1/2 Hp. It was so-so but not great. It had no reverse gear. For reverse, I had to rotate the enginr 180° by laying on the fantail and reaching over the transom. A true PITA.

At the time, the smallest OB I could find with F-N-R was a Merc 5 HP. Sure, it weighed more than the other but not so much that it threw her off her lines. Besides, the engine remained locked on the Ty all season. One of the best things about the Merc was that I could use either the built in fuel tank or a remote tank that came with it.

One day I was out sailing to a place a few hours away from where I tie up. On the way home the wind picked up and so did the waves. I was the only boat out there. As I approached the Oswego lighthouse, it was about sundown. I stayed off shore to get a good angle on the inlet through the breakwater wall.

I heard people yelling and saw a couple in distress in a sailboat that was being pushed by the wind into the stone breakwall. I started my motor and hastily dropped sails. (What a mess)

Well, good things happened. I did get to them before they crashed into the rocks. They were only a few feet from crashing when I threw them a line, tied off and started backing off, south end heading north. We did inch away from the wall, against the wind and crashing waves. I towed them into my marina and secured them for the night.

In retrospect, I have often thought of the minor, though important happenstances that prevented a tragedy from possibly taking a life, thus resulting in a happy ending.

These people bought a boat but didn't know what they were doing, never had a lesson. They were fair weather sailors who floundered when the weather and water got stinky.

The bottom line of the lesson imprinted on my mind was/is if I was using the little 2 1/2 Hp engine, I couldn't have pulled them away from danger. The reverse gear proved its worth under duress.

Saying #4 could apply by my having a stronger than necessary outboard on my little boat. "It is better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it."

Tonight I will take one of my smartening pills before retiring and concentrate on what #3 is.

O J

[Markst95]

I'm sorry but I have a thing about carrying huge outboards on small sailboats. I can see if you have to battle a strong current to get out to you sailing area then you might need one but to have one "just in case" doesn't make sense to me. I tend to choose my gear for the other 99% of the time I'm sailing and plan my trips to take advantage of currents, tides, ect. Overseas its still fairly common to see a 30 footer with a 6hp outboard, even in areas with high current. Part of the fun and adventure of sailing is being in tune with nature, not battling through it. Whats next, do I have to mount a liferaft on my foredeck???

[Oswego John]

5HP is huge???

As I said, refer to #2.

O J

BTW, no one will win this debate.

[Markst95]

5HP is huge???

As I said, refer to #2.

O J

BTW, no one will win this debate.

Your right OJ but its the middle of the winter and it felt good to get my debating juices flowing!

[Sea Hunt]

OJ:

Thanks for the post. Very interesting.

Possible candidate for Number 3:

"Ain't no atheists in a foxhole"

[Oswego John]

My OB is a two stroke, 5 HP Mercury. I bought it in 1995 for the unheard of sum of about $700.00 new from a wholesaler in Lynbrook, LI NY. That was back when there weren't too many rice burners around. It was built in Wisconsin by, Keekaufer (Sp ?), an American company. Not sure when they sold out.

It has, at most, maybe around 10 hours on it. It is used just in and out of the slip until I can get the sails up safely. I have to blow her out at high RPM under load (in gear) every now and then. It has been a very faithful engine, albeit underused.

Now and then I will hear some someone tell me that my OB isn't green. I tell them that neither is my lawnmower. Don't holler on me, call Al Gore. He'll listen.

"Ain't no atheists in a foxhole"

'specially with a mortar grid pattern heading your way.

The Ty Guy,
O J