Outboards that fit into CD25 hole?

[JimL]

Now that I'm sailing the boat, I find I'm very disappointed with the 5HP Nissan that came with it. Frankly, it's a gutless wonder that stalls when put in gear, vibrates enough to shake out your fillings, and sounds like an unravelling fishing reel! (I guess I made my point)

Anyway, I'd sure like to hear what outboards will fit into that well. Specifically, what's the biggest Honda anybody has used? How are the Johnson Sailmaster twins?

Luckily, the boat sails like a witch, points well, and steers pretty good. Yesterday I had to sail it off a "lee shore" rock jetty when the outboard conked out, entering the harbor, and the starter rope broke. It'd been 22 years since I sailed a boat into a slip single-handed, but this beauty saved my "derriere". This old man doesn't need that much excitement, anymore. Thanks for any suggestions or knowledge!



leinfam@earthlink.net

[Gerry/Barracuda]

I recently had the same dilemma. When I bought my CD25 a year and a half ago, I took the trolling motor off of my power boat. It is a Johnson 9.9HP 2-stroke. This has too much power believe it or not. This was difficult( at 78 pounds a killer to lift) into place into the lazarette as I had to unbolt the lazarette motor mount, mount it to the motor, slide the lower unit thru the hole and rebolt to the boat. This took an hour and a half. I said this will not be a daily event even though I do not like the idea of leaving my motor in the water(yes I tried antifouling spray barnicles and slime still grow in 6 months and what about critters getting passed the water intake screen and growing inside? Fried engine. I looked around Honda control arms stick up and you can't close the lazarette cover. Last summer with good advice from this web sight I purchased a new Nissan 5HP long shaft 4-stroke. At 55 pounds I place it and remove it every time I sail which is every other day. Do a minor mount lowering so the hatch can close without vibrating on the cover. It comes with a 7 inch pitch prop this boggs down and vibrates above half throttle. It does not develope the rpms to unload and operate smoothly with the slow moving displacement hull. So the store(mechanic) I bought it from recommended I have the prop repitched to 5 inch pitch. This was fabulous. No vibration winds out to develop rpm and plenty of power and good fuel consumption. I don't worry about an alternator as I use a solar cell to charge the battery for lights and bilge pump. Your other alternative is to use a transm mount with the engine of you choice. Good luck

[Will W.]

Hi Jim
I have two engines for my 25 both are pretty old and not worth much but they both have always started eventually. There are a few things that I will make sure of when I look for a new motor.
1. As you already know running the motor with lazzarette down is difficult. I would make sure it is 4 stroke with through prop exhaust.
2. I would make sure that the arm folds all the way back. Until I felt like adding a throttle box.
3. I want it to charge the battery when running.
4. Finally I want it to be forever maintenance free and run on air.
The first three should be findable in the 5 - 10 HP range. As far as physical dimentions anything in the 5-10 HP range should fit, with the liklyhood of the job being tougher the closer you get to 10 HP.
My two motors are a 1981 Chrysler Sailor 7.5 HP and a newer Evinrude 6 HP about 6 years old. I can't imagine any of the newer motors being bigger than the Chrysler. It weighs in at about 90lbs and has a 24 inch shaft. I can install it without any modifications. I do have to put it through the well at an angle though. As far as HP goes, I used the 6 HP motor almost all last summer and it worked just fine. The 7.5 HP motor has just that little extra umph which can be nice when battling a strong current in a channel. If it were me I would try to go with an 8 HP that meets the mentioned requirements.
JMTCFWTAW (Just My Two Cents For That They Are Worth). Ha! I made that last one up. I think I'm gettin the hang O this web thing.

Will Wheatley
Suzi Q
CD25

I recently had the same dilemma. When I bought my CD25 a year and a half ago, I took the trolling motor off of my power boat. It is a Johnson 9.9HP 2-stroke. This has too much power believe it or not. This was difficult( at 78 pounds a killer to lift) into place into the lazarette as I had to unbolt the lazarette motor mount, mount it to the motor, slide the lower unit thru the hole and rebolt to the boat. This took an hour and a half. I said this will not be a daily event even though I do not like the idea of leaving my motor in the water(yes I tried antifouling spray barnicles and slime still grow in 6 months and what about critters getting passed the water intake screen and growing inside? Fried engine. I looked around Honda control arms stick up and you can't close the lazarette cover. Last summer with good advice from this web sight I purchased a new Nissan 5HP long shaft 4-stroke. At 55 pounds I place it and remove it every time I sail which is every other day. Do a minor mount lowering so the hatch can close without vibrating on the cover. It comes with a 7 inch pitch prop this boggs down and vibrates above half throttle. It does not develope the rpms to unload and operate smoothly with the slow moving displacement hull. So the store(mechanic) I bought it from recommended I have the prop repitched to 5 inch pitch. This was fabulous. No vibration winds out to develop rpm and plenty of power and good fuel consumption. I don't worry about an alternator as I use a solar cell to charge the battery for lights and bilge pump. Your other alternative is to use a transm mount with the engine of you choice. Good luck

willwheatley@starpower.net

[Clay Stalker]

Now that I'm sailing the boat, I find I'm very disappointed with the 5HP Nissan that came with it. Frankly, it's a gutless wonder that stalls when put in gear, vibrates enough to shake out your fillings, and sounds like an unravelling fishing reel! (I guess I made my point)

Anyway, I'd sure like to hear what outboards will fit into that well. Specifically, what's the biggest Honda anybody has used? How are the Johnson Sailmaster twins?

Luckily, the boat sails like a witch, points well, and steers pretty good. Yesterday I had to sail it off a "lee shore" rock jetty when the outboard conked out, entering the harbor, and the starter rope broke. It'd been 22 years since I sailed a boat into a slip single-handed, but this beauty saved my "derriere". This old man doesn't need that much excitement, anymore. Thanks for any suggestions or knowledge!

Jim-

If you can stand the sticker shock, buy a Honda 8HP or 9.9HP. The 8 should be plenty. I had a 9.9 in my old Quickstep 24 and this is a great engine, if a bit heavy. Plenty of power, quiet, exhaust through the prop, and reliable.



cstalker@cheshire.net

[Eric]

This is a common discsussion on here. I'll say the same thing I always say. Anyone who says 9.9 HP is too much is describing his or her conditions/use. I take Allia to Maine most summers, which includes passages through some stong currents. I have also been caught in a squall with 50 MPH winds. IN both cases, I would not describe the 9.9 HP as too much.

BE sure to assess your needs. If just need an engine to get in and out of the slip, 5 HP is more than enough. If your plan on cruising into tricky waters, you will certainly need more

I recently had the same dilemma. When I bought my CD25 a year and a half ago, I took the trolling motor off of my power boat. It is a Johnson 9.9HP 2-stroke. This has too much power believe it or not. This was difficult( at 78 pounds a killer to lift) into place into the lazarette as I had to unbolt the lazarette motor mount, mount it to the motor, slide the lower unit thru the hole and rebolt to the boat. This took an hour and a half. I said this will not be a daily event even though I do not like the idea of leaving my motor in the water(yes I tried antifouling spray barnicles and slime still grow in 6 months and what about critters getting passed the water intake screen and growing inside? Fried engine. I looked around Honda control arms stick up and you can't close the lazarette cover. Last summer with good advice from this web sight I purchased a new Nissan 5HP long shaft 4-stroke. At 55 pounds I place it and remove it every time I sail which is every other day. Do a minor mount lowering so the hatch can close without vibrating on the cover. It comes with a 7 inch pitch prop this boggs down and vibrates above half throttle. It does not develope the rpms to unload and operate smoothly with the slow moving displacement hull. So the store(mechanic) I bought it from recommended I have the prop repitched to 5 inch pitch. This was fabulous. No vibration winds out to develop rpm and plenty of power and good fuel consumption. I don't worry about an alternator as I use a solar cell to charge the battery for lights and bilge pump. Your other alternative is to use a transm mount with the engine of you choice. Good luck

[John L]

I replaced my aging 9.9 70's sailmaster last year with a Nissan 8 2 stroke with alternator.. she fit with a only a slightly lowered transom mount. I can close the hatch and run fine with the thru the prop exhaust. I found keeping the water intake ports, as well as the exhaust port, free of any visitors all season is the key to keeping it running smooth. For me, a new sailor, it was a great investment.

Good luck in your search..

John



laton@ynhh.com

[jim Stull]

I installed an 8 hp Honda 4 stroke 4 years ago in our CD25. Also rerouted the bypass exhaust out of the well and added sound proofing.
We cruise our boat and have 2, 6 gal tanks with a transfer valve. The engine will cruise the boat all day at 5.3 knots using .5 gal/hr if necessary.
It is very quiet. Last spring when we put the boat back in the water it started on the first pull.
This is probably the largest engine you can put in the well and will require some minor mods to fit it in.

Downsides:
Expensive
Heavy if you must lift in and out often, however we spent 4 months in the Fl. Keys without removing it (normally we sail the Great Lakes).
Alternator is only 5 amp.
Jim



jtstull@earthlink.net

[Jeff Funston]

I also use the Nissan 6 hp 4 stroke, not too heavy that you can't get in and out for a cleaning, oil change, etc. only had to lower the mount a couple of inches, and I did get the lower pitch prop for the dog. Its very quiet and I run with the cover closed unless I am pulling in the slip and I need to get to the shifter. Down side is I need to remove the rubber handle on the throttle, only thirty second job, but its the only way I can clear the traveler.



jefff@pinn.net

[Tom]

I have a 1976 CD25 and replaced the 9.9 OMC with a Tohatsu (Nissan) 8hp 2 stroke electric start works great, nice and light and no mods req'd. Good power for Buzzard's Bay. Weight is a big deal, you have to be able to lift it out of the well for service or cleaning. The 4 strokes are too heavy.



tomb5050@aol.com

[Dan]

I have the same Nissan 5hp on my boat, which is a Bristol 27. Bought it new last summer and love it. It replaced a 1985 9.9hp Evinrude, which I could never get to run consistently. Lots of people have questioned the decision to use a 5hp motor on a 6600lb boat, but its worked very well. It'll push me at 5 knots (hull speed is 6) at a little over half throttle in smooth conditions, and I've had to do that for hours at a time when becalmed. My boat is on the Chesapeake so currents aren't really an issue. Last year, I was able to keep pace with 3 Tritons motoring into a 20 kt headwind with their A4s. Its light, efficient, and quiet, and the through prop exhaust keeps the stink out of the cockpit. Its also dirt cheap relative to new outboards, at $1199 at BoatUS. If you're in the Chesapeake area, you're welcome come out for a test after I splash in March (you could tes the motor on your boat for an afternoon as well, if you bring me with and provide appropriate refreshments!)

Dan

PS: Will W., you going down to BPM sometime this weekend? I'm planning to go Monday to do my first portlight.



foxbd@home.com

[Will W.]

Hey Dan
As you know the list of chores never ends. I'll try to be there on Monday. Will

I have the same Nissan 5hp on my boat, which is a Bristol 27. Bought it new last summer and love it. It replaced a 1985 9.9hp Evinrude, which I could never get to run consistently. Lots of people have questioned the decision to use a 5hp motor on a 6600lb boat, but its worked very well. It'll push me at 5 knots (hull speed is 6) at a little over half throttle in smooth conditions, and I've had to do that for hours at a time when becalmed. My boat is on the Chesapeake so currents aren't really an issue. Last year, I was able to keep pace with 3 Tritons motoring into a 20 kt headwind with their A4s. Its light, efficient, and quiet, and the through prop exhaust keeps the stink out of the cockpit. Its also dirt cheap relative to new outboards, at $1199 at BoatUS. If you're in the Chesapeake area, you're welcome come out for a test after I splash in March (you could tes the motor on your boat for an afternoon as well, if you bring me with and provide appropriate refreshments!)

Dan

PS: Will W., you going down to BPM sometime this weekend? I'm planning to go Monday to do my first portlight.

willwheatley@starpower.net