Outboard vs Diesel

Bob Herrick · Post by **Bob Herrick** » May 28th, '02, 21:39

We're considering moving up from our Typhoon Senior to a CD26 or CD27. The Ty Senior and the CD26 are similar in that both utilize an outboard in a motor well as opposed to the diesel in the CD27. We'd appreciate pros and cons feedback on a motorwell outboard versus diesel power with respect to maneuverability, performance, reliability and maintenance.

Thanks,

Bob

bherrick@krausonline.com

Gary L. · Post by **Gary L.** » May 29th, '02, 06:33

Bob,

I had a CD26 for six years, and loved it. But, much of what you ask is dependent upon what you want from the boat. I was on a mooring, where I could set sail and leave and return under sail. I rarely used the motor. When I did, it could push the boat to about five knots with a Yamaha 4 stroke 9.9 long shaft, and it was quiet. I rarely had to back up. So if you are on a mooring, it may not matter which one you pick. One time, I had to have the engine serviced, as I did not use it enough, and it became fouled. I was able to pull the engine out and lower it to the yard workboat, while still at my mooring.

As long as it is a CD, I don't think you could go wrong.

Good luck,

Gary Lapine
Red Witch III
CD30C, hull #339
Somerset MA

dory26@attbi.com

Dana · Post by **Dana** » May 29th, '02, 08:19

Bob,
Don't forget about the CD26D if you can find one for sale.
Because you currently own a TY Senior you already have half of the answers...those about the outboard...the chief differences are:

1. Generally crusing range...diesel vs. gas
2. Storage area....sail locker and under the companion way
3. Water in the bilge....shaftlog/no shaft log
4. HP...sometmes even the diesels are a little under powered at ~8HP
5. Possible smells within the boat (engine)

But besides all of that...one diesel is not like another...i.e. fresh water cooled-salt water cooled/one cylinder-two cylinder/lots of vibration-little vibration, etc.....same with the outboards. Outboards should be flushed with fresh water after use which is a draw back on your mooring.

darenius@aol.com

Peter K. · Post by **Peter K.** » May 29th, '02, 16:48

Bob Herrick wrote: We're considering moving up from our Typhoon Senior to a CD26 or CD27. The Ty Senior and the CD26 are similar in that both utilize an outboard in a motor well as opposed to the diesel in the CD27. We'd appreciate pros and cons feedback on a motorwell outboard versus diesel power with respect to maneuverability, performance, reliability and maintenance.

Thanks,

Bob

Bob, I own a CD26, newly purchased and only recently put into the water at my marina on Lake Erie. I find the Honda 9.9 hp outboard on my boat to have plenty of power, but do not like the outboard as much as I think I'd like a diesel. The shifting of gears, applying more acceleration to the motor, even steering with the motor in place is much more cumbersome to handle than I think a diesel would be. I have a difficult time bringing my CD26 in to dock than I imagine I would have if I used a diesel. Now, as you can probably gather, I have never used a diesel, so I could be wrong, but I do find the outboard less convenient and more cumbersome to use. I do love the boat, though, outboard or not. Good luck,
Peter K.

waltzingmatilda@sailnet.net

Chris Scheck · Post by **Chris Scheck** » May 30th, '02, 08:10

A nice NEW diesel would be preferable to an outboard in most cases. But it really depends on how old the diesel is in the boat you are looking at. If you start having problems with an aging diesel, you can spend an awful lot of money trying to get it to work right. I think the formula is R = 1.5$>ND ... which means that you'll probably spend about one and a half times the price of a new engine trying to get your old engine to work, before you give up and buy a new one anyway. We just had to replace the timing cover - the big cast cover on the front of the engine - on our 17-year old Universal. Would you believe the part alone cost $1200? They got ya ... you can't get it anywhere else. When you get mad enough at an outboard, you just go buy another one on sale somewhere.

cscheck@aol.com

Randy Bates · Post by **Randy Bates** » May 30th, '02, 12:44

After 25 years of sailboats with outboards I bought "Seraph", a CD25D with the little one cylinder diesel. There is no comparison when it comes to actually using the motor to move. Diesels are by far superior. They do cost more to fix, can be a pain in the wallet. But IMHO they are worth it. Just have a good surveyor go over the deisel in detail. Look to see if it's clean. Look underneath and behind. Is the engine bilge black? Is it oily? Does the cabin smell of diesel?

Bob Herrick wrote: We're considering moving up from our Typhoon Senior to a CD26 or CD27. The Ty Senior and the CD26 are similar in that both utilize an outboard in a motor well as opposed to the diesel in the CD27. We'd appreciate pros and cons feedback on a motorwell outboard versus diesel power with respect to maneuverability, performance, reliability and maintenance.

Thanks,

Bob

randy.bates@baesystems.com

Kurt · Post by **Kurt** » May 30th, '02, 14:44

I sail a CD26 powered by an electric start 9.9 Honda. I have it rigged up with remote controls and a full bulkhead between the motor well and the cockpit...I also added a bit of sound insulation. The net of it is that it's quieter and more vibration free than a diesel...I think the a big advantage of an inboard is the larger alternator to charge the battery. BTW...I've motored 20+ miles on 1.5 gallons of gasoline at 5 knots

KJLGPW@AOL.COM

Ross Williams · Post by **Ross Williams** » Jun 1st, '02, 06:25

My wife and I own a CD26 with o/b. When we boat the boat it came with a 9.9 2-stroke tohatsu. o/b ran great but we couldn't have a conversation in the cockpit without yelling back and forth. We did this for one season then made the decision to go out and purchase a 9.9 Yamaha 4stroke. No regrets. great engine. we looked at both honda and yamaha. the yamaha tiller handle rotates 180 degrees which was necessary to close hatch on the well. the honda's I looked at didn't offer that same full rotation with the tiller. Also like the shift setup on the Yamaha. It's on the tiller, so when you fold the tiller arm out into the cockpit, it's almost like having cockpit controls since their right there for easy access. We also keep our boat on a mooring so I can't speak to the maneuvering question in tight areas. My guess is that diesel or o/b, maneuvering in tight areas with a full keel boat won't be an easy task. When we boat the yamaha it was also nice to know that we could repower the boat with a brand new motor for approx $2200,may be more now, and no labor for install. Best of luck. Love our Cape Dory!

rosswilli@aol.com

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