best 4 stroke and horse power outboard for 24 ft CD

Carol Friel · Post by **Carol Friel** » Apr 13th, '05, 07:30

What is the best outboard for my 24 ft Cape,looking for a quieter outboard

M. R. Bober · Post by **M. R. Bober** » Apr 13th, '05, 08:24

If your CD is a sailboat, are you sure it's a 24? I thought the 24' was a trawler (i.e. no need for an outboard.)

Mitchell Bober
Sunny Annapolis (where the legislature just completed its session and the sun is still shining),MD

Carol Friel · Post by **Carol Friel** » Apr 13th, '05, 18:03

Its a 1976,very good year as I recall,.It grew , A 25 ft with a 1993 Johnson 9.9 hp

Carter Brey · Post by **Carter Brey** » Apr 14th, '05, 08:24

To a certain extent this depends on your location and use.

Currently most CD25 owners with newer motors seem to be using 4-strokes in the 5 to 8 hp range. If you have negligible currents and quiet water and just need to get into and out of a slip, 5 hp is plenty; there are some owners who do fine with even less.

For Long Island Sound and its variety of weather and wind conditions I find I'm comfortable with 6 hp and a low-pitch prop. It gets me up to hull speed against a moderate head wind, and I can turn it in the well to aid in maneuvering, which particularly in reverse is a blessing in a full-keel boat. I've never been without steerage way in a blow. At 55 pounds, it's easily lifted into a locker for storage.
If you like more oomph, then 8 hp will undoubtedly power you through anything you're likely to encounter in normal coastal sailing although you'll pay a price in weight. boat trim and maneuverability. I personally would not give up the advantages of the 6 hp for an 8.

Although these 4-strokes can be quieter than a 2-stroke, I wouldn't count on a smooth purr; the motor well makes a very efficient resonator. To acheive real quiet you'll have to install some soundproofing.

Best regards,
Carter

Will Wheatley · Post by **Will Wheatley** » Apr 14th, '05, 09:48

I agree with Carter that a 6hp is probably ideal. PS did a review of these small 4 strokes not too long ago and they gave top honors to the Honda 5hp however the tohatsu 6 and 8 hp are both lighter than the Honda motor as I recall. The review said that the Tohatsu 8hp is on the same frame and block as the 6 hp and therefore weighed no more, if I was looking for more than 6 hp this is what I would look at.
I'm pretty sure that the Tohatsu will do this but the most important thing about an engine for the CD25 besides fitting in the well is that the throttle arm fold all the way back so that you can close the lazarette when not motoring.

Happy Sailoring~~~~/)~~~~

Bruce Bett · Post by **Bruce Bett** » Apr 14th, '05, 11:34

Bill:

I belive that you are mistaken in saying that the Tohatsu 8 h.p. 4 stroke is built on the same chasse as the 6 hp. I belive it's built on the same chasse as the 9.8. It is considerably heavier than the 6. 81.5 lbs for the 8 and 9.8 as opposed to 55 lbs for the 6. This according to the Tohatsu web site.

http://www.tohatsu.com/outboards/6_4st.html

Bruce Bett
Sostenuto
CD 25 #496

Roy J · Post by **Roy J** » Apr 14th, '05, 12:31

The 8 hp has two cylinders, the 6 is a one lunger. Has anyone fit the 8 in the lazarette?

Will Wheatley · Post by **Will Wheatley** » Apr 14th, '05, 21:13

[quote="Bruce Bett"]Bill:

I belive that you are mistaken in saying that the Tohatsu 8 h.p. 4 stroke is built on the same chasse as the 6 hp. I belive it's built on the same chasse as the 9.8. It is considerably heavier than the 6. 81.5 lbs for the 8 and 9.8 as opposed to 55 lbs for the 6. This according to the Tohatsu web site.

Mistaken I was. I would have to dig through my pile of old issues to find the article I mentioned but I suspect they said the 6 was the same chassis as the 4. Thanks for setting me on course.

With that in mind I would almost definitely go with the 6 hp if I went with the Tohatsu even if the 8hp fit in the well it is 26.5 pounds heavier.

I know that some folks who deal with heavy currents sometimes like to have more HP but I have a question. Given that the hull speed is not surpassable in terms of speed through the water, if a 6hp will get to max hull speed what real good does more power do? The worst currents here on The Bay are in Knapps narrows but I know that that is mild compared to the tidal currents in New England. Does the extra HP help in those kinds of currents? Just wondering.

Happy Sailoring~~~~/)~~~~

Didereaux · Post by **Didereaux** » Apr 15th, '05, 06:19

I really would like to see some pictures of those 5-8hp 4stroke outboards that some are saying are installed in a CD-25.

I recently put in a new 4hp Yamaha and even it will require some modifications in order to fit properly down in that motor well. It replaced an OLD 6hp Evinrude 2 stroke which literally rattled around in there.

Carter Brey · Post by **Carter Brey** » Apr 15th, '05, 06:37

I cut the mounting board down by over an inch to get the motor low enough. I'll post a photo when I have some time.

Cheers,
CB

Paul Clayton · Post by **Paul Clayton** » Apr 15th, '05, 10:10

I believe the Nissan is the same motor as the Tohatsu. I just put a new Nissan 8 in my CD25 and it was a huge job. I had to remove the cover and trim that fits in the little opening in the front of the lazarette and have a new motor mount built to mount in the opening - this to get fore and aft clearance. I also had to extend the sides of the lazarette top cover- this to get vertical clearance. I'm not all that handy and it took me about 16 hours to get that monster mounted.

The Nissan 8 is a twin and is substantialy heavier than the 6. I need to do some reballasting to get the boat to sit level.

For all that, I'm glad to have the big motor as I am in an area of heavy tides and currents, much commercial traffic and long canal-like stretches of the ICW.

pmc

aja · Post by **aja** » Apr 15th, '05, 23:50

Well, I've finally read enough posts about how the 25 won't take a 9.8 four stroke!

We installed a Tohatsu 9.8 4 stroke motor on aja last year. What a great improvement from our Johnson 9.9 2 stroke. No more fumes or noise. No more motoring with the cover open.

We have the remote control model, steering with the tiller. We were able to keep the teak cover in place under the traveler. We did not have to raise the lazarette cover.

We moved the mounting block forward, and lower, changed the angle, and extended the liner. It does not rattle or rub anywhere.
It does not change our waterline either. It's only 80 something pounds for crying out loud.

We need all the power we can get - not for hull speed but for maneuvering in the busy shipping port we call home. We are in Buzzards Bay and the currents can be rough - not to mention the sportsfishermen, commercial fishing boats, tankers and high speed ferries that are our constant companions.

We hate to motor - believe me - but we needed the biggest motor we could get.

We do not pull it out during the season. We leave it in like a power boat would. We paint the bottom of the motor and the propeller and she comes out clean every year.

I credit my husband for making this work so flawlessly. He is known in these parts for doing things that can't be done. I've had parts guys refuse to sell me parts (I'm the parts girl) because they say that "it can't be done"! But he always manages to do it - better than factory original - (although it usually costs me more).

Anyway - you too can put a 9.8 Nissan or Tohatsu in your CD 25 with great success and not that much trouble. I will post some photos next week so you can see exactly what we did.

Don't let the naysayers tell you it can't be done!

Counting down to launch,
Diana
s/v aja
1977 cd25 #530

Didereaux · Post by **Didereaux** » Apr 16th, '05, 05:59

I may have been mistaken as a naysayer, meaning it can't be done in regards of larger 4 strokers in a CD-25. What I ask was for PICTURES to see HOW it was done.

Some never mentioned modifications or is so implied minor ones. Moving the mounts, cutting out and reshaping liners, extending the hatch covers etc is not minor work for the weekend daysailor with few building skills, tools, facilities and time.

Shoot, give me the work shop and a drydock and I'll put a Chevy 409 in a CD. heheh

Carter Brey · Post by **Carter Brey** » Apr 16th, '05, 09:28

Okay-- here are a couple of photos of the extremely minor modification I made to the mounting board to accomodate the Nissan 6hp 4-stroke. I just sawed and filed a big old notch into it. With the control arm all the way back, the motor runs smoothly for hours with the lazarette hatch closed.

By the way, I can't recall anyone claiming that a 9.8 can't be installed or that it's unequivocally a bad thing. As I said earlier, it's a matter of local exigencies, the way you see your motoring being done, nagging reservations about losing 0.000567 knots to prop drag, etc.

My own boat came with a 2-stroke electric start 9.9 hp Merc; I simply felt it was more than I needed or wanted, sold it, and downgraded. It's probably the only part of my life which has become simpler in the last few years.

I still like my old idea of buying a Navy surplus McDonnell Douglas F-4E and running a line from the tail hook to the bow cleat to really get the boat up on plane. That'll show the Sunday afternoon powerboaters.

Cheers,
Carter

[img]http://pws.prserv.net/cbrey/june-20-2003-005.jpg[/img]

[img]http://pws.prserv.net/cbrey/june-20-2003-001.jpg[/img]

Didereaux · Post by **Didereaux** » Apr 16th, '05, 20:46

Carter,
Much appreciated. Yes that is what I did as well, unfortunately the Yamaha 4hp has a 'handier' added length tiller handle and that is what's causing my headaches at the moment. I can shorten it and void their warranty or extend the hatch edges to lift it up or build a riser area doen the middle over the motor-similer to how the cabin is done in steps.

The notching of the mounting plate is an easy one even for non-carpenter, un-handymen. The key is to measure exactly or shop for an engine someone has already had success in mopunting without major modifications.

Then economics enter into the picture. In this area Hondas are a premium price as are Johnson/OMC/Evinrude, then Yamaha and then the tahatsus/Nissans and last the Mercury's. Mercury's have a horrible reputation here so even at $300 less cost, they are not a value.

...doncha jes looooove motor stuff? ;)

BTW it took three paper towels and ten minutes to wipe the coffee off the monitor screen when I read your F4E idea!<BIG grin>

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