IMO the best motor is a 4HP ... but these days the 4HP motors are really depowered 5 or 6 HP motors (the last 'true 4HP motor was made by Yamaha; sadly now a 6hp motor depowered to 4). for example: i have a Suzuki 4HP which is the same powerhead as the Suzuki 6HP. the major difference is the 4HP does not have an external tank option ... which is standard on the 6HP. so ... as you are 'carrying' the same weight (over 60# for the Suzuki 4/6 HP motors) if i was to buy a new motor i would get the larger in order to get the external tank. i know some folks have cruised in Puget Sound, San Juan and Gulf Islands with a short haft Yamaha 2.5HP. on the adjustable mount M17s the motor does cavitate in a sea or when you go forward to the bow. some folks use the Honda 2/2.3 HP long shaft for going in/out of harbor, though would be underpowered if the wind or sea came up. no external tank option on the little Hondas. a 3.5 Tohatsu long shaft may work well for most folks 95% of the time ... but no external fuel tank option. -- :: Dave Scobie :: former M15 owner - www.freewebs.com/m15-named-scred :: M17 #375 SWEET PEA - www.m17-375.webs.com On Fri, Sep 18, 2015 at 1:32 PM, John Schinnerer <john@eco-living.net> wrote:
OK, changing the topic a bit based on this:
On 09/18/2015 11:59 AM, Dave Scobie wrote:
...the 4HP Suzuki on my M17 is running at less than 50% to reach cruise speed.
So what is anyone's experience on what HP outboard is adequate for an M17?
Mine came with this nice, low hours Tohatsu 6hp sail pro model. It seems to me like overkill.
And, with Tohatsu at least, no point downgrading to their 5hp or 4hp because they are the same carcass, basically same size and weight.
Looking at Evinrude, Mercury, Suzuki, Honda...all making the same basic range of motors, same weight within a few pounds in HP class, etc.
The break point is under 4 hp, where the 2.5-3.5 hp units are significantly lighter and smaller.
Any experiences welcome - what do you find adequate for your M17 auxiliary motor needs?
thanks, John S.