On 9/18/2015 2:59 PM, Rick Davies wrote: Rick, Many years ago an owner of an M17 asked me to lend him my 2 HP HONDA (from my M15) since he had no motor and had to take his boat to a take-out ramp. This was in the Thames River, at New London, CT. After hanging the 2 HP HONDA on the M17, with four adults and a few beers on board; out-going tide in the Thames; and the wind on the nose; we had no problems at all running the M17 upstream to the launch ramp under these conditions. It's the old problem: if the wind is really blowing and the waves are building, and you want to use a motor to make headway you'll need more HP. But, under these conditions it would be easier to sail with reefs cranked in.... For calmer conditions, 2 HP is really all you need, as our test proved. Connie
Hi John,
I've been running a Honda 2 hp long shaft on my M17 for seven years with never a problem. Weighs less than 30 lb, so there are almost no balance or trim issues, and it's super reliable. I've never felt that I needed more power.
Rick M17 #633 Lynne L
On Friday, September 18, 2015, 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.
-- John Schinnerer - M.A., Whole Systems Design -------------------------------------------- - Eco-Living - Whole Systems Design Services People - Place - Learning - Integration john@eco-living.net - 510.982.1334 http://eco-living.net http://sociocracyconsulting.com