Thanks all for your postings of experiences with your various sizes and types of outboards on M17s and similar craft. Anyone feel free to add more from their own situation. Since I got the Tohatsu 6hp with the boat I'll try that first of course. If I downsize at some point, it would be to have a lighter smaller simpler more convenient motor that still meets my needs. I prefer to seldom use or need a motor. I've sailed more dinghys and the occasional cat than displacement boats, and the larger boats I've sailed have had very minimal auxiliary motors (a Honda 2hp and later a Torqeedo on an International Folkboat, or a small electric trolling motor on a Potter 19, for example), and mostly I didn't use them except when it was absolutely required to get sailing (like getting the Potter, un-rigged, from ramp and under low bridge to dock where it could be rigged). If I'm expecting a motor to rescue me from a situation I shouldn't be in, motor or no motor, I've already blown it. If I'm motoring because there's no wind, hull speed would be nice, and, however fast it can push me is for sure faster than I'd be sailing. To be continued... cheers, 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