Rob, I too have a Monty 17, 1977 with the cutout. A 5 hp may have a reverse gear. It is heavy and costs more than a 3.5 or a 4. I have a 3.5 Tohatsu on my Monty and it has plenty of push if you aren't trying to water ski with it. What it doesn't have is reverse gear. So far, with a little forethought it hasn't mattered but it is definitely nice to have. My 3.5 will swivel so you can spin it around to gain reverse by using forward gear backwards. Unfortunately that requires a LOT of swing room to avoid cutting a hole in your hull or mangling your rudder. For another reason I mounted mine on a spring loaded outboard motor bracket. It easily lifts out of the water and allows a reboard ladder to be added beneath the port side ourboard cutout. My ladder is ss and with the pull of a velcro strap telescopes four steps down into the water so anybody can step up to that bottom rung to climb aboard. Concerning the ladder I also mounted two rubber blocks on the transom just beneath the pivots built into the ladder such that they tend to hold the ladder slightly out from straight down, this also helps with reboarding. If you go to the Monty owners photo website my boat is listed under the name "AS-IS" and there are plenty of photos there about what I did on my boat. Good luck. On Wed, May 20, 2020 at 10:22 AM Rob Bultman <rob.bultman@gmail.com> wrote:
Thanks or the replies so far. I'm frankly on the fence regarding gas vs propane. I'm leaning towards the Mercury 5 HP sail power model, 20" long shaft, mostly because it has reverse on the handle. Is the 20" adequate or is the extra long shaft better?
Dave - I have a 1977 M17 with the cutout. I've attach two photos that I happen to have that show the transom of my actual boat. What is the concern here?
Thanks, Rob
On Wed, May 20, 2020 at 10:17 AM Dave Scobie <scoobscobie@gmail.com> wrote:
Rob:
First a question for you - what year is your M17? There is one issue that relates to the older 'first desk version' Mk1 boats with the outboard cutout in the transom that is different than the second generation Mk2 boats.
A 4HP motor is more than enough for the M17. Sadly there are no more true 4HP motors made - most are now the same as a 6HP with de-rated carbs. This also means the motors weigh more than a true 4HP motor. Weight aft is bad. (Motor I always wish I had was the true 4HP Yamaha.). The new Honda 4/5/6 are excellent but way to heavy. I had a Suzuki 4 (6 is the same motor with external tank and alternator options).
Place your external tank at the aft end of the cockpit footwell. Two reasons: #1 is the aft locker of the Mk2 boats is NOT safe for fuel storage as it is open to the cabin. #2 is the fuel can sitting at the aft end of the cockpit will encourage you to sit at the proper location near the head of the tiller NOT at the back of the cockpit! For most M17s this sitting location is just aft of the cockpit mainsheet floor traveler track (again there are some differences in the boats with traveler placement).
The gas can doesn't get in the way.
Propane has some negatives - mainly fuel tank storage, less range, refilling when cruising and the Lehr build quality is poor. IMO gasoline is still the best bet for a cruiser.
:: Dave Scobie :: M6'8" #650 :: SV SWALLOW - sv-swallow.com :: former owner M17 #375 SWEET PEA - m17-375.com :: former owner M15 #288 SCRED - www.freewebs.com/m15-named-scred/
On Wed, May 20, 2020, 4:31 AM Rob Bultman <rob.bultman@gmail.com> wrote:
I'm looking at getting an outboard for my M17 and I have a few questions.
1) If you have an external fuel tank, where do you keep it when you are under sail? 2) If you have an external fuel tank, where do you keep it when you are under power? 3) To what degree does the fuel tank get in the way either when under sail or power? 4) Any opinions on gasoline vs propane outboards?
Thanks, Rob