Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe the little motors have a way of charging the battery if that's important to you.I don't believe nice little Honda 2hp (which is pretty darn nice) has a way of charging the batteries, but I think the next size up did have some sort of alternator/generator add-on, which could be a nice feature. On Monday, April 5, 2021, 12:16:32 PM PDT, Dave Scobie <scoobscobie@gmail.com> wrote: IMO 4HP motor is a great size for a cruising M17s. A 3.5-HP will work just as well. A 2/2.3/2.5 is fine for 70% of what one will experience. Anything bigger than 4HP is just more that doesn't help ... especially with current. The displacement hull design means you hit max speed and then done. More horses doesn't help. HP can assist in wind and to a less extent waves. The problem now is there are no new build true 4HP motors. All are repowered 6HP blocks - so heavy! The old Yamaha 4HP was a true 4HP block. It has been discontinued for years. A long, 20", shaft motor is needed on all Jerry's 15 & 17 designs, the 15" standard shaft motors will cavitate easily in a slight chop. :: Dave Scobie :: M6'8" #650 :: SV SWALLOW - sv-swallow.com :: former owner M17 #375 SWEET PEA - m17-375.com :: former owner M15 #288 SCRED - m15namedscred.wordpress.com <<-- new site! On Mon, Apr 5, 2021, 11:35 AM Peter Zimowsky via montgomery_boats < montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> wrote:
Hi all: I worry about the currents in the San Juan’s and the need for the 4 horse. But I will investigate getting smaller motor Pete
Sent from my iPhone
On Apr 5, 2021, at 08:18, Jon Barber <brbrbarber@gmail.com> wrote:
Why do you have a 75# outboard on a Monty 17? My 2 hp pushes my boat easily at 4kts, 1/2 throttle. Its plenty of motor. It weighs 27# and keeps the aft of the boat light and out or the water. The motor stays in the garage till I leave on a trip. When leaving I clamp it to the transom where it stays for the duration. To tow, I rotate the motor to the"reverse" position so it can't move up.
I launch many times in a season and not having to deal with the motor each time saves me a lot of trouble. I also changed to the Rudder Craft rudder with the extendable Mast support for the same reason. When I arrive at the marina the rudder is in place and I am also ready to raise my mast. Lately I have been rigging and unrigging after I launch. I find it safer to do so when the deck is not so high from the parking lot.
I also like no fuel tank in the cockpit. Nothing underfoot.
On a sail in the delta there was much water hyacinth tangling up on motors. Because my motor is mounted directly to to transom, the prop is closer and within reach to clear of obstructions.
Keep it simple!
Jon Barber Monty 17 Ol'44