In a message from Adam Czerechowicz to Chuck Coykendale, Dec-10-95 13:01:00
they discuss outboards with:
CC> Looking for opinions about the small 5-10 hp Four cycleoutboard motors 
like
CC> Honda.  Thinking about one for my18' sailboat.  Thanks.
AC> Chuck, I used a 7.5 Honda 4-stroke  on my
AC> 24-footer for years.  Absolutely reliable, easy to maintain, fix, and
AC> find parts for - a well-known engine, even in out-of-the-way places.
AC> Might be a bit heavy duty for your boat, though.  If you're just
AC> using your motor to maneuver into a mooring, and weight is important,
AC> something very small would be enough, 1.2 Tanaka or Sears or a 2 HP,
AC>  with a gravity feed gas tank. If you're cruising, (you don't mention
AC>  the kind of boat) 4.5 may be enough.
Adam went on to mention some other important points (See original)
Wes replies with an interesting anecdote:
Yes on most of the information Adam, with one important caveat:
Horsepower requirements for sailing vessels must take into account the worst 
case scenario for their needs. One of my acquaintances once said, "Charts? Oh 
yea, they are in the trunk." and when I asked where the trunk was he said, 
"In the car of course."
Well this same fellow, with whom I never went out with again, was running a 
24' with a 7.5 Hp long shaft. He was running down river on an outgoing tide 
towards the rail road bridge when the siren went off and the bridge went 
down. Into reverse he went and he discovered that the engine would not stop 
the boat in this current. Smartly, he spun the boat around with limited 
maneuvering space and opened it up to full throttle heading upstream now. 
Sadly, he lost about 1 knot to the current and didn't get a line or anchor 
out in time. He now sports a new mast and rigging, courtesy of his insurance 
company.
The point? Well in addition to being a qualified seaman, you should look at 
the worst case scenario for your power needs and decide on something just a 
bit more than your requirements. Resale value is better on a motor that has a 
little more ooomph because your market is wider. On smaller craft with lower 
horse power requirements, see if there is a possibility for a short shaft 
motor providing it will be at the proper depth for rough and smooth water 
applications. The short shaft motors also have more demand in the resale area 
as they will fit any small boat without converting the shaft.
 
AC>But you only get into this type of nonsense when you have to be
AC>at work on Monday morning, a requirement you should get rid of at the
AC>first opportunity.
Best damn nautical advice I ever read!  
\/\/es
--- Maximus 2.02
---------------