[Rhodes22-list] motors

Thu May 29 08:10:29 EDT 2008

Hi Tom,
This is a case where I don't think bigger is necessarily better. If 
the weights are about the same, it probably is a trade-off but in any 
event it's a lot of weight hanging off the stern of a Rhodes 22. I'm 
convinced that it does negatively affect sailing characteristics. We 
scrounged for every pound that we could in looking for a new motor 
but still ended up over 100 lbs. Of course we decided that at this 
stage in our lives we've both had transient shoulder and back issues 
and that electric start made sense so that added to the weight. The 
old Honda 8 was about 80 lbs. If I was sailing a smaller lake 
(anything smaller than Lake Champlain) I'd probably want a 4 or 6 hp.

Our old Honda "classic" 8 was a high thrust 4 stroke motor - not as 
high thrust as the Yamaha but it worked really well both over long 
distances and maneuvering in close quarters. We haven't figured out 
maneuvering with the Yamaha. It doesn't seem to want to turn as well. 
Maybe the high thrust output against the rudder is interfering a bit. 
Maybe we just need to get used to it.

For motoring long distances (long being 30-35 miles), you can't beat 
a four stroke. They are quieter and more fuel efficient than most 
older two strokes. The quiet means you can easily have a conversation 
with someone else in the cockpit or hear what's happening on the 
radio. It also keeps a peaceful morning motor with no wind and flat 
water peaceful.

I don't think low rpms will hurt the motor (warning - this entire 
paragraph is just slightly informed opinion). At a certain point you 
don't gain anything. A 15 hp won't move the boat any faster or more 
reliably than an 8. I doubt you could tell the difference between and 
8hp and a 9.9hp all other things being equal. You are up to the hull 
speed limit easily with either one. I imagine (but don't know) that 
you might be able to tell the difference between a 6hp and an 8hp 
coming through some place like Kent Narrows with the very strong 
current under the drawbridge or maybe battling an 18 knot wind on the 
nose and a nearly one knot current under the Bay Bridge. We've done 
both of those trips with the old Honda and it performed very well. I 
expect our new Yamaha 8hp HT would handle both of those equally well.

Mary Lou
1991 R22 Fretless
Rock Hall, MD

At 03:28 PM 5/28/2008, you wrote:

>Mary Lou,
>Thanks, I will keep the ease of flushing the motor in mind when I buy.  Was
>your old 8 a 4 stroke?  Was it high thrust?  If the 9.9 and the 8 have the
>same weight, why not buy the most powerful?  Is part of the answer related
>to inefficiency at low rpm, ie., if a stronger engine will get to hull speed
>at lower rpm, will long runs at low rpm harm the engine?  In my landlubber's
>imagination, I think a big motor will save my ass some day.  As I get used
>to sailing, I am learning that sailing is probalbly safer than motoring, but
>I do want the ability to cruise long distances, maybe 20-30  windless miles
>with a reliable motor.
>Thanks,
>Tom Hogarty, boat still on trailer
>
>
>Mary Lou Troy-2 wrote:
> >
> > Tom,
> > If you are going to be leaving the boat in the water, one thing to
> > consider is how easy it is to flush the motor with the boat in the
> > water. We recently had to replace our 10 year old Honda which died
> > from saltwater corrosion in the cooling water passages. There was no
> > way to easily flush the motor. Newer Hondas have a more accessible
> > flushing mechanism as do the Yamahas which is what we ended uo with
> > (8 hp high thrust). Too soon to tell you how we like it compared to
> > the Honda. We looked at a Mercury that was not easily flushed. I've
> > heard but couldn't verify that the clearance in the cooling passages
> > in the Merc are larger than in the Honda so this may not be a
> > problem. We didn't want to chance it.
> >
> > We've found that 8 hp seems to be more than enough for any conditions
> > you might want to be out in. The old 8 horse Honda pushed us through
> > some strong currents, high winds and good sized waves on the nose. We
> > could motor easily at hull speed in milder conditions.
> >
> > Mary Lou
> > 1991 R22 Fretless
> > Finally in the water in Rock Hall, MD
> >
> > At 11:16 PM 5/27/2008, you wrote:
> >
> >>Rob,
> >>I plan to sail the Chesapeake and am just mulling over the purchase of a
> >>high thrust outboard, certainly a 4 stroke.
> >>Tom
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>Rob Lowe wrote:
> >> >
> >> > Tom,
> >> > Where are you sailing?  I sail an inland lake and my standard 8hp 4
> >> stroke
> >> > has more than enough power.  I rarely run it over 1/2 throttle.  Those
> >> on
> >> > the coast might recommend something different.  In fact, I suspect a
> >> 6hp
> >> > would suit my needs.  At one time there was a big 2 vs. 4 stroke debate
> >> > amongst the members, but if you are considering a new motor, about all
> >> you
> >> > can find is a 4 stroke unless you are looking at discontinued models.
> >> -
> >> > rob
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > ----- Original Message -----
> >> > From: "Tom Hogarty" <hogarty at vcn.com>
> >> > To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> >> > Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2008 5:24 PM
> >> > Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Politics: Obama is a Crook!
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >>
> >> >> I am also considering a new outboard.  Are the high thrust models, 8
> >> or 9
> >> > hp
> >> >> ok?  When not specified, I assume you are talking about 4 cycles.
> >> >> Tom Hogarty
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> Arthur H. Czerwonky wrote:
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Bill,
> >> >> > No reflection on the Merc 9.9, but I have found, as others, that the
> >> >> > Tohatsu 8 is one excellent choice for the R22.  You might give it
> >> some
> >> >> > thought.  I have no idea on costing, but Ron Singerman is using a
> >> 9.8
> >> >> on
> >> >> > his new boat.
> >> >> > Art
> >> >> >
> >> >> > -----Original Message-----
> >> >> >>From: bdunn1 <bdunn1 at aol.com>
> >> >> >>Sent: May 27, 2008 11:40 AM
> >> >> >>To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>,
> >> >> rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
> >> >> >>Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Politics:  Obama is a Crook!
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >>Rummy: Need your advice; my 8 hp Yamaha on my 98 Rhodes bit the
> >> dust; I
> >> >> am considering a 9.9 Mercury 4-cycle. When I bought the boat used it
> >> had
> >> >> the remote controls and the motor connected to the rudder for
> >> steering.
> >> >> Question: Can I use the Mercury with the standard "all the controls in
> >> >> one
> >> >> handle", not connect it to the rudder and steer into and out of the
> >> dock
> >> >> with the rudder in the upright position using the motor to steer?
> >> There
> >> >> will be some conflict with the railing but I thought by tilting the
> >> > control
> >> >> it would be ok.
> >> >> >>regards,
> >> >> >>Bill Dunn
> >> >> >>On May 27, 2008, at 10:20:26 AM, R22RumRunner at aol.com wrote:
> >> >> >>From:   R22RumRunner at aol.com
> >> >> >>Subject:    Re: [Rhodes22-list] Politics: Obama is a Crook!
> >> >> >>Date:   May 27, 2008 10:20:26 AM EDT
> >> >> >>To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
> >> >> >>Nope, not a thing. Same crap, different day. You know, politics and
> >> >> some
> >> >> >>sailing stuff thrown in for good measure.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >>Rummy
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >>In a message dated 5/27/2008 10:13:38 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> >> >> >>bill at effros.com writes:
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >>Have I missed anything?
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >>Bill Effros
> >> >> >>s/v Little Queenie
> >> >> >>Greenwich, CT
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >>__________________________________________________
> >> >> >>Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >>**************Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch "Cooking
> >> >> with
> >> >> >>Tyler Florence" on AOL Food.
> >> >>
> >> >>(http://food.aol.com/tyler-florence?video=4&?NCID=aolfod00030000000002)
> >> >> >>__________________________________________________
> >> >> >>Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >>__________________________________________________
> >> >> >>Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >> >> >
> >> >> > __________________________________________________
> >> >> > Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >> >> >
> >> >>
> >> >> --
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> >> >
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> >> >> Sent from the Rhodes 22 mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> >> >>
> >> >> __________________________________________________
> >> >> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > __________________________________________________
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> >> >
> >> >
> >>
> >>--
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> 91569p17504382.html
> >>Sent from the Rhodes 22 mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> >>
> >>__________________________________________________
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> >
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>
>--
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>Sent from the Rhodes 22 mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
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