Experience with a 9.9 HP 4 stroke on a CP 23

[briano]

Hello,

I believe I have read the forum posts related to outboard options but wanted to see if there are people with real life experience with a 9.9 HP 4 stroke on a CP 23.  If I get the correct mounting hardware, I am just wondering if there are any other drawbacks with the weight.

Thanks in advance,

Brian

[brackish]

In my opinion, yes.  I have a 9.9 four stroke Suzuki electric start that came with my boat when I bought it. It is a great motor but in my opinion it is overkill with regard to power and is too heavy for the boat.  It affects the trim.  When I trailer I prefer taking the motor off and putting it in my truck bed (the mount mfg also says that is required but many don't do it) and the 9.9 at 104 lbs. is too heavy for one person to easily mount and dismount.  The only way I can do it is to disconnect my truck from the trailer and back the bed under the motor and then with great difficulty I can lift it to the bed and set it down.  Then reconnect the truck to the trailer.  Adds about a half hour to the process each way. I'm currently trying to figure out how I'm going to get it off the boat at dock so I can winter service it.  Going to take about three folks to do it safely.

I did a HP requirement for my 23 some time back and I think it came out to 5.6 HP.  My Christmas present this year will be a 6 hp Tohatsu Sail pro.  59 lbs.  The Suzuki will power a scallop/fishing skiff.

[Salty19]

In my opinion, that motor is way, way too heavy to consider using.

-performance will be poor unless you counterbalance weight in the bow to the tune of 40lbs or more.
-Lifting the motor up after raising sail will be difficult at best.
-Mounting it will be a bear (100lbs of awkward weight)
-Mounting brackets and the board the motor clamps on may not be designed to carry the weight or prop torque
-Clearance between the aft rub rail and the motor might be tight (this is a guess based on how much larger the 9.9's motor case is than 8hp 2-strokes.
-More HP buys you zero add'l speed.  A 6 hp motor will propel a 23 only a hair slower than a 9.9.

Hutchins recommends a 6-8hp two stroke (read: much lighter than 4 stroke equivalents) which typically weigh 55-65lbs.    I wouldn't stray from this if you can.

Others will disagree with me and are using a 9.9 successfully, so take this as opinion rather than fact.

[NateD]

My CP23 came with a Nissan 9.9 HP 4 stroke electric start. I'm still young enough (29) that I can lift the motor on and off when trailering, but it is difficult. It does affect the trim and I carry an extra anchor up front and try to keep some water in my tank to offset some of the weight. It is definitely more power than needed. I would trade it for an 8 HP sailpro in a heartbeat.

What do I like about it? Very quiet (relative to a 2 stroke) and with 2 cylinders it doesn't vibrate much. It starts every time with no struggle (either by starter or manual). It sips fuel, got about 18 mpg at 5.5 mph on flat water for 8 hours (that's better than the truck I use to tow it).

[Shawn]

Too much additional weight for really no gain. I went from an 8hp 2 stroke/2 cylinder to the 6HP SailPro. The Tohatsu drives the 23 just fine and weighs in at about 60 pounds. Being a single cylinder it vibrates a little more that the 2 cylinder but it is much quieter, idles in gear lower and gets far better fuel economy.

Shawn

[MacGyver]

Brackish,

Have a idea, it is what I do at work to get them off. First tie a line to it, long enough to do the following steps.

Put boat backed into slip. this way you can sit on the dock and loosen motor mounts, bear hug motor, then lay back lifting it off the back, onto you in a sense, then lay over onto the dock. one extra guy to assist just in case is all that is needed then.

OH, and use the lines from the boat to keep it secured to the dock while doing this little maneuver.

Pre planned this is a simple step. I have even done 150 lbs by myself this way.

I am 31, young laddy! but I was nailed by lightning too, and did this when hurt badly yet.

Maybe this will help ya, maybe not, but figured I would pass the info.

Mac

[brackish]

Brackish,

Have a idea, it is what I do at work to get them off. First tie a line to it, long enough to do the following steps.

Put boat backed into slip. this way you can sit on the dock and loosen motor mounts, bear hug motor, then lay back lifting it off the back, onto you in a sense, then lay over onto the dock. one extra guy to assist just in case is all that is needed then.

OH, and use the lines from the boat to keep it secured to the dock while doing this little maneuver.

Pre planned this is a simple step. I have even done 150 lbs by myself this way.

I am 31, young laddy! but I was nailed by lightning too, and did this when hurt badly yet.

Maybe this will help ya, maybe not, but figured I would pass the info.

Mac

Thanks Mac, I'll end up doing something similar.  Complicated by the fact the my dock is a floating dock.  the main pier is fairly stable, but the finger reacts to any shifts in weight.  also nothing high to tie off to.  But I plan to back it in, fender it tight to the finger pier and sit on the main pier to remove it with a safety line to my stern rail.  I think two of us can get it OK doing that.  Then a cart to get it to the truck so I can take it to my shop to service it.  Was last serviced three years ago when I got the boat, however that is probably less than 50 operating hours.  Currently running a little rough at low speed additionally oil needs to be changed, maybe change the impeller as a preemptive measure.

When I take it off it won't go back.  Lighter Sail Pro will replace it.

[briano]

Wonderful feedback, thanks all!

[jcatkeson]

I bought a used 23 with a 8 hp Honda. It was way overpowered. Barely crack the throttle and the boat simply squatted. Not at all certain about the gps I have but it reflected 7kts. I now have a smaller motor with electric start.

[Bob23]

Brian:
   Hi. I'm gonna echo with most of what's been written above. I have an  1988 8hp Nissan 2 stroke on my 23. Weight is not the issue but it's nowhere near the weight of a 4 stroke. Because I occasionally need to motor into opposing wind and tide (narrow channels) I like the available power of the 8 hp. For motoring in calm wind, I run it at about 1/3 throttle. I'd like a 4 stroke someday but this motor is too darned reliable. If I were to replace it, the 6 hp Sailpro would be my choice.
Bob23

[newt]

I have a 9.9 Honda with generator and start button. PO loved it as he could motor around the lake to his heart's desire. I find it too heavy, but I like using sweeps to get out of the port so I guess I am kinda weird.

[Bob23]

Ah, sweeps on a CP23. A man after my own heart.
bob23

[Chief]

I was planning to post this very same question, so I, too, have benefitted from the great feedback you received. I inherited a 9.9 four-stroke that came with my boat. I am not happy with it because it is so heavy. That motor actually causes her to list to port while she is resting in her slip! Ridiculously heavy and really more power than she requires.

[cfelle2]

I evaluated two motors this summer for my CP-23.  The boat came with a 1980 Evinrude 9.9 and I have a 1979 Johnson 6hp that I used to use on my Rhodes 22.  I found that the additional weight of the 9.9 made the boat list to one side.  I also found that when I used more than about 60% power the boat would become overpowered and start to squat at the stern.  The 6HP seems to be the best choice for my boat.  It trims much more nicely in the water and I get a nice cruise speed at a setting of about 75% power. 

I really like the older Johnson/Evinrude motors from the 60s and 70s.  They are inexpensive to buy and maintain also very reliable and smooth running if cared for.  They are also easy to find in the great lakes region.  The biggest weakness I see is that they would not be a good choice for salt water.  I boat on Lake Erie so this is not an issue for me.

If I had to buy something new I would probably get one of the Tohatsu 6 hp Four-Stroke Outboards.  A friend of mine bought one last year.  The only drawback I have found compared to the older motors is that they are a little noisier and vibrate more since they only have one cylinder.  Of course this comes with there benefits as well, no oil and gas to mix and much lower fuel consumption. 

Chris

[briano]

I ended up with the Tohatsu 6 hp Four-Stroke Outboard (Sail Pro).  Will be shaking it down tomorrow.