outboards for CP-16

[MOlson]

hey everyone,

looking seriously at a CP-16...without bowsprit package. My question is power. What's optimum? would love a 4 stroke, but welcome opinions. Long, or short shaft? I think long is the answer, but appreciate the feedback.
Mark O

[fpcompacsailer]

Lots of opinions on motors here and some good posts, see  http://cpyoa.geekworkshosting.com/forum/index.php?topic=8289.0

I have a CP 16 with the Nissan 2.5 long shaft, 4 stroke.  Great engine although flipping the whole thing around to back out of the dock is a bit annoying. Otherwise, rock solid.  No gas fumes, and very little exhaust fumes under power.  It takes me up and down the Rocky River in Ohio to Lake Erie, and sometimes in from Lake Erie easily and never even close to full power. Good luck!

http://www.nissanmarine.com/products/2_5_4_features.html

hey everyone,

looking seriously at a CP-16...without bowsprit package. My question is power. What's optimum? would love a 4 stroke, but welcome opinions. Long, or short shaft? I think long is the answer, but appreciate the feedback.
Mark O

[atrometer]

I would suggest a 2 HP AIRCOOLED Honda long shaft.  Lighter, no chance of saltwater clogging cooling, loved ours

[Gerry]

Tohatsu, Nissan, or Mercury long shaft, 4 stroke = perfect.

[hoddinr]

News Flash !!  Nissan stops importing and selling outboards in the US.

Now the engines will only be marketed as Tohatsu and Mercury.

Ron

[Jason]

Hi Everyone,

I went with a 4hp Yamaha long shaft on my Compac 16.

The forward - neutral - reverse feature is very useful around docks.

4hp moves the boat well in heavy weather or currents.  That said, if they made the 2.5hp with F-N-R, I would have really looked at that.

I do not raise and lower the outboard bracket, I just tilt the motor up or down.  The long shaft reaches into the water with the motor mount bracket in the "up" position.  I think it's easier to tilt the motor than to raise or lower the motor using the motor mount bracket on the boat.

Jason

[mayrel]

Greetings, we just purchased an 83' CP16 MKI; it came with a short shaft Honda 2hp.  Keith at Sailboat company sold us the boat; he said the short shaft is what the boat was designed for?  With that said, I too am looking to get a 4hp for the convenience of having gears.  I don't tilt the Honda, just pull it up and let it down on the adjustable bracket.  But I'm not sure a short shaft is a good idea; I've not sailed this boat yet, but I've seen several videos of one sailing in fairly brisk winds and 3 plus seas.  My guess is the motor would come out of the water as the boat pitches.  Of course, if we have wind, we're sailing.  We'll be sailing out of Shalimar FL on the Choctawhatchee bay; not much tide or current.  Winds generally begin about 10-11 am and hold through late afternoon.  I figure we'll sail most of the time, possibly motor sail when it's mild, and motor when there is no wind.  I'd appreciate any input on shaft length of the CP16.
One last comment, it may be that the 83' model CP16's adjustable motor mount was designed for a short shaft motor?  It adjusts down quite a bit; all the more reason to have a 4hp with F-N-R gearing.  John

[JBC]

I have the owner's manual for my 1990 16 III.  Keith is right...the manual says "a motor of 3 to 4 H.P. with a standard shaft is recommended." 

That said, there are always trade offs. I have a standard shaft 2 1/2 Suzuki. Works very well on inland lakes. I can simply pull the mount up completely and the motor is out of the water without tilting. I also used a long shaft 4 hp (loved the reverse which the smaller motor lacks), but I had to tilt it when out of the water to prevent it dragging, which it still did with more people in the boat. Tilting it made it easier to hang up a main sheet when tacking, etc.

I think for coastal sailing though a long shaft is better all around.  If I go up on the deck near the bow with my Suzuki, the prop comes right to the surface, when I'm in the boat with no one else in the cockpit.

Jett

[mayrel]

Thanks to all, sounds like the long shaft is a better option; cost difference is nominal.  With the Honda 2hp short shaft, the motor will drag a bit without tilting it up.  With that said, with the Honda 2hp being air cooled, if it cavitates the main issue is damage to the shaft(or breaking a shear pin)when the prop hits the water under power.  I agree, if you were motoring in heavier seas, the way the boat pitches, the long shaft is a much better option.  Particularly considering the 4hp motors are water cooled.
We plan to sail in the Choctawhatchee bay, cruise up to Pensacola bay, maybe even Mobile bay.  This means we'll be motoring more often than not in the ICW.  I'm not sure I want to venture on the outside with the CP16, although I'm sure it would be fine in the right weather conditions.  However, coming into any inlet after dark is not a good option.  If we did we would want a bigger motor to push through any tidal changes if we miss a slack tide.  Destin inlet can rip along at about 6-9 knots during a tidal change.  I'm not sure a 4hp would manage that?  Headway would certainly be very very slow.  Of course, we could anchor up fairly close to shore and wait for a slack tide.  Pensacola and Mobile inlets have large ship traffic.  Of course, the shallow draft of the CP16 being 18" allows us to skate just outside the channels.  But at night even this can be dangerous.   

[JonnyB]

There was a very similar discussion a few months ago:

http://cpyoa.geekworkshosting.com/forum/index.php?topic=7577.0