3.5 hp on CP 19

[Jasmid53]

I'm looking to buy a 19 and I have a new 3.5 Tohatsu. Would this be adequate power for most situations. On my 16 I never go more than half throttle.

[Finbar Beagle]

Jasmid

What are you local sailing conditions, lake/tidal, protected bay, open sound?

Quick answer is, it will get you where you want to go, but you need to learn boundaries.  I have a similar size hp on my 19, and I get to hull speed at full throttle.  But in steep chop, and water going against you, it may take a while to get home.

You may be a little on the light side,, but if you trust the engine, I would not change.  I use a Torqeedo electric, so can't use full throttle for more than 2 spilt drinks, and I have learned how to get home.  I just no longer plan to be anywhere after sailing, just in case it takes awhile.  The owners manual recommends 4-6, but I opine that you are close enough...

[wes]

No matter how many hp (I have 5 on my 19) you need a long shaft motor. Even with a long shaft my Mercury/Tohatsu prop comes out of the water in a heavy chop or when I go forward to clear a fouled jib sheet.

Wes

[Finbar Beagle]

Great point Wes.

[Reighnman]

I have a Yamaha 4hp long shaft on mine and she goes fine. An extra long shaft would really help in choppy conditions and reversing into a slip when it's blowing.

[Bilgemaster]

I've got a Mercury 2.5 hp 2-stroke (basically just a re-badged Tohatsu) on my CP-16, and it moves her along briskly enough along the Potomac.  Well enough that I haven't even yet bothered to do the very minor mods that many do to the 2.5 engines to open them up into 3.5s.  In fact, I hardly ever run her more than at a leisurely tok-tok-tok except to maybe just blow out the cobwebs from time to time.  Accordingly, I'd imagine your 3.5 in a CP-19 would easily get the job done in a similarly mild current and tidal environment if the shaft length dunks her prop well.  Frankly, where you sail might best determine how much oomph you may be needing.  I require rather little, it seems.

[philb Junkie19]

Loved my 16. Love my 19 even more and wouldn't let a 3.5 outboard keep me from making the change.  If the boat is right for you but you find the 3.5 is not suited to your needs you may trade up.  I agree with others the about extra long shaft.  I think 6hp is probably just right for the 19. I have an early 80's Sailmaster 7.5 extra long shaft.   My harbor opens into the upper end of Penobscot Bay just below the river where at times a strong wind against tide can create close, steep waves. The shaft length and power combine well in those conditions, much better than my original long shaft o.b..

[Tim Gardner]

I have a Yamaha 4hp 2 stroke on my 19. Half throttle pushes her along at hull speed.  It is an extra long shaft version.  I mostly lake sail, but the chop gets heavy when the mass of wake board and wake surf boats and large cruisers ply the waters of Smith Mountain Lake in the summer months.  I've never had a problem with this motor coming 'unglued' from the water.  But then again, my incredible bulk far aft helps.
TG

[Jasmid53]

I sent a message earlier thanking everyone for their input, but for some reason it did not get posted. So everyone Thank You for your input. I sail Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island. Mooring is in Bullock Cove. The conditions that I've been in this year are no wind, just went out to break in the motor. Or lots of wind and only need the outboard to get in the cove and moor the boat. The only big waves that on my 16 cause the prop to spin is when a motor boat speeds by. The 19 is priced with a 4hp long shaft though the seller can sell without. Since I had, about three months bought a 3.5hp I don't want to end up with an extra motor. You guys gave some sound advice that need to ponder.

[Damsel19]

For years I had a Yamaha 6 long shaft. I put a prop guard on and had the prop slightly enlarged and took some pitch out. Those were the days. Hull speed at half throttle. Torque to spare and the prop ring made reverse a dream...
Sadly she died as the aluminum block was no match for 25 years of salt water.
Next I borrowed a 2.0 air cooled Honda short shaft. What it lacked in power it made up in convenience. I was about to lower the bracket on the stern to stop the annoying pop out when I picked up a long shaft. Much much better. I have made 4 mph into a 30 mph head wind.  And make 4.5 to 5 mph normally. The old six would make her squat and push up over 6mph. (I usually think in knots but when I was doing speed trials back in the day the GPS in my phone only showed mph)
I am super happy with the air cooled Honda. Sounds like a lawnmower. Gets great fuel economy. Easy to carry. Runs great. I always run it out of fuel be for storing. Can be exercised or test run with out a water source. I only use non ethanol gas.
Would like a torquedo if the $$ were available. Just cause you know. No fossil fuels and Quiet...

[Jasmid53]

So this weekend I bought the 19-3 and it came with a 5hp Honda long shaft. One thing I never thought about is; the Honda comes with an external fuel tank. My 3.5 Tohatsu has a small internal tank that can be diffacult to fill in rolling seas. And only gives about 45 minutes of drive time. Can't wait till spring to get my new boat wet.

[philb Junkie19]

Congrats! I think you will really enjoy sailing the 19, along with it's cockpit layout and greater cabin space.

[Vipersdad]

Congrats! I think you will really enjoy sailing the 19, along with it's cockpit layout and greater cabin space.

Yessiree!!!

[Jasmid53]

So here's a couple of photos. Spent some time today making a strapping and 2 x 4 frame to cover the boat for the winter. Also did  some light cleaning and sorting through all the extras that came with my boat. Some went straight to the trash: water and mice damaged books and pamphlets. Some, I will be asking about in the future.

[comfortably numb]

Great, I think that you will grow to love the 19 as I have. Mine came with a 3.5 Tohatu, fine for the inland lake here, but I felt like a one-arm paper hanger when I needed to pivot it 180 degrees to get reverse during docking in the wind or otherwise! Also, I would recommend that only marine grade fuel be utilized as echoed herein and run the gas out at every use. The refueling was an issue too as you mentioned. I sold it, doing fine with a 36 year old 6 hp Evinrude. Enjoy!