Honda 2.2 hp on a compac 23?

[domromer]

First off just wanted to say hi as this is my first post. My wife and I are looking at upgrading to a larger boat and right now a compac 23 is on our short list.
I've got a honda 2.2 hp 4stroke that I use on another boat and I'm wondering if that would be enough to move the compac in and out of the marina? I'm also wondering if it would not work because it need to be swiveled around to go in reverse and it seems like I'd have to be hanging off the back of the boat to swivel the engine.  Any thoughts on this? I'll post some pics of the boat I'm looking at as well. The engine in the photo does not work. The owner is asking 3k for the boat with no engine or trailer.
My plan would be to keep it on the hook.

IMG_20151118_082354321_HDR by Dom, on Flickr

IMG_20151118_082957750_HDR by Dom, on Flickr

IMG_20151118_083355529_HDR by Dom, on Flickr

[frank]

will a honda 2 push it in/out of the marina...yes

will it push it into a good headwind...nil to not well

will it push it into waves on the nose...nil to not well

will it be a PITA backing out of the slip hanging off the back to swivel around...yes

Nice looking boat

[Tom L.]

2.2 not a good idea. You will miss to many great sailing days because the wind would be too strong to use that small of a motor. Pick up a used 5hp 4 stroke for less than $600. That will do fine. The boat looks good from the pictures but a boat less trailer and motor would be hard to sell. Try negotiating to cover a used motor.

What's wrong with the motor on the boat? It looks newer. Maybe it could be repaired.

Tom L.

[Bob23]

Dom:
   Where are you located? I recently repowered my 1985 23 with a Tohatsu Sailpro and have my previous motor, a 1999 Nissan 8hp 2 stroke 2 cylinder for sale. I'm in NJ. Let me know if you're interested.
Bob23
Ps..A 2.2 hp is not an adequate motor in my opinion for a compact 23.

[HeaveToo]

Do it right and get a sailpro (Tohatsu 6hp long shaft).  You won't regret it.

[Shawn]

With no wind, waves or current you could maybe make it work but even then it would be difficult.

Swiveling for reverse is easy enough on a small boat but on the 23 you would be hanging over the transom (squeezed between the railing) and leaning down somewhat. Getting in/out of that position will take time. That is time you won't be watching what the boat is doing coming in/out of the dock.

Thinking of my own setup backing out of the dock I could maybe make it work but trying to handle the throttle like that would be hard. Additionally with the limited power the engine won't be able to accelerate the boat well. When moving very slowly (under a knot or so) the shallow draft 23 is fairly squirrelly on its own and with wind/current much more so. If you are in tight quarters you want to accelerate the boat fast enough to get steerage and directional stability fairly quickly. If I backed out slowly with the Tohatsu the front of the boat would go whereever wind/current took it and could cause problems. Getting enough speed to control the boat made a huge different. The 2.2 wouldn't do that nearly as well. The flipside even more so. As you are heading backwards with that inertia you then need to stop the boat and get it going forward fairly quickly with the boat again being squirrelly as it is slowing to the stop and starting to accelerate forward. That will take a bit longer with the 2.2.

Coming into the dock it is easier to keep the speed up (esp if there was waves/wind/current) and then use the engine to stop the boat as I was entering the slip. Going to slow entering the turn to point into the dock and the boat just slipped badely and overshot my slip. After begining to enter the slip just getting the Tohatsu into reverse (older style with shifter on the side) was difficult enough and the few seconds it took me to lean over the stern to flip the lever felt like an eternity when I was entering my slip. Having to swivel the engine would be dramatically more difficult and the swivel would probably pivot the boat somewhat on the keel. It would also take longer for the lower power/thrust to stop the boat. Meanwhile you aren't seeing the bow (hanging over the stern) and then have to slow the engine, climb back out of the stern and try to tie up.

Would not be fun.

I would definitely suggest watching for a used Sailpro. It is a wonderful engine for the 23.

Shawn

[relamb]

I removed my long shaft 6hp tohatsu for service and used my mercury 3.5 for a short time on the CP23.  It would get me around just fine on a small lake with no problem.  The swivelling around due to lack of reverse was a real pain when docking, compared to the tohatsu which had a reverse.
The biggest issue though was that the shaft was not long enough.   Fine in normal situations, but if I was alone and went to the bow with the engine running (like to throw off a dock line or pull anchor) the water inlet would come up above the surface.  I burned up a water pump impeller in just a few seconds while standing at the bow with no balancing weight in the rear of the boat.

[domromer]

thanks for all the replies. I've got a guy coming to se my boat for sale today and I'm going to bring my wife to see the compac today. The owner of the boat says the engine on the boat now just needs a new impeller. I guess we'll check it all out.

[Bob23]

Dom:
   Impeller is an inexpensive fix.  I don't know if you ever mentioned your current boat...what is it? Good luck on the sale of it. I love my 23!
Bob23

[brackish]

I had a Columbia 24 challenger which was 24'4" LOD and just under 4000 lbs. displacement.  It had a motor well and while the boat came with a 6hp we changed to a 4hp in order to reduce weight.  With that boat, to sail it properly you had to lift the motor in the well, put in a plug that was profiled to the bottom and lay the motor on its side in the well.  It was just too hard to do with that 6.  If you left the motor in it would ship water aboard and slow the boat down considerably because of the drag.  We used the four for many years and it did fine.  It was a spin for reverse model and that was never a problem.  However, I can imagine it would be easier operating it in motor well than with a transom motor mount.

The calculated HP requirement for a CP23 is 5.6 IIRC.  That is one of the factors that led me to get rid of the 9.9 hp I had and get a 6HP Sail Pro.  Your 2.2 will push the boat, but not anywhere near hull speed, and it won't get you out of trouble or in the event of a windless day, get you back home very fast.  That is if the shaft is long enough to stay in the water.

[domromer]

Dom:
   Impeller is an inexpensive fix.  I don't know if you ever mentioned your current boat...what is it? Good luck on the sale of it. I love my 23!
Bob23

right now I have a catalina expo 14.2 and a hobie 16. We've always been trailer sailors so this will be a different experience.

New Hobie 16 at the house on Osceola - October 2015 by Dom, on Flickr

[Craig]

Concur with other posts. 2.2 is Waaaay too small! Penny wise, pound foolish. The waters we sail on are not forgiving when conditions deteriorate and then is not the time to wish you had more power.

[mikew]

Just a thought , I agree with all the previous replies, but if you already have the 2 hp Honda hang on to it and use as a back up get
home motor. I believe they only weight 27 lbs. The challenge would be stowage and how to mount it, but on a longer trip it may be worth it.
Mike

[HeaveToo]

I have a 2.5 tohatsu outboard that I have for my dingy.  I haven't been carrying it because I don't want to put it on the stern rail as I have more than enough weight in the back of the boat since she tends to squat a little anyway. 

[Billy]

Dom,

That boat is at Islands Harbor Marina right next to Ozona Blue. I am familiar with that boat. I kept my 19 there this past summer before I sold her. I would not recommend a 2hp for that area. While I don't think you need a large engine, you do need a longer shaft and some hp.

I had a sail pro on my 19 and for $1,300 you can't go wrong.

Let me know what you end up doing. I would love to go for a sale with you should you buy her,