Need advice choosing an enginefor Pearson 26

[stephenjosephtt]

First of all, I'm completely new to the sailing world as i recently got a Pearson 26 and decided to fix it up with a little work. I have a choice between an OB 9.8 hp or a 18 hp for around the same price.I am not sure which to buy. Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

[jameswilson29]

Great boat - owned one for two years. A 10 h.p. long shaft should be fine.

[lporcano]

seeya

[DrB]

If you plan on using the boat anywhere where there is current or waves, you'll need the 9 or 10 horsey motor. If you sail in a lake that doesn't have current or tides or big waves, then a smaller motor may be fine. Even then, I wouldn't go below 6 HP.

If it were me, I'd go the 9 -10 HP. 18 HP is WAY overkill.

DrB

[lporcano]

seeya

[stephenjosephtt]

thanks for the reply's.BTW I will definitely go with the 9 hp.
But Just out of curiosity though, if 9.8 hp gives you 6 knots will using 18 give you a much greater increase in speed, or you are limited to the Maximum hull speed of around 8 knots

[DrB]

Sure you can sail a boat without a motor, but if you're going to have one, why "underpower" it. Sailing through Hells Gate with boat that displaces around 11000 lb with a 10 hp can be done, but what if the winds are in the wrong direction, you're pressed for time, trying to beat a storm, you mistime the tide/current, etc. and need to get in quick? A 25 Ft Catalina 5 HP motor is much better than a P26 with 5 HP motor as the Pearson displaces almost 20% more water weight. (4500 versus 5400 lbs).

The "general" rule of thumb is 2 HP for every 1000 lb displacement. It's just a guideline. The Pearson 34 came with 16 HP motor, but it displaces about 12,000 lbs. My boat is a Pearson 10M and it has a 27 HP motor and displaces 13000 lbs. I once had to get up a river, that has a natural 3 kt current, during max ebb flow of the tide. Total current in the throat between the jetties was 6 kts. At one point with the motor full, we were going 1 kt SOG. We couldn't sail up, because the wind was on the nose and the channel at that narrowest point is about 150 ft wide. Our boat is 33 ft.

We passed a small 22 ft sailboat, towing a dinghy, full motor on (9HP) and full sails. It took him almost 3 h to go the 3 mile up river. When he arrived at the dock, he said sometimes he was going backwards and had to sail eddy to eddy.

The weight different between a 6 hp motor versus a 10 HP motor is nothing compared to the boat weight, plus stuff, plus crew, etc.

I recommend a 9 HP motor.

DrB

[DrB]

once you are at hull speed, for a dispalcement boat, adding more and more horses doesn't get you anything except more full consumption.

[lporcano]

seeya

[fendertweed]

forget 18 hp. Pearson recommended 10 hp max but Catalyst came w a 15hp long stroke Merc that my friend, the PO, had on it. His theory was that the extra 5 hp was useful if you really need to punch through.

I tend to agree tho may go w a 10/ 9.9 when the Merc goes (has lots of life in it yet, knock on wood). I have had conditions on the Potomac where at full throttle w/ the 15hp at slack tide I was barely making 2 kts into the wind.

as far as weight, the 15 hp Merc 2 stroke weighs 84 lbs., less than a 9.9hp 4 stroke ....