outboard on a Cal 21

[bonito]

I just sold my 9.9 Yamaha long shaft on my Cal 21, now I am looking for a replacement. What is the smallest HP I could get away with?
I have been looking at 2.5, 4-strokes.
Any suggestions?

Thanks

ps.
the reason why I got rid of my old one, was too long (shaft, prop kept dragging) and way to much weight, plus too much power too

[JimB517]

I have a Catalina 25. Significantly heavier and larger than your Cal. I have a 9.8 XXL Tohatsu on it. Now when my Tohatsu was in for service, I put my dinghy motor on. It was a 3.5 HP 2 stroke Mercury. This moved the boat around the harbor and in and out of the slip just fine. I would not use it to motor offshore 100 miles to windward.

My friend has a Catalina 21. For in and out of the slip he uses a little electric trolling motor. Works fine.

I would think your 2.5 HP 4 stroke would be sufficent for motoring in calm water with light winds.

[bonito]

Thanks that was I was thinking too.
I used to have a Yamaha 9.9, 4 stroke, but that was way too much. I am using a 34 lbs trust electric, which for most part works fine, but when I have head wind into the harbor, that thing will not make it on full power, all it does, is drains the battery and goes backwards lol.
I like the idea of a 2.5 or 3.5......

[TohatsuGuru]

I would go with the Tohatsu 3.5 for two reasons:

1) Same weight as the 2.5

2) Available in a long shaft