Outboard for Balboa 16

DjY887 · #1 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008

I recently purchased a Balboa 16 sailboat. She displaces 1000 lbs and drafts 25' with a shoal keel. I'll keep it in a marina in the central Puget Sound area. The boat didn't come with an outboard, which brings me to my question. I need a motor to get this little boat in and out of the marina...and maybe bail me out of trouble from the 3-4 knot ebb/flood tides that are common in Puget Sound. I have been told that a 3.5hp would be adequate...I am leaning toward a Merc 3.5hp. It goes 40lbs compared to the 55lbs of the 4 & 5hp motors. Anyone like to weigh in on the adequacy of the 3.5?

camaraderie · #2 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008

Fine...plenty of power for that boat.

sailingdog · #3 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008

Get the Nissan or the Tohatsu...since they're the same engine as the Merc and less money IIRC.

PBzeer · #4 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008

And be aware, most sailboats require a long shaft outboard.

sailingdog · #5 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008

Good point John.

BTW, there are two important advantages you'd have with the larger 4 or 5 HP engines over the 3.5 HP engine.

First, most of the 4-5 HP engines have a transmission with a reverse gear—the 3.5 HP has only forward and neutral, to get reverse you have to turn the engine 180˚. While this may not matter on a dinghy, it may make a difference on sailboat, since you may not be able to turn the outboard 180˚.

Second, the 3.5 HP can not take an external fuel tank. This means you'll have to fill the 1/3 gallon tank about once an hour or a bit more. If you're just planning on using the OB to get the boat in and out of the marina, this may not be an issue. If you might need to motor any longer a distance with it, then you may want to re-consider and get an engine that can take an external fuel tank.

djodenda · #6 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008

I sailed a Catalina 22 (2,500 lbs) out of Edmonds in Puget Sound for a year with a 4HP engine. I never had a situation where I was underpowered.

3.5 HP should be plenty of power for that boat.

sailboy21 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailingdog

Good point John.

BTW, there are two important advantages you'd have with the larger 4 or 5 HP engines over the 3.5 HP engine.

First, most of the 4-5 HP engines have a transmission with a reverse gear—the 3.5 HP has only forward and neutral, to get reverse you have to turn the engine 180˚. While this may not matter on a dinghy, it may make a difference on sailboat, since you may not be able to turn the outboard 180˚.

Second, the 3.5 HP can not take an external fuel tank. This means you'll have to fill the 1/3 gallon tank about once an hour or a bit more. If you're just planning on using the OB to get the boat in and out of the marina, this may not be an issue. If you might need to motor any longer a distance with it, then you may want to re-consider and get an engine that can take an external fuel tank.

Its a 16 footer SD... I had a 5hp honda on my A16.. it was way too much power and weight. I later used the same motor on on O'Day 25 for cruising the ICW, and now the same boat and motor are being used to cruise the Hawaiian Islands!!! 2.3 or 3.5 would be ideal.

sailingdog · #8 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008

I am aware of that, but depending on the way the engine mount is, the fact that the 3.5HP doesn't have reverse gear might make a difference. Same with the fuel tank.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailboy21

Its a 16 footer SD... I had a 5hp honda on my A16.. it was way too much power and weight. I later used the same motor on on O'Day 25 for cruising the ICW, and now the same boat and motor are being used to cruise the Hawaiian Islands!!! 2.3 or 3.5 would be ideal.

DjY887 · #9 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008

My bracket only has an up and a down position. In the down position, the bottom the mounting plate is sitting on the water...I think a short shaft will work fine...and the Merc 3.5 spins to 180 easily. There is no extra storage for an external tank...so I'll just stash an extra one gallon can somewhere. Thank you for the input

sailboy21 · #10 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008

DjY887, I tried to find out more info on the Balboa 16 but came up short. Some of the best (and scariest) "cruising" I have done was on my little American 16. Those days were so much more simple (and less expensive) than my fully found 30 footer. Getting my 30 underway from the dock seems like more work than trailering, rigging and launching the 16 for a daysail...
Does it have a fully enclosed cabin? It sounds like it has a ballasted keel. That has got to add a lot to the safety factor. Do you day sail or micro-cruise?

Here are some pictures of my "good old days"

I was so freaking broke back then... (crap.. broke now too

but still sailing)