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Message board > Engines > Smaller outboard for a Hardy 17

Message 3 of 3
Posted by member Mike Insall on Wednesday 18 March 2015

Thanks Simon - most helpful, and I take all your points which has given me much food for thought. I would like to buy new, but not sure I can afford it! Very kind of you to give such a detailed reply. Cheers, Mike

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Message 2 of 3
Posted by member Simon Kidd on Wednesday 18 March 2015

Hi Mike. Though the Maylands are well built, the Hardy's a quite a bit bigger in terms of wetted area, and have a deeper hull shape - meaning they need a bit more power to get on and perform. The issue is do you want to plane - or sit in displacement mode? 15kts is really planing, 12knots is on the cusp - for my boat anyway. My experience in this case is with 50hp on a pair of Navigators (Same basic boat at the 17PH) This engine size tends to give about 22/23knots ish. I believe a Navigator will just plane - if light and ballasted correctly with a 40hp motor (Maybe 18knots or something like that as a guess, I can get the heavier 20 Pilot to plane with 50hp - just to 17knots/18knots fairly light). I very much doubt a 30hp or 35hp will work in terms on planing, but perhaps if you ballast the bow down or fit trim tabs, you may get 12knots flat out if you push hard - but you'll be pushing well above the max displacement hull speed - so you may just get a large wake and 8knots.. it's difficult to say without testing a rig in real life. With experience of all sorts of boats over the years, my advice would be to fit the biggest engine within the recommended power range you can, i.e. 50hp - that way, when you cruise at 12 / 15 knots, the engine won't be running hard and thus will be quieter and less stressed than a small motor. Not long ago I took a 23' river cruiser for a trial for a client with a 15hp fourstroke, and later a similar boat with a 40hp engine - both used on the river for 5/6knts. The 40hp was effortless and quiet, easy to manoeuvre, the 15hp was quite strained and noisy when pushed, and was difficult to stop and manoeuvre in a current - lots more throttle was needed to "Point and Squirt". On the second hand market, I doubt there's at all much difference between the price of used 30/40/50hp motors (If you're buying new, then I can understand there will be a notable price difference though!) Fuel usage shouldn't increase with the bigger engine - if you don't use the power (but keep the extra power in reserve) and if you want to cruise faster for some reason, you still can. Also - a number of the 30hp/40hp/50hp engines tend to be quite similar in weight. I've been monitoring the second hand outboard market recently and have seen a number of fourstroke and direct injected 2-stroke 40hp/50hp/60hp engines sold and for sale around the £1500 - £2200 mark. The old school 2-stokes tend to be in the £900 - £1200 mark. In short, I think far better to have more power than is needed - there's nothing worse than spending a wedge of money and being disappointed with performance. Hope this helps!! Best Regards Simon. P.s. - There a some very odd figures in the performance database - so yes, it's quite confusing - I need to chat to the Webmaster and Committee about that - a project for later in the year I think.

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Message 1 of 3
Posted by member Mike Insall on Tuesday 17 March 2015

* I have just bought a Hardy Navigator 17 with a 9.9 OB. As I’m based on the Hamble I need to get a bigger motor. I’ve looked at all the data on the HOC web site, but am still totally confused! I don’t need to go particularly fast; 15 or even 12 knots would be fine, and I would like to have good economy! Does anyone have a smaller outboard such as a 25, 30, 35 or 40 HP, and if so how does it perform. I will generally have only one or two bods on boards, and not much cargo! Some years ago I had a Mayland 17 that was quite heavey, but with a 25HP it went like a scolded cat! I would prefer a four stroke. Any info would be much appreciated. Yours in great anticipation, Mike

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