10hp outboard opinions please

[Pirx]

We have a 7meter yacht ( Jaguar 24 ) with an outboard in a well at the aft end of the cockpit. Currently this is a 4hp Mercury 2-stroke.

The Mercury is essentially a fuel into noise, vibration & blue smoke machine - progress through the water is possibly in calm conditions but we are moving from Windermere to the coast and need something a bit more seamanlike.

I like the idea of electric starting for two reasons: Mrs Mate would be able to start it and it might help with battery charging. We need a long shaft and a 'sail drive' or whatever it's called these days prop. Something that isn't too noisy would be a huge bonus.

There are 9.9hp motors from Yamaha & Honda that look possible ? If we forgo the electrics 8hp would probably do.

Opinions please. How noisy are these things? Is electric start really necessary ? Anything else to worry about ?

 

[RupertW]

If the budget allowed and you mostly overnight in marinas then a Torqueedo or equivalent removes all the fuel and starting issues. We’ve used one for our tender for 6 years and as well as the obvious advantages I now no longer have to accompany my wife ashore to shop as starting is just turning it on.

 

[Irish Rover]

I have a 10hp Honda on my tender and my wife can never start it but I believe it's more a lack of technique than strength.

 

[Graham376]

Tohatsu are giving 7 year warranty and have manual or electric start. Tohatsu 9.8hp outboard engine

 

[fredrussell]

I actually have a Yamaha four stroke 9.9 high thrust long shaft electric start I was thinking of putting up for sale. I’ve been keeping it in case my inboard dies on my new to me 30ft boat. I don’t think you’re in my neck of the woods (Suffolk) but if you are you’re welcome to come and have a look. If you’re after a 10 hp outboard for a sailboat, try and get a high thrust one. They’re designed for sailboats and do their work at a much lower rpm, which means less noise obviously.

 

[wombat88]

Had a 6hp 4 stroke Sail Drive Tohatsu with charging but no electric start in a well on a Jaguar 21.

Did the job OK so long as there weren't loads of people standing on the bow.

 

[Pirx]

I actually have a Yamaha four stroke 9.9 high thrust long shaft electric start I was thinking of putting up for sale.

That is interesting ! As it happens I regularly sail with my brother who is based in the marina at Levington. Would you like to pm me with details ?

 

[TSB240]

Be very careful if thinking of using a larger than 6HP FOUR STROKE. MOST outboard wells will not be able to accommodate a 10hp motor. The leg of the 6 hp tohatsu is the same dimensions as a 9.8 hp tohatsu 2 stroke. I happily used this outboard on a trailable yacht. No fumes in cockpit when combined with a leg vent for the exhaust. We had no need for a long shaft. This model had charging and was available with electric start Electric start is unnecessary as it is a twin cylinder unlike the modern 4 strokes and runs really smoothly in comparison to a single. It is also not so heavy that you can't lift it and use iron your dinghy. Happily pushed our 24 footer into wind against tide chop.

 

[fredrussell]

TSB240 raises a good point. The prop on my Yamaha high thrust 9.9 is mahoosive at just under 12” wide. You would need to check the width of the prop aperture in bottom of your well. My guess is it won’t be wide enough to allow the prop through.

 

[langstonelayabout]

TSB240 raises a good point. The prop on my Yamaha high thrust 9.9 is mahoosive at just under 12” wide. You would need to check the width of the prop aperture in bottom of your well. My guess is it won’t be wide enough to allow the prop through.

I used to have a Pegasus 24 that had a 9.9 electric start outboard in a well at the back of the cockpit.

Never again, and when I finally removed it to fit a smaller outboard I had to separate the engine's power head from the leg to get the damn thing off, so big was the lower end of the engine and so small the through hull aperture.

If I were buying a boat now for use on the sea it'd be an inboard diesel or, worst case, an outboard on the stern.

 

[Pirx]

I'm certainly going to measure things, but other identical boats have 9.9 outboards in the well.
The issue we have is that the large square hole at the bottom of the well really needs some sort of removeable fairing to reduce drag, although the happy burble of water is quite pleasing under sail.
I have been wondering about using a bracket on the transom. Noise less of an issue, exhaust fumes further away, no drag when sailing, but it's less convenient, the weight is in the wrong place, the prop won't stay under the surface in waves and the marina might be more expensive.

 

[coveman]

Be very careful if thinking of using a larger than 6HP FOUR STROKE. MOST outboard wells will not be able to accommodate a 10hp motor. The leg of the 6 hp tohatsu is the same dimensions as a 9.8 hp tohatsu 2 stroke. I happily used this outboard on a trailable yacht. No fumes in cockpit when combined with a leg vent for the exhaust. We had no need for a long shaft. This model had charging and was available with electric start Electric start is unnecessary as it is a twin cylinder unlike the modern 4 strokes and runs really smoothly in comparison to a single. It is also not so heavy that you can't lift it and use iron your dinghy. Happily pushed our 24 footer into wind against tide chop.

I have an 8hp two stroke twin cylinder Yamaha 8hp (with saildrive prop) on a 22ft yacht with a well - as you say quite smooth and relatively light @ 27kg so easy to move. exhaust vent means no fumes - just difficult to get hold a good one now in the UK.