MacGregorSailors.com

I currently have a Honda 7.5 hp 4 stroke on my venture 22. Would there be any advantages/disadvantages to changing to a newer 9.9 Mercury 2 stroke?

More weight, more money, w/o any gain in speed. I'm sure your 7.5 will get you to hull speed, and that's as fast as you can go. I have a V24 with a 5 horse, and it's always been adequate.

john3357 wrote:I currently have a Honda 7.5 hp 4 stroke on my venture 22. Would there be any advantages/disadvantages to changing to a newer 9.9 Mercury 2 stroke?

I agree with Loyd that you don't have anything to gain speed wise, but if you are considering the safety factor and want electric start you will have to move up to a 8 hp or 9 hp. Does Mercury even make a small 2 stroke anymore?

If you want electric start maybe look at the Nissan/Tohatsu line outboards and Tohatsu also makes the small Mercury's (more money with the name change, same if you want the Nissan name on it). We bought a used Nissan (Tohatsu) 4 stroke 5 hp for our inflatable, but have used it just fine on our 26S. Our new 9.8 elect start Tohatsu arrived today . We are looking forward to replacing the 8 HP Honda with it. Now if we have a problem Ruth will also be able to start the outboard.

c ya,

Sum

Our Trips to...

Our Mac Pages

Mac-Venture Links

2 stroke motors are said to be louder, and then there's the minor inconvenience of having to mix the gas with your 2-cycle oil.

As far as the arguments about hull speed and horsepower, I personally do notice a difference in performance with a little larger motor. Up until the end of 2008, my V222 always had a 70's Johnson/Evinrude 9.5 hp on it. Unfortunately, numerous fatigue issues with the motor made it necessary to seek a replacement, and my father ended up getting an 80's Johnson Sailmaster 6 hp (shortly before he gave the boat to me). The difference in speed is painful. The 6 hp motor feels woefully slow to me compared to the old 9.5, like I could get out and push faster than that motor is doing. This is with the keel up, however. With the keel down, the difference is less severe, although still noticeable.

In your case, with a 4-stroke 7.5, I'm not sure how much more speed you will pick up. I think you'll notice at least a little, but am not sure if going to a 9.9 2-stroke would be much of an upgrade.

We bought our 1971 Venture 2-22 one year old, with an older Chrysler long shaft 9.9 2-stroke included. Used it for years, but the gas mileage was pretty terrible. Replaced it with an Evinrude long shaft 9.9 2-stroke which was designed for pushing a displacement hull, and that was better, but still not so good on gas usage, and I found mixing fuel was a pain. Two years ago, it died, and I replaced it with a Yamaha long-shaft 9.9 4-stroke, and (no kidding) it seems to get about 2.5-3 times the fuel mileage. All motors have been electric start, but this Yamaha also has power tilt. What a blessing when entering "thin water." Doesn't have to be either up or down, but can be positioned anywhere in between. The 4-stroke is considerably quieter than the 2-strokes were. You can actually hold a conversation in the cockpit while under power. It reaches hull speed at about half-throttle. I should point out that I did have to put a 1" x 1" piece of oak on top of the transom as a spacer to raise the motor enough to allow it to tilt fully in the V-2-22's motor well. Also, the 4-stroke weighs about 8 pounds more than the previous 2-stroke motors.

You also have to consider final drive ratios when comparing motors, not just HP

the is analogous to rear axle ratio in a car if you over 50 and fat like me.

The consideration of hull speed is imbedded into almost all discussions involving outboard size. However, Macs are not under the constraints of hull speed limitations or true keel boats. Our macs use swing keels and daggerboards which may be swung or lifted into the boat thereby reducing drag in the water. 26M's are quite capable of planing and so are swing keels to some degree. My venture 22 has a 9.9 on it and moves well beyond the hull speed calculations. I find no difference in sail performance between weight of my old 2 stroke 6hp and the heavier 4 stroke 9.9. With respect to motoring I do experience a notable difference with the increase in horsepower. Another variable to consider would be the newer 4 strokes power thrust and big foot options. My honda power thrust produces better thrust with the trade off of lower overall speed. I find it quite helpful when fighting currents and heavy wind coming into the dock.

I know this is an old thread, but I need to replace my 5 hp aux motor. Is there a problem with using the mercury 9.9 on a Macgregor 22? I like the motor but it is heavier.

Probably not Jeff.

Are you mounting on the transom or on a mount? Make sure the mount is rated for the heavier weight.

My 2 cents. I prefer ther 9.9 4stroke, because eventhough I have a hull speed limit, I like having the power to reach that limit regardless of the currents/tides/wind.

My mercury 9.9 4stroke can push my Mac25 through the currents, waves and tide out of a very tough inlet into the ocean.

I purchased a new mount and installed it. Purchased it from West Marine. It is rated for the 10HP 4 stroke. My Wife found the instructions in the bottom of the box. Way too many words not enough pictures for me, but it says to remove the motor prior to trailering as damage to the boat may occur. OK, but I see many sailboats bumping down the road, motors on the back. Are there different mounts?

Catigale wrote:Probably not Jeff.

Are you mounting on the transom or on a mount? Make sure the mount is rated for the heavier weight.

Got caught in a serious current for the first time this week: 5 knots moving into the East River in NY. Went in all smiles and happy about speed without thinking about it, then turned around and realized I was running 3000 RPM and making only 2 knots. I had to run at a speed that would normally get me 12 knots just to do 7.

Do check the history of current speeds in your sailing area and make sure you have enough HP to do 3 knots + max currents you expect to deal with at a minimum.

They don't call that area Hells Gate for no reason...many a good ship has laid her bones to rest there...

I got rid of Merc 7.5 for a Honda 7.5. Don't have to mix gas and oil. Honda 7.5 is more than enough power for V-22. We had a 4hp on ours. Keep in mind some places are in the process of outlawing 2 stroke outboards. I'm jus' sayin'. Fair winds and full sails. Old Salt...

I purchased a new mount and installed it. Purchased it from West Marine. It is rated for the 10HP 4 stroke. My Wife found the instructions in the bottom of the box. Way too many words not enough pictures for me, but it says to remove the motor prior to trailering as damage to the boat may occur. OK, but I see many sailboats bumping down the road, motors on the back. Are there different mounts?

Jeff...probably you can put a mount to stop the engine from bouncing and leave it on while you trailer. How far do you go typically? Are the roads rough?

The box instructions are worst case, liability driven words of course, as opposed to engineering advice.