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I just recently purchased a Mac 26M and have have not decided upon the outboard at this point. I will mostly be using the boat for sailing and do not have a real interest in purchasing a 50 or 60 HP. I'm thinking a 20-25 HP might suit my needs. Has anyone used an outboard in this range? What type of speed and handling can I expect?

I have a 50 HP motor on my 2002 Mac 26 M. The builder proscribes any bigger engine. Some 60 HP owners have geometry problems once installed.

My use of a 50 HP motor is limited to emptying the ballast tank while motoring every second month, replacing with fresher water and new swimming pool chlorine, or emptying the ballast tank, hence lifting the boat floatation line, before the nightmare operation of putting the boat on the trailer.

If I were you, I'd put on a 50 HP engine. Without it, it will eventually be harder to resale.

Otherwise, a 15 hp motor would be plenty for docking or raising the mainsail.

Canmac27,

Are you going to be on any water with strong currents, or large tidal changes?

Ray

Canmac..you will get slightly over hull speed ( 7mph) with an engine from an engine in the 10-25 HP range...a 25 probably giving you about 10mph.

The resale argument is a false one...in many ways a boat without a motor is easier to sell since the Buyer can put on exactly what they want at a known cost, and get a warranty too.

The smaller engines keep about 75% of the new price sold on eBay or locally.

i agree,the most economical motors seem to be the 9.9 models,there most frequently on sale and 25 hp won't propel you any faster than 6 will with the exception of high wind-wave-current conditions.but if for any reason you think you will ever want to pull tubers or ski'ers or cruise w/o sails do NOT waste time with 50 hp you will only be disappointed,spend the extra 1000dollars and go straight to 90 hp.

I'm about to buy an M and a feature that I like is that it does not have a motor on it. I want a Suzuki 90, and I'm pretty happy that I don't have to sell a 50 or 60 to get it.

If it had a 10 on it, I would not be too worried since I can pull that off by myself.

Congrats on the new boat!

Hummm some what surprised with the idea that some feel a used boat will sell better without motor???
Motor size ,as has been stated, is Entirely dependant upon YOUR intended use.. For sure, if you want to be assured of breaking the 12 to 17 mph speed barrier.. you'll need a larger motor than the 50 or even the 60.. there are a few here with 70's and Jon ( Highlander) has a Merc 75 EFI BF.. I know this situation is a bit Extreme but somewhat relevant in-spite of that. Local Dealer and Parts Availability IS of some concern..I have seen people bring Cars Motorcycles and Outboards to areas, where there was NO local support.. that's a Big PITA..!!

Catigale wrote:Canmac..you will get slightly over hull speed ( 7mph) with an engine from an engine in the 10-25 HP range...a 25 probably giving you about 10mph.

The resale argument is a false one...in many ways a boat without a motor is easier to sell since the Buyer can put on exactly what they want at a known cost, and get a warranty too.

The smaller engines keep about 75% of the new price sold on eBay or locally.

If you do go smaller, consider getting an engine just large enough to use a remote throttle/shifter and connected to the steering linkage.
Many horror stories about docking in cross winds reaching back to an engine with tiller throttle/steering and shift lever.
Can be ugly with the freeboard we enjoy.

Electric start would be a very nice to have thing also.

If you go big, going directly to 70-90 bypassing 50-60 is sound advice.
No regrets have been posted that I recall.

Hummm some what surprised with the idea that some feel a used boat will sell better without motor???

ITs real simple. Without a motor, your potential market is 'anyone interested in a MAC" whereas if you have anything above a 25 HP, the buyer will factor in

- do I want this size motor
- do I want this motor and its (unknown) history
- can I get this motor serviced where I live?
- If I want to change this motor, I have to pay de-install, install, new controls

and adjust both the price and the time to purchase accordingly.

If a 9.9 fits your needs, you put it on, and then offer the boat for sale with/without the motor, adjust the price by about 1000 either way, say.

Buyer can now get the boat with exactly the motor (HP and brand) they want...

Thank you all for your responses! Some good arguments.
To answer a few questions you have raised for me, the boat will spend most of it's time in the St. Laurence river (Lac St. Louis) in Montreal, so no tides to deal with and a current of approximately 2-3 knots. I do plan to make a trip out to Lake Champlain and perhaps Lake Ontario at Brockville this summer for a bit of large lake sailing.
I will be installing it with the throttle/remote steering and trim.
In the end, will there be much of a difference, performance-wise, to support buying a 25HP instead of a 20 HP?

Ray

No difference Ray. Pick the motor with a service centre near you in case you need work. Even a 15 is worth thinking about

Do look at the alternator output if you think you will start loading up with electronics...

Nissan mercury Honda Evinrude whatever.

A 20 HP with the best Prop will out perform a 25 HP with the wrong Prop..
Most(?) of us or at least those with 50=60 HP Big Foots are running in or around 10 x 14..Props.. I could get more speed with a different prop.. But I would lose some low speed maneuvering.. I want and use, my boat.... more at low speed in tight places than at WOT..
UAPOW on this board has a ?? Mercury 30 HP EFI BF.. he could offer up some advice I am sure..

Hi Ray,

I have a Mac M 2007 with a 50hp honda on Lac st-louis (Beaconsfield yacht club) and have done a lot of sailing/motoring in the region with it. This summer we motored up the Ottawa river to the Rideau canal, down the canal to Kingston and back to Montreal from Kingston through the Thousand Islands and St-Lawrence. The only place i ever need the power was motoring upriver under the Jacques-Cartier bridge where the current is about 7kts. Here are my thoughts:

I am always disappointed with the power/speed of the 50hp - yet it is large and takes all the space at the back, making boarding after a swim a pain to squeeze around. Also, in the event of a battery issue, pull starting is next to impossible given the space and the resistance. The only positive is that the engine hums along relatively quietly at 6 knots. I believe the older X had more room for this. Most of the time you will cruise at about 6kts anyway when motoring. Most other sailboats at the club use a 9.9hp for what you want to do and the Mac M is MUCH lighter that most of them. I met a guy who doing the same Rideau trip with a 9.9hp,. He had no problem. It was a 20ft boat but it had a huge and heavy keel as he had sailed from Hamburg, Germany with the boat...

I would go with the smallest possible - maybe 15hp. You will save a ton of money. I am so serious about this that I would happily sell you mine and downsize. IF you think you need bigger and are willing to sacrifice the space at the back, go huge - 70-90hp. Make it worth it. 50hp is not useful IMHO. Lots of guys seem to have done it and are happy.

If you have an other questions, pm me and I give you my phone number.

Rob

Also, in the event of a battery issue, pull starting is next to impossible given the space and the resistance.

Ive found this to be easy with the Mercury 50 HP BF EFI....I do notice that the first time I pull it, I get the same feeling that this can't possibly work. The second pull, it starts right up. Im sure it hangs up on the compression stroke and that this sets the stage for a clean start.

I last pull started mine in AUG on Cuttyhunk Island....10 miles from civilization

Catigale wrote:

Also, in the event of a battery issue, pull starting is next to impossible given the space and the resistance.

Ive found this to be easy with the Mercury 50 HP BF EFI....I do notice that the first time I pull it, I get the same feeling that this can't possibly work. The second pull, it starts right up. Im sure it hangs up on the compression stroke and that this sets the stage for a clean start.

I last pull started mine in AUG on Cuttyhunk Island....10 miles from civilization

I guess I might find the strength if I was in the same situation It's very hard though with the Honda.