20 HP motor

Posted By: Jim Bailey
Date: 3/23/08 1:20p.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: engine (Gene Halpern - ex Nimble 20 'Morgan Truce')

First, I liked your comment about not wanting a larger boat. When I bought the 20 there was a 24 in the Sarasota area for sale at a good price, and I seriousely considered it, and felt the cost of converting it would have been about the same, but since Waltzing Matilda is going to be primarily a one man, or one man and two teenager boat, I felt 20' was more than enough. In order to make the cabin as large as I did, I had to settle for a relative small cockpit, but its large enough for me, and the kids will probably want to spend their time up on the bow anyway. As far as my choice of motors is concerned, I wanted one that would would allow me to cruise all day at 8 knots, that would have the capability of getting me out of tight situations on rivers with fairly stiff currents, that would not suck too much gas, and that would give me years of trouble free service, so after doing research on power to weight ratios, hull speed, thrust, etc, I discussed it with a friend who holds a Coast Guard 100 ton masters license with a sailing endorsement, and who has spent the last 20 plus years teaching both power boating and sailing as well as maintaining and delivering them to ports as far away as Seattle. His recommendation was to go with at least an 18 HP with a high thrust prop, and since I can squeese in a 20 without to much trouble, I am going to. As for getting it up on a plane the answer is no way. My days of speed boating are past, and with her bottom as flat as it is the water would have to be mirrow smooth otherwise it would be an awful choppie ride. Incidentally, I will be keeping the boat on a trailer when not in use thus avoiding a world of motor and hull problems. Jim