Engine size for C-D 16

[jazz]

Motor size

Hi all, my name is Marc from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and am a potential C-Dory 16' Cruiser owner. I have been researching the C-Brat site for quite a while now but have not been able to find anything on my question.

As I plan to do 80% of slow speed 5-8 knots cruising on canals and rivers in my region (20% high speed dash), 2 people and basic gear on board, engine size is my main concern. As most 16' are rigged with a 4 stroke 40HP (Honda), can I get feed back on performance. I am curious to know if engine running on slow speed for much of the time exhibits excessive and annoying vibrations. From my understanding, 2 strokes and 4 strokes are tuned differently and ultimately I am concerned with engine life / noise and irritation !. Would a lower HP engine with a properly matched propeller be a better choice or perhaps a 2 stroke altogether ?

I am not much into speed, but simple displacement slow speed sightseeing and shore hugging but with power reserve for emergencies.

The C-Dory community is great with excellent and valuable input.

For the team !

Marc

[dotnmarty]

Hi Jazz-I have a 40 hp Honda 4-stroke and couldn't be happier with it. Whatever the measure, it is just fine. It starts easily, runs quiet and has essentially no vibration at any speed, and runs all day on a six gallon tank. The fastest I can go is about 23 miles per hour, which is fast enough for me. Some guys with the 50 hp claim they can go up to 30.mph. I also have a 5 hp kicker, with which I truly enjoy puttering about. It goes 5mph and will go forever on just fumes. Regarding engine life, I have no doubt that my kids will inherit these engines.

[rogerbum]

Marc,

Like many questions, this one has come up several times before - including an almost identical post about 1 month ago. Click on the link in the previous sentence to read that discussion. You might also want to do a search on the term - engine size 16 - with the radio button "Search for all terms" selected. You'll find that many of your simplest questions can be answered most rapidly by searching and reading previous posts.

One thing to consider in selecting an engine is retail value. Others may have different needs and the fact that the vast majority of 16's are equipped with 40hp engines is a hint that a 40hp engine is a good choice if you think you might want to sell the boat someday.

[Dan McNally]

Marc,
I can speak to this issue as I have two boats equipped differently, one with a two stroke, and one with a four stroke. Both are great power choices and preform the same task, propel the boat, with that said it becomes a mater of choice. I have used two strokes for twenty five years and never had a problem, my 22 foot cruiser came with a 90 horse four stroke and it is hands down a pleasure to operate. It is quite and clean and fun to run with no mixing of oil and no two stroke fumes to contend with. I would recommend a four stroke power source for convenience and environmental issues.

[fiddlersgreen6]

Hi Marc--- I would look real hard at the Evinrude 50 and the Evinrude 8, this pairing has worked excellent for me, again it depends on where you are cruising or fishing. The 8 hp. works great for trolling or on the canals, and it can actually get you home if you have engine troubles. The 50 hp. will get you where you need to be in short order, and I can easily keep up with the 22' C-Dory on a long run.----Rich

[T.R. Bauer]

I have a junky old 15 foot lake boat that I keep in Spokane, Washington that has an 85 hp evinrude and 6 hp evinrude. They are very old motors and start every time with ease. The 6 hp is a two cylinder and runs very smooth. It trolls that boat very smoothly and nicely at any speed below 4 mph and it does not foul plugs unless you run it extremely slowly - too slow to catch fish. It goes on like no gas. My C-dory has hondas on it, and they have been good too, but the four strokes require much more care to keep going.