best motor combination for cdory 25

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duff

New member
looks like the cdory 25 is the front runner for my new boat thanks to all the information from everyone. what a great forum!
what does every one think is the best combination of motor for the 25 single suzuki 175 and 15 kicker two 90 hondas is there much torch differance by having to props in the water? what is best setup for docking. is honda the favorite brand please give me your thoughts Duff I will have a 2002 regal 2665 for sale
 
It's likely you will get a different opinion from each owner with a different configuration.

When we ordered our boat from the factory, Jeff asked how we intended to use the boat and then recommended the Honda 135 for us. I've had many folks ask if it's enough power... and it is for the way we cruise. At the time, I didn't want two 90s on the back, because Honda didn't offer electronic fuel injection on the 90s. Certainly, the twins on the back give you some redundancy, but you will also have twice the maintenance and expense. The only time I have wished for more horsepower has been at higher elevations (like Lake Tahoe, Yellowstone Lake, or even Lake Powell); most of our cruising has been at sea level.

The only time we are not heavily loaded is when we're home for a while and just day-tripping. The Honda 135 has been a good match for our cruising style.

There is a good Honda service place in our area, and that was a factor for us, too. I've had other Hondas and (with the exception of a cranky Honda 5 we bought for a dinghy) they've been quiet, dependable, and fuel efficient. I think all the major engine manufacturers make good motors, so it's more a matter of what you want, what service is available locally, and what your dealer offers (assuming you're buying new - If you buy used, you get what the previous owner wanted).

Single or twins? Yep, they both work. As far as docking, the twins on a 25 are so close together that you don't gain much of an advantage for differential power in maneuvering. There is quite a bit of windage on these boats, but practice will improve one's technique. Oh, and good fenders.

---------------------------

Your questions here bring up an interesting perspective. It seems like many owners here come from sailing backgrounds, open fishing boats, or even downsizing from bigger trawlers. It would be interesting to hear from owners who moved to a C-Dory from (what I consider) more modern looking (what some call "bubble boats") cruisers with a cabin below. Can someone here give Duff a "been there, bought that" perspective?

Good luck with the search and decisions.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Like Jim said, ask 5 people...get 5 opinions. I will say we love our 150 Suzuki; it's quiet, effecient, has more than enough power, appears smaller than a comparable Honda and the black matches the boat. :wink: In fact the first time I started it I had to double check it was actually idling, it was/is THAT quiet. Dealer service is also easily available.

Matt @ Kitsap recommends a 9.9 for a kicker and we intend on purchasing one once we can do it comfortably (finances).

Oh...and Jim's also right...if you dock like me, buy some good fenders! :oops: :wink:
 
We have a Honda 150 on our 25. I have always been under the opinion that the HP is adequate but more would make the boat a better performing boat. I would think a 175HP Etec or Suzuki or a 200HP Etec. Love the boat would love a little more HP.

Fred
 
OK, it's Sunday night and the kids have left for Chicago. So here goes.

First of all: twins or a single biggie & kicker? Why would you want to buy 2 ea. $9,000 engines versus 1 ea $11,000 main and 1 ea $2000 kicker? Redundancy? I've yet to hear of a single engine failure, though it helps to carry a spare prop. Maneuvering? I don't know, but Jim gave an opinion above. Yearly maintainance is 2 times, since filters, oil, etc runs about the same.

Brand? Dealer should be the biggest factor. For some reason, there's no good Honda dealer near us, and I have to drive 100 mi (each way, I might add) to a dealer. The 4-strokes are ALL good, and they're all from Japan. Evenrude is lighter, but it's a 2 stroke. So, it's dealer and dollar.

Bigger engine? Well, the biggest 4 cyl Honda makes is a 150 and that's what Journey On has. Anything bigger is a 6 cyl, and for a C-25 that's a big step up in weight. Come on, the C-25 is good because it's a light, well built cabin boat. So get the biggest 4-cyl you can get. Is the Evenrude 150 a 4 or 6?

Kicker. Again go light. To me this would be a Tohatsu. This has the further advantage of cheap and reliable. Honda kickers are heavy, and a bear to put on and off.

Boris
 
duff":3awpqx5c said:
looks like the cdory 25 is the front runner for my new boat thanks to all the information from everyone. what a great forum!
what does every one think is the best combination of motor for the 25 single suzuki 175 and 15 kicker two 90 hondas is there much torch differance by having to props in the water? what is best setup for docking. is honda the favorite brand please give me your thoughts Duff I will have a 2002 regal 2665 for sale
Click to expand...

Duff, as far as I am concerned you can't get a better answer to your question than Les Lampman's comments in this thread.

Warren
 
Although I had a Honda 130 which was trouble free, I would vote for the Suzuki 175--same block as the Suzuki 150 and about the same weight as teh Honda 150. Very good and reliable engines.

As for a kicker, I have used the dinghy motor as a kicker--why carry three outboards? I have said this before--I grew up on a 26 foot sailboat, which was harder to drive through the water than a C Dory 25 (also weight was more) and we used a 1932 Johnson 5 hp outboard for many thousands of miles of powering. Not real fast, but 5 hp got us there every time. I have pushed a 62 foot, 65,000 lbt boat at 2.5 knots with a 4. 5 hp outboard on a dinghy.... It does not that that much hp to get hull speed. Granted that if you are foolish enough to try and push the C Dory 25 against 25 knots of wind and 6 foot seas, the 15 hp will get you there faster than the 5 hp--but not much faster....Also breakdown on modern outboards is rare. Many are going thousands of hours if well maintained.
 
I don't run a C-25 obviously but I will chime in with my .02 on the engine discussion.

First point that I think all would agree...you never regret having more power.

In terms of twins, I run twins on Napoleon as well as some commercial vessels. I prefer twins for the safety redundancy and the handling advantages. The handling advantages are reduced when engines are close together, but they still exist.

Last season I was anchored just off a ledge for diving. The wind and seas were out of the west and we were on the lee side of the island. Over the course of an hour the wind changed significantly such that I was now being blown into the ledge. I went to turn over my starboard engine...notta...no response from the key. We were heading for the rocks....no sweat...turned the port key and I backed us away. Turned out I had inadvertently knocked my starboard shifter *just* out of neutral and of course she will not start in gear. The mistake was mine to be sure, but I had seconds to back us off (last diver just came aboard). There are the other safety advantages including fouled prop, plugged fuel line (which would not necessarily affect the other engine at the same time even running off the same fuel supply), and of course mechanical failure. In the worst possible scenarios, I guarantee you would not regret having a second (powerful) engine to muscle your vessel through wind, current, etc. Now, of course I agree with my friends above that engines are really reliable these days. There is the issue of cost of maintenance for sure.

In terms of handling, particularly with the same prop rotation, the handling benefits are reduced. You can still spin your vessel on a dime with closely spaced twins and you cannot do this on a single. It takes more time and bubbling water but it will turn on a dime. I mentioned this in other threads but one of my favorite twin handling scenarios involves approaching a dock in tight quarters. If your rate of turn to get parallel to the dock is delayed for whatever reason (i.e. wind gust blowing your boat into the dock) you can just add a little reverse thrust on the outside engine and bring the bow right around without increasing speed.

Regardless of what you choose, you will have a reliable engine arrangement. I personally prioritize twins but a well maintained single with kicker will also be reliable. Good luck with your search.
 
localboy":13fnkbgt said:
...In fact the first time I started it I had to double check it was actually idling, it was/is THAT quiet....
Click to expand...

The first time I went to start my Suzuki 150's with the cabin door shut I too thought something was wrong, I could not hear them running!
 
Cap'n Matt wrote:

"First point that I think all would agree...you never regret having more power. "

Well, there's a different viewpoint, that says power comes with a cost. And one ought to consider that cost. They do make a motorcycle with a Chevvy V-8, but that limits its use.

I would think that 2 ea 150 Hp outboards on the back of a C-25 would be too much cost in terms of $, weight and power. Yet those are common engines on Tomcats. So, I'd subscribe to a balanced approach for the C-25, which doesn't overpower the boat or unbalance the weight. $ is your decision.

First, weight. This is certainly a big factor in a 25' monohull. An Evinrude is the lightest weight, and with the same block, you can go from 150 to 200 Hp for 420 lbs. Next is the Honda or Suzuki at 490 lbs. That'll let you go from 150 to 175 Hp for the same weight.

As for the redundancy and maneuverability in 2 engines, I wouldn't know. I have spent 35 years with a single engine, and it's all worked well. May take a little thought, even in times of stress, but it's worked well.

Note the point Bob/thataway makes above. A good kicker can be used as the redundancy as well as for the dinghy motor. We do it, I refuse to carry 3 outboards on Journey On as does Bob. Great minds think alike.

Boris
 
journey on":33dggz8t said:
Cap'n Matt wrote:

...I would think that 2 ea 150 Hp outboards on the back of a C-25 would be too much cost in terms of $, weight and power. Yet those are common engines on Tomcats....
Click to expand...

Hi Boris,
My comment about power is of course relative to the vessel. If your vessel is rated for 200 HP, I submit no one regrets getting 200 HP. If you are rated for 200, and elect a 135, you may be disappointed.

A 15 HP kicker is not going to offer the same level of control in strong wind/current as a 90 for example.

I agree singles work fine, but there are advantages (and disadvantages) to various power options. Cost being a one of the disadvantages.
 
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