Choice of kicker size for a 22' Cruiser?

An update on kicker prop size. I have a 2013 Tohatsu 6hp. It came with a 7.8 x 8 prop. While breaking in it, the wot would only get me 4400 rpm and barely 5 mph. Well, I got my new prop, a Solis 7.8 x 7. I can now get 5200 rpm (which is within limits now) and almost 6 mph. I have this on a 2007 CD-22 Cruiser. Colby
 
I do not yet own a C-Dory, and I am seriously considering a 22 cruiser. I'm asking for help with the wide variety of power used. The manuf. states 90hp is a good size, and they wouldn't answer my question about a recommendation for a minimum, yet I see here people using a "kicker". Is that something only used for fishing?

I'll be operating in waters with essentially no current. 90hp seems WAY over kill for a 22, and even 40hp seems way to big for how I'll be using the boat. 10, maybe 15 knots of speed is plenty for me. Maybe the occasional cruise down to Edenton or over to Manteo .... hmmm maybe a 25hp or 30hp. It seems to push the speed up will simply suck down LOTS of gas ... or am I'm simply showing how little I understand how this boat operates? It seems people are getting along with a 9.9. I now operate a sailboat and 6mph is the Most I ever see. If I can double that speed, I can't imagine willing to spend gobs of $$ to go any faster.
 
Welcome
The kicker some folks have is for fishing or as a get home engine in case of main engine failure
Not every c dory has one, I don't use one.
The 22 originally had 75 hp recomended now 90 or twin 50's is normal
The 22 with 90 is able to troll slow enough to fish or plane up to 25 knots.
Many of us spend lots of time in slow mode thereby conserving fuel, however we need the speed to beat weather or just because we want a change from slow
Does the boat need 90hp? No if gas was $25 a gallon we would likely power them with s 9.9 main engine and do 5-6 knots
With the cheap gas in the US we don't need to worry
Canadian gas runs over $5 a US gallon and that is less than it once was
The bigger issue if you put a 25-40 hp main engine on a 22 is resale.... As in you would own it until you repowed it with a more acceptable number of ponies
In your opinion 90 is way too much, but the average 22 ft powerboat out there uses double, triple and enen quadruple that!
One of the reasons we love our 23 is the small outboard of 90 hp
Enjoy looking
George
 
THANK YOU for the info! I need to read that perspective. I'm coming from a 21hp diesel ... or I should say still at 21hp diesel, and I believe the Catalina 30 originally came with a 13hp. Yes, I know, very different boats, hull, etc...

I'm also the kind of person that likes to do as much of my own maintenance as possible. These big engines, (big to me), 40hp and more, are extremely heavy! One of the reasons I'm thinking of getting away from the Catalina 30 is the dependancy on getting others to work on it, (haul out).

Regarding resale ... my ideal boat would be one that is selling at a discount because of engine issues, or I should say boat without engine. Then I could re-engine as I see fit, and resell won't be an issue because I got a good deal to begin with. Then again, I usually don't sell anything. I'll likely wind up with both my Catalina 30 and a C-Dory 22. Also keep in mind my original thought was a Ranger 21 tug, (30hp diesel). I may get one of these if I find one with "engine" issues, rip out the inboard, and re-install with an electric. I reckon that really shows I have no intentions of going fast or very far. lol
 
I get where you're coming from. I mean, you can very easily and successfully power a heavy, 30 foot sailboat with 10 hp. So now you're looking at a "light" 22 and suddenly it needs 90?

A few things to consider:

It's a planing boat. Now, I've been happy to cruise at "hull speed" for much of my life, and I still love displacement boats. BUT, when you (I) have a planing boat, well, it IS fun (and often useful) to be able to push the throttle forward and zoom along at 18-20 knots. Why might one want to?

a) You watched the weather but something unpredicted came up, and you'd like to avoid it as much as possible.

b) You are in an area where there is a fair distance between anchorages. This way you have more options (that you can get to before dark).

c) You cruise a local area and have limited time on the water. This way you can "zoom" to a wider variety of areas, even if you plan to take it slowly once you get there.

d) Emergency or etc.

Also....

i) Let's say a 9 hp will give you X GPH (or MPH) at a certain speed. Well, the 90 will do about the same, since it's just loafing along. Granted, the 90 costs more to buy and maintain, so if you never plan to go above the max speed of the 9.9, no reason to go with the 90. OTOH, if you have the 90 for occasional use, you'll still get the good "mileage" when you cruise slowly.

ii) You can still do some of your own maintenance, and when you can't (presuming you have a trailer and can tow), you can bring the motor (and boat) to the mechanic, instead of needing a service call in the slip. Anything above about a 6hp you probably won't be lifting off the boat unassisted, depending on you (I can handle my #45 5hp, but no way the 110# Honda 8 that came with the boat).

iii) A former dealer on the East Coast (Cutter Marine) sold quite a few 22's with a 50hp. I think they did plane, if not overloaded. But I would guess most were repowered with a 75+ hp. I guess if you're going to plane... just do it with adequate horsepower.

iv) If you are truly uninterested in re-sale, then great, one less theoretical person to please. OTOH, if you want to step in in a "sensible" way, you could perhaps start with a 9.9hp kicker and no "main" engine. If it works for you, great. If it doesn't, slide it over and use it as a kicker and get a larger engine (same if you want to sell and the small engine discourages folks).

v) But to me one of the magical things about the 22 (and similar boats) is that it will plane at low speed. That doesn't happen with every boat. I love gliding long at, say, 12 knots ON PLANE. It's slow and fast at the same time. Zipping along at 20-30 knots is not as fun for me, so it's something I only do if I have to (get to anchorage before dark, etc.).

PS: I have a (carbureted) 80 hp, which is really a 75hp in today's lingo. It's perfectly fine for me, even for semi-loaded cruising and at medium altitudes (4,000' or so). If I re-power, I might go larger, but I'd choose more on weight and alternator size.

I have also considered the Yamaha 70. It's a bit small for someone who emphasizes speed/planing (small block), but OTOH it's very light and might be that just right middle ground for you.
 
About how many GPH would a 9.9 kicker use when running a 22. cdory at displacement speed? just wondering if under the right conditions the kicker might be a more efficient way to cruise at hull speed over the main power source. :?:
 
From all I have read (including from knowledgeable sources here), there is not much, if any, fuel savings in running with the kicker vs. the main at displacement speed. It takes X horsepower to go X speed, and apparently there isn't much loss of efficiency with the larger engine.

Now you could say that each hour costs more on the main due to amortizing the cost of a larger, more expensive engine. But then most engines seem to be re-powered due to the passage of time/evolution, vs. tons of hours (use dependent).
 
That is what I was thinking any gain by trying to get around certain set things is likely to be small at best. You just cannot get around or beat the law of physics, hull area, weight, power requirements and on and on.... :)
 
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