tohatsu sail drive

[Chris]

Do these run a lower gear ratio? in which case would an 8HP one be any good as an aux for a 6.5 rib?

[doggypaddle]

its either that or a finer pitch prop not sure. They are propped/geared for pushing heavy hulls at displacement speeds, so i rekon a sail drive would be much more suitable as an auxiliary than an equivalent standard engine, which would be propped for a sib or small tinny. wether its poweful enough is debatable, obviously the more power the better, it will certainly get you pointing the right direction and give you headway, wether its powerful enough is obviously tide and wind dependant. IMO its quite suffecient to get you out of the doo doo.

[Pete7]

Chris, we had a 10 hp which was more than powerful enough and didn't need full throttle to make 5 - 6 knots. Just make sure you get the right shaft length, prop needs to be below the transom in clean water.

Pete

[richardjawilson]

for your guide, a 4hp 2 stroke marinier L/shaft saildrive pushes a 6.1m tohatsu along at about 4.5 knots with no tide.

8hp would be ideal

[m chappelow]

i use an 8 hp 4stroke on my 18 foot hard fishing boat though it is a displacement hull weighs around 450 kgs as it has concreate ballast it will cruise at 6 knots half throttle happy ,full out about 8 knots ,