I had an electric start 8 hp mercury 4 stroke. Took us the length of the Sea of Cortez and from Spain to Turkey over 4-5 years. Lots of weather in between. It was always enough.  Sailed the pacific NW and Sea of Cortez in previous years with a 6 hour Yamaha electric start but after 10 years it kept catching on fire so we got the 8 Merc. Except a few times with nasty currents, we mostly always made forward progress.

Chris Geankoplis
Sent from my iPhone

> On Jul 5, 2025, at 10:22 AM, THOMAS POLISE via Rhodes22-list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org> wrote:
> 
> I presently have a 9.9 HP motor that is in need of replacement, and was considering the 8 hp Yamaha.  Has anyone gone to 8, and if so is that enough hp against wind and also in assisting in getting off when running aground?
> Thanks