Hi Tom,

The attached photo shows my Rhodes 22 with the extra long shaft Honda 8 hp outboard.  I was going to send this last night; but, I couldn't find the photo.  The boat has the GBI motor mount and the photo shows the motor in the lowest position.  This position is where you would run for motor sailing on port tack in heavy weather.  You can see how far below the waterline strip the prop is.  It would take a very large, steep, or breaking wave passing under the stern to cause the motor to cavitate.  The other thing you need to really make this work is the GBI engine mount because the engine can be operated in any position.  For example, on starboard tack, the illustrated position might cause the motor's power head to become submerged as the boat passed thru a wave.  But, with the boat heeled over on starboard tack, the lower unit doesn't need to be submerged as far.  The GBI motor mount allows you to raise it several inches to keep the power head clear of the water.

As far as whose brand of outboard has the best shifter, throttle, or tiller; I have always used the engine remote controls up in the cockpit.  You can see the engine remote control in the picture.  It's just behind the stanchion upright under the blue cover and sticking up a few inches above the gunnel.  I seldom use the engine's tiller, except in very close quarters maneuvering situations, like docking and then only to turn the engine to execute a sharp turn.  The Evinrude 6 hp had the two lever style remote engine controls and the Honda 8 has the single lever controls.  Both work well and I have a very slight preference for the single lever style.  Also note the control cables.  Because the GBI motor mount has such a large amount of up/down travel, you must have much longer than normal cables.  Note the way the cables are routed in a helix so they can move with the engine without interference or getting tangled up.  Standing at the helm with the engine controls in your left hand, tiller in your right, good visibility all around - ahh, how civilized!  Once you have tried remote engine controls, you won't ever want to be without them!

[X]

________________________________
From: Rhodes22-list <rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org> on behalf of ROGER PIHLAJA <roger_pihlaja at msn.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 3, 2024 5:59 PM
To: The Rhodes Email List <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Cc: The Rhodes Email List <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Optimum Motor for R22?

Hi Tom,

I’ve owned our Rhodes 22 since 1987.  It’s had 2 outboards, a 6 hp Evinrude long shaft and an 8 hp Honda extra long shaft.  Both motors gave reliable service.  In my opinion, 6 hp is about the minimum if you are going to be out in any sort of weather.  Of course, more is always better.

But, notice that I specified the shaft length?  The shaft length is at least as important as the hp.  With a transom hung outboard, a longer shaft permits the prop to stay submerged as the boat passes thru waves.  This is a particular issue on port tack.  In heavy weather, you are going to want to be able to motor sail to weather on BOTH tacks.  The 25” long shaft permits the boat to keep the prop submerged and thus better able to couple the power into the water.  Your outboard is useless and can be damaged if it is spinning helplessly out of the water.  What ever you buy, get the version with the longest available shaft.

Roger Pihlaja
S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
1978. Sanford, MI
Sent from my iPhone

> On Dec 3, 2024, at 12:01 PM, Tom Van Heule <tom.vanheule at intrinsicprograms.com> wrote:
>
> wrote:
>
>> I have a Torqeedo electric motor and really like it, but my sailing is on
>> an inland lake never very far from the marina.  I’m not sure how an
>> electric motor would do for coastal cruising.
>>
>> Frank
>>
>> Frank Goldsmith
>> S/V Mary Bess (Rhodes 22 1985/2001)
>> Fairview, NC
>> Lake Keowee, SC
>>
>>
>>>>> On Dec 3, 2024, at 11:43 AM, Stephen Staum <snstaum at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> Tom,
>>>
>>> I am a Rhodes 22 owner since 2003.  My first was a lake boat with a 4 HP
>>> Mariner 2 stroke outboard.  I found the 4 horse adequate even in offshore
>>> conditions with 4 ft. seas and 35 mph winds.  I lost that boat in a
>>> hurricane and the replacement came with a 9.9 HP 2 stroke Johnson
>>> Sailmaster.  I will concede that the extra HP came in very handy in a