Honda 50

[seicam]

HI Everyone,
Could people that purchased the boat with Honda 50 engine tell me if you're happy with that choice? Are you utilizing the increased mototing speed? Is hte speed enough to tow some toys behind the boat for kids? Any potential issues with this motor, other than extra weight and no pull start?

Thanks,
Maciek

[gary green]

I purchased my Telstar with the Honda 50. I tend to overdue things on my boat. It has an automatic start and a pull chord in case of an emergency. I have not towed anything but am confident it can handle most any situation as the boat is quite light. It does add weight and I have offset that by putting one of my big batteries on the other side. I aslo raised the waterline on my entire boat because the ama, when retracted tends to go down and you can get fowling due to the extra weight.

There has been a lot of discussion about the engine options and props on the original owners site that should be available for you to review when it is migrated over to this site.

gary g.

[Ron]

A lot of the boats (maybe 1/3 ?) have the 50 hp Honda and most seem to be happy with it, although some of the owners were complaining about not being able to get up to the advertised 15 to 16 knots under power. I don't think anyone with the 50 has played around with their props yet and that could be one of the reasons why. There are known better solutions to the stock 20 hp prop which won't get anywhere near redline. New prop is a Solas 10x7 4 blade, vs the 9 1/4 x 10 4 blade Honda.

I was concerned about the extra weight back there (230 pounds vs 120), not being able to start it with the cord if necessary, having to remove it from the boat (in water or on trailer) if I ever had to get it serviced, and the increased fuel usage (with the stock 3 gallon or optional 6 gallon tank). The extra 100+ pounds way back there could make towing a little trickier as well - you're see-sawing nearly that much weight off of the trailer hitch, and it's too light already.

I'm very happy with my choice of the 20 hp motor, but take into account that I motor ONLY when I have to - which means about 15 minutes in mostly protected water from my dock to the harbor and then back again later. Can't really go over 6 knots in the canal anyway. I put the $5,000 extra cost of the bigger motor into the sails instead. It is a sailboat, right?

You'll be in the Pacific NW and if you have to motor in any real current for any period of time you might want to spring for the extra horses.

[Dan]

I have the 20 HP, and like Ron went with an aftermarket prop. In my case, I got a 9.5 x 7.5 composite prop from Pirahna Propellors. The blades are modular and easily replaced, and will shear in the case of a solid impact, which will help protect the outboard’s lower unit from damage. WOT is about 5600 RPM, which is almost perfect for the 20 HP and I can cruise at about 6 knots at 2/3rds throttle.

[dcsailing1]

We have the 50hp and like it. Don’t use the available power all that much but like having the reserve. Last fall in the San Juan Islands it came in handy. We normally motor at or about 30 to 40% throttle but have plenty in reserve for current and or big guy collision concerns. Indecently we were on the boat for about 5 days and only sailed for a short time one day when we found a 10kt breeze. Not much wind while we were there. Still had a great time but will try earlier in the season next time with hopefully less rain.

We have yet to see 15kts but very rarely try for it with WOT. Who needs all that noise?

[seicam]

Thanks for the replies. I've re-read the old forum, indeed a lot of good discussion there already. I forgot to check it out. BTW, when will teh content from the old site be migrated here?

My reasons for the 50 engine are:
- extra safety margin - here in Puget Sound there are places with strong tidal currents, a good engine is an extra insurance. Not always you can wait for slack time.
- fun - I want to tow my kids behind the boat, so they do not complain too much about their dad not purchasing a motorboat
- comfort - I believe the bigger engine can run the boat at average cruising speed with less noise, because it is running at lower RPM.

The weight I do not consider such a big factor here. Someone mentioned on the old forum that the weight diff is only about 80lb because the H20 motor weight does not include the power tilt mechanism that is included on Telstar.

The fuel consumption seem to be similar on both engines, so should not be a factor.

I was talking to Will and they are considering offering Tohatsu 50 TLDI engine as another alternative to the Honda. He is saying that it is more noisy than Honda, but is much cheaper and equally reliable. Has anyone had any experience with those?

One more question I had - the Honda 50 seems to have lower charge output from alternator than Honda 20. First that seems strange, second, is that a potential issue fro charging batteries?

Regards,
Maciek

[Ron]

Maciek -

I realize that your sailing area has some heavy tidal currents so the 50 hp engine is probably the better choice. As far as the rest of your analysis -

- The difference weight is probably around 90 pounds with the same equipment.
- Fuel economy is only a little higher on the 50 until you start using the extra power. Get the 6 gallon fuel tank in either case.
- Depending on what you're reading, the alternator is listed as 10 amps vs 12 on the 20. Other sources sometimes list the 50 hp as 12 also. Anyone with a Honda service manual could set this straight. The 20hp book clearly states 12 amps.
- I replaced a stolen Honda 9.9 with a Tohatsu 9.9 last year on another boat. They tend to be a drop lighter than the Honda's. Both were fairly quiet. But the 50 could be an exception. Check both web sites maybe.

Dan is working on migrating the old forum data.

[trashpad]

I have the 50 with two batteries and never had any issues keeping them charged. Even on multi day trips staying on the hook each night, the 50 tops the batteries off quickly.

I like having the extra power for safety but admit to pulling the kids around in a tube to keep the possibility of munity low.

[Mark]

I have never got the Honda 50 over 13 kn and then it needs flat seas and a following wind. however it will do 10 to 12 kn in most conditions. for those of you weighing up a 50 or a 20, if you have kids, go with the 50 (see below) but be prepared for 2.5 to 3 gal/hr at full speed and get the 6 gal tank and a few 5 gal jugs!


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[tricruiser]

Hello,

I just got my Telstar 28 with a 20HP Honda.
It seem already so heavy to lift the pod with the engine as it is, that I wonder how it is possible to lift the pod with a 50HP on it????
I have a 2 pulley blocks system on the boat ,but despite of it it is still very heavy. Basically the Honda 30Kgs, plus the weigth of the pod, plus the frictions( Blocks are also pulling sideways , not vertically) would bring the lifting weight to about 50KGS.
I wonder what system are on the other boats and how the female crew can lift that up?
With a 50HP, I recon it must be impossible unless there is another lifting system???
Hope I could get clarifications Pictures of the 20HP lift system???
Thank you all
Tricruiser