Belize 43: 27 or 40 hp

[k9spud]

hi all still chasing a belize 43 and would like to sail as much as possable but we have large tides 7+ meters ,and times of the year with no wind at all.
can any one with expearance tell me is having a 40 hp a benifit over a 27 hp in general.
i understand a little bit more fuel and a bit more weight ,but motor not working so hard run on one and extra power when needed or are the 27 hp enough any way.
spud

[Ram]

bigger is better-!!!!you may need that extra power someday!

[Cotemar]

Originally Posted by Ram

bigger is better-!!!!you may need that extra power someday!

bigger really is better.

Our boat came standard with VP20 hp and we purchased the VP 30 HP.
With the lower HP engines you have to run with both engines most of the time.
With the bigger engines you can fly on one engine, so you actually use less fuel and less hours.

[barnakiel]

I believe they displace about 9000 kg.

It may be difficult to justify 80hp plant.

The general rule more=better holds, but at 2x27 you are at 6 hp / 1000 kg, which should be enough unless huge amounts of power are taken up by anything else but the screws.

b.

[Benz]

I cruised a good deal on a Venezia--same mfg., similar size. 27hp was fine. Lots of power, and we never got to full throttle. When motoring through calms, one engine at 2700 RPM would do 5+ knots. You might want to consider that the 27hp is a tight-ish squeeze in the engine compartment; the 40 might be bigger, and thus harder to work around. Also more expensive, and more weight. In this case, I would say bigger is not better--27hp is more than enough power.

[Ram]

Originally Posted by Cotemar

bigger really is better.

Our boat came standard with VP20 hp and we purchased the VP 30 HP.
With the lower HP engines you have to run with both engines most of the time.
With the bigger engines you can fly on one engine, so you actually use less fuel and less hours.

I also run one engine at a time to save on fuel & expenses -but sometimes motoring into a strong/wind sea with an opposing current both engines at 80-90++% & I’m only doing 2-3 knots, and wish I had a little more power- So if you have a choice go bigger- you will be thankful...at some point you did

[DotDun]

When I asked FP the same question, they told me that with the bigger engines I wouldn't go any faster, but I would burn more fuel. I'm sure trying to motor through a big headwind, the bigger engines would help (or simply stay moored if weather is bad).

The attraction to the bigger Yanmar is the saildrive oil can be changed from the top, the 27hp/SD20 has to be hauled to change the saildrive oil (but it is 80-90w oil).

One downside to the Yanmar SD40/50 saildrive is the cone clutch, many people have had problems. I have ~1800 hours on my SD20s and had no problems with the dog clutch.

[k9spud]

good talk with yanmar to day seems a big difference in design use of motors as in 27/sd20 to be used in and out of moorings , light use and oil changes out of water. 39/sd50 made for conational use oil changes from inside engine bay as required also priced a little bit less than I expected also max power 1800 to 2200 cruise 2200 rpm on one motor sounds good I don’t like revving hard