39' Hunter underpowered with a 29HP Yanmar?

[bellablue]

Hello everybody,

We've sold our 2005 Hunter 33 last year and it had an upgraded 29 HP Yanmar. Looking for our next boat and found a handsome 2011 Hunter 39. The only problem is that this boat also has the same 29HP Yanmar engine. Looks like an upgraded 40HP was available as an option for this boat, and most other boats of this type indeed do seem to have the 40, but this one has a 29.

Is this boat underpowered? I'd expect production boats to put in the minimum engine required, but this seems odd, and I don't remember feeling like our last boat had too much engine. Expecting to use it for ICW and Caribbean cruising, plus Great Lakes. Any advice from somebody who has a similar boat, or relevant experience?

[Orion Jim]

High freeboard so lots of inherent windage, 18,000 pounds displacement, 13 foot beam carried well aft. The 40 horse powerplant would be my choice.

[S/V Illusion]

Intuitively, it certainly seems that is under-powered, however, I suggest you go to the Hunter Owner’s website (sailboatowners.com) and either read the reviews owners posted or ask them directly.

[Dallasron]

It is underpowered

[Island Time O25]

It's adequate for 99.9% of the situations. If you enter the data from Sailboatdata on this model VicProp calculator gives exactly 29HP. 40HP option seems to be there for upsell purposes.

https://vicprop.com/planing_size_new.php

[fishead]

It's underpowered.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by S/V Illusion

Intuitively, it certainly seems that is under-powered, however, I suggest you go to the Hunter Owner’s website (sailboatowners.com) and either read the reviews owners posted or ask them directly.

do this

It of course isn't "underpowered" as much as it isn't "powered as much as with a larger" engine.

[boatman61]

It is a sailboat.. engines are for entering and leaving marinas..
Aren't they.???

[skipmac]

I agree with the 99.9% of the time answer. Normal cruising, enter/leaving a dock, etc 29 HP is just fine.

UNTIL, you have one of those situations like...... You're maneuvering around a fuel dock, discover there's a 2 kt current pushing into another boat and a cross wind and you need to turn around or back out asap against the wind and/or current. Then you might be wishing for that 40 HP option.

But how often does this happen? Maybe never if you always plan carefully or are a bit lucky.

[AJ_n_Audrey]

My boat is 36.5 feet, about 18,000 lb displacement and has a 40HP engine. Could I get along with a 29HP? Yes, 99% of the time as others have said. I try to motor as little as possible.

[cottonsail]

IMHO 2HP per 1000 lbs is a absolute minimum. I have a 33' 15000 lbs sailboat and a new Volvo Penta D2-50 (HP) engine. This engine is only 18 lbs heavier than the one it replaced. I could not be happier with this engines performance. Same 1 gal per hour only now we cruise under power at 6.9Kts with ease. So to me it's 3+ HP per thousand.

[Westcliffe01]

Unless I am mistaken I seem to have read of several crankshaft failures on the 29hp engine too. Repowering is very expensive so try to pick a boat with a more powerful and more current engine.


Sailboats are usually using their engine when there is already no alternative and dealing with current, waves on the nose etc suggests that more power would definitely be desirable under those conditions. Especially if the 29hp might decide to have a crankshaft failure when pushed hard...

[desodave]

We have a Hunter 38 with the 40hp engine. However, we're in BC at the northern end of the Salish Sea - constant current in most places, especially between islands, and several tidal gates to transit. I wouldn't want the smaller engine but I'm stuck motoring quite a bit along narrow channels with current.

[sail sfbay]

Originally Posted by bellablue

.............found a handsome 2011 Hunter 39. The only problem is that this boat also has the same 29HP Yanmar engine.............Is this boat underpowered?............?

The Hunter 39 weighs 18,077 lbs and the Hunter weiighs 10.660. If you thought the 29 hp engine was satisfactory for your 33, you will be dissapointed in the 29 hp engine in a 39. The 29 hp engine will be underpowered for that size boat. My Hunter 386 had a 40 hp engine and that allowed hull speed with a 3 blade fixed propeller. I would not have wanted less hp.

[Quadrille in JB]

Our 12,000#, 34’ has a 25hp diesel and there have been numerous times I have wished for more horsepower. We keep a clean bottom and cruise at 6.5-7 knots but coming in the Fort Pierce inlet last week our ground speed was 1.5 knots even though the water speed was 7.1 knots.
We mainly use the engine for coming and going from our slip but there are many times an engine with adequate power is needed.
Bill in JB