Room for a 2.5 HP long shaft?

[Jonathan M. Cohn]

I am having some issues with my Epropulsion battery and I am leaving in less than a week for the Texas 200. Can anyone tell by looking at the photos of my motor mount if a 2.5 HP gas outboard will be able to use the mount and tilt correctly? 

[RED]

I don't have an answer for you, but I do have a question.  Do you find the spirit 1.0 strong enough to push through a strong current or tide?  Also, sounds like you might be experiencing some reliability concerns? I'm seriously considering the spirit 1.0 but I'm also temped by the new spirit 2, which is likely overkill but overcomes some of the percieved weak points of the 1.0.  What has been your experience? 

[Reacher]

I have a 2hp Suzuki. In it’s tilt position no part of the motor extends below the level of the pivot bolt. In fact, I used a mount like the one in your picture on the back of a previous sailboat with the same 2hp Suzuki.

 

Looking at picture of a 2.5 hp Suzuki I think you would be good to go. I suggest a quick trip to a dealer to make some measurements to confirm.

[Jonathan M. Cohn]

Reacher: Thanks for the info. I ordered and we'll see how it goes.

 

Red: Until my battery stopped charging I have really liked the Epropulsion Spirit. It has "just worked" for me. I bought it to use on my first sailboat that I lake sailed. For that purpose and day sailing with an occasional overnight it was all I needed. As I have experimented more with longer sail camping trips, I think the electric shows its weakness. The range for the battery weight and size is low compared to gasoline. I will happily continue to use my Epropulsion for short outings but I'm looking forward to a gasoline option for longer trips.

[Jonathan M. Cohn]

I should add that my Catalina 18 has a motor mount that easily goes up and down. Without that, I think the epropulsion long shaft is necessary. I used the short shaft on my Core Sound 17.3 but would have cavitation in waves or if I went forward.

[R Jones]

I looked at my three year old 2.5 hp four stroke Yamaha long shaft and it looks like it would fit you situation fine.  I've got about 20 hours on it and love it. 

[Jonathan M. Cohn]

I wanted to report back that the Suzuki 2.5 long shaft on the fixed bracket worked great for me on the Texas 200. The motor performed well in over 200 miles of sailing. We used it about eight hours.  We would typically get 4 or 5 knots at fairly low throttle. We only motored when we couldn't sail 3 knots. The motor would run about an hour and twenty minutes on its 0.9 liter internal tank. We had a squall come up the last day and dropped the sails and motored into a headwind of 15+ gusting 25. Waves seemed about 3ish and we made progress of about 2 knots at full throttle. This isn't a "normal" every day use for me but good enough in a pinch. If you regularly use the motor in storms, I'd consider more horse power but it'd be overkill most of the time. 

 

Some care has to be taken when tacking that the mizzen sheet doesn't get tangled in the motor but it wasn't too bad. The break-in period is over and I'll do the second oil change. I did a preemptive first change after the first hour and half break-in at home in a water filled garbage can.

[AmosSwogger]

Glad to hear the motor worked well.  I have the same motor and it always impresses me.  I've had to use it against a strong headwind up a narrow channel where I didn't have room to tack and it had enough power (but it only weighs 29llbs empty).