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Message 9 of 9
Posted by member Nick on Tuesday 28 June 2011
Hi Simon,
Can`t wait to hear how the 80hp Mariner runs on your Regatta, have you managed to get back on the water yet.
Cheers
Nick.
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Message 8 of 9
Posted by member Simon Kidd on Wednesday 1 June 2011
Hi Nick and Marwin.
I fitted my old 80hp Mariner (It's a Mercury really) to my Navigator, It's an old beast but a very nice beast - smooth and revvy. It's the same as the old 4 cyl 75 (Bill Higham has one in at the moment).
Yamaha made some very lovely 2-strokes, the 75 & 80 where beautiful engines - top of the range units, I believe the 75hp version is lighter than the 80hp. The Evinrude 70hp has an excellent power to weight ratio, maybe the best ratio available. The RNLI use this engine extensively on the Atlantic 75 and 85 boats. Bill Higham near Manchester appears to have a number of contract exchange units in stock - around £2K+. Not sure if they're ex RNLI, might be. It's based on the Evinrude 60 and essentially gives an extra 10hp for little weight gain.
Of course, fitting a more powerful engine than recommended isn't recommended! A bigger older engine usually needs more fuel and usually creates more noise. If sticking with Modern engines, keep an eye on that weight too - they are heavy - and thats just as much an issue (in my own opinion a greater issue) than more power. Experience tells me an over heavy engine can make for dangerous handling in some circumstances - Throttling up in a head sea or running in a following sea - not nice! My Mariner is about 110Kg - 120Kg and I'd think that was plenty for a Navigator - I certainly would add more weight without extensive trials. The old 50hp 2-strokes she was designed for were around 95 - 110kg - at least thats what my research shows.
Spray rails, you see them on larger boats, they are designed to deflect spray and as a secondary effect create extra lift. I thought the Regatta has a rail each side already...not sure though. They would be a very major job to fit and the hulls I think produce fair enough lift, they're pretty flat in the aft sections. certainly a Pro's job to do I'd thought, but still an interesting thought.
Marwin, I'd be intested to hear your thoughts on this, have you any experince with fitting spray rails to boats in Norway or the improvements they make? It would be interesting to know, this could be a helful addition.
Thanks
Simon.
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Message 7 of 9
Posted by member Nick Hooper on Tuesday 31 May 2011
Hi Marwin Hi Simon
Thanks again for more infomation, the 80hp 2 stroke sounds a great idea not that you could possibly suggest it, what make of engine did you fit to your boat and what are sprayrails ??.
Cheers
Nick.
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Message 6 of 9
Posted by member Marwin In Norway on Tuesday 31 May 2011
I bought Evinrude 75Hp eTec. Big enough for us. Mounted also hydraulic stearing. Sprayrails are commented earlier in this forum.
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Message 5 of 9
Posted by member Simon Kidd on Monday 30 May 2011
I couldn't possibly suggest fitting a larger than recommended engine to a Regatta or even a Navigator, but I can Imagine a 75 - 80hp 2 stroke would run nicely. I've just fitted a 4cyl 2 Stroke 80hp to my boat - it's lighter than the recent 50 & 60hp Fourstrokes! I'd prefer to keep the weight off the transom. The rig is currently untested, but hopefully will be running in a few weeks.
I haven't considered fitting sprayrails, though an interesting thought. A little beyond my capabilities though.
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Message 4 of 9
Posted by member Marwin In Norway on Sunday 29 May 2011
It has been written a lot about Regatta and motor size on this forum earlier. I had 55 Hp Suzuki earlier, and mounted 75 Hp eTec from Evinrude (both 2-stroke). A good choice. Right trimming of motor and adjustable trimplan gives the best ride in all wether.
Simon: Hope you can look at sprayrails also..
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Message 3 of 9
Posted by member Simon Kidd on Wednesday 25 May 2011
Hi Nick.
I believe the max for the Regatta and Seawings 194 (Very much the Same Boat) is 60hp longshaft. Practical Boat owner magazine tested the Regatta back in 1985 / 86 with the Mariner 55 on her, I think they were getting around 20 - 22 knots 2 up - that was an unloaded boat though. It’s a solid engine that has an excellent power to weight ratio, far in excess of todays modern engines.
4 strokes are nice (Quiet, Smooth, Economical), but some are heavy and the 2-strokes seem to deliver better power (though 4 stroke technology is improving in this respect).
The 4 stroke weight is giving me nightmares with my sailing clubs rescue boats at the moment, the old 50hp 2-strokes are proving far quicker than 60hp Fourstrokes – but they are all about performance on a light boat.
The new 2-strokes are quite quiet, very fuel efficient, but also perhaps a little heavy, they are perhaps better for performance boating where as the fourstroke is better for quiet cruising. My opinion anyway. I'm fitting an older Mercury 2-stroke to my Navigator (Had one before with 50hp and it was just ok – but only just)- though if buying new for my purposes i'd look at the new range of 2-strokes. If a Regatta i'd stick with no less than 60hp. Speed - who knows, should be 22 knots plus but depends on boat weight and setup.
I'd say the main issue with the smaller Hardys is that the max recommended engine power is very low considering the size, type and quality, heavy build of the boats, and thus the max recommended power tends often to be quite marginal - i.e. extra load and a couple of crew and planing can be difficult. With this in mind my take is to go for the lightest most powerful engine possible (assuming you want good coastal performance). Ragattas are fuller at the stern that the Navigator and Pilot so may put up with the extra weight better. If sticking with around 60hp, consider fitting trim tabs to help planing with load and for dropping the bow into the chop. I may do an article for the HOC magazine next year on trims tabs for Hardys - doing some trials of my own Hardy following years of using tabs on various boats and hull shapes from 20 foot – 50 foot.
Hope that helps, based on my personal experience only.
Best Regards
Simon.
www.southernmarinesurveys.co.uk
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Message 2 of 9
Posted by member Nick Hooper on Wednesday 25 May 2011
Hi Simon.
Thank you for all that information, lots of great ideas for me to mull over, you would have thought Hardy could have uprated the engine size and weight knowing the problems it was causing with insurance and problems with planing, hope you can do the article on trim tabs it would help a lot of Hardy owners.
Cheers and thanks again
Nick.
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Message 1 of 9
Posted by member Nick Hooper on Tuesday 24 May 2011
Hi. I have a Hardy Regatta with a old marina 55hp (about 1985), can any one help with the best engine size for this boat and if a 2 stroke or 4 stroke would be better, and also what sort of speed it would do.
Cheers
Nick.
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