16hp in catalina 30?

[Dpmmvc]

Looking at a Catalina 30mkii wing keel that has a brand new beta 16hp. Isn’t this under powered for a catalina 30?

[Wotname]

I wouldn't have thought so. Maybe a tad on the low side but a new Beta would forgive a lot of other sins!

I fitted a 2GM20 to 31' Van deStadt Dogger and that had ample power for my requirements.

[Pegu Club]

We have a Beta 16 in our Bristol 29.9, on our 2nd season full time cruising, heading back to George Town Exuma, then onto Luperon DR. The engine has been working just fine, we call it “Big Red” ��

Fair winds,

[Stu Jackson]

No, it's just fine. Look at www.catalina30.com and do some reading.

[GuyFromTheNorth]

My 33ft mirage has a 13hp 37yr old yanmar. You'll be fine!

[montenido]

I believe that you have gotten some good advice so far. I just wanted to add that I had a C30 with the original 11hp motor. It worked fine in calm conditions, but one day I found myself motoring into 30+ knots of wind with accompanying waves. I basically came to a standstill at full throttle and had to turn around. My bad for being out in those conditions, but it was a sobering experience. The modern motor should be fine.

Good luck, Bill

[TrentePieds]

Depends on what you are doing with the boat and where you are doing it.

"Rule of thumb" is 4HP per ton displacement. C30 is a five-ton boat, so 20HP would be the "norm". I have a Beta 20 in a five tonner and find that MOST often that is perfectly adequate. There are times in a hard blow and a lumpy sea that I wish for a 25HP, but they are so rare that there is no sense in worrying about it.

If you engine use is predominantly to get in and out of your marina, what you have if perfectly fine.

TrentePieds

[Siberian Sea]

I installed a 28hp Beta in my Cal-40 and at 1800 rpm it moves me along at 5kts with no wind or current. If I push it to 2200 I can do 6.5kts. This 16hp in a Catalina is going to be fine. Beta uses a Kabota engine and they are wonderful.

[hamburking]

I had a Pearson 30 (1972) with an 18hp volvo penta 2002 (1985). Plenty of power for all conditions, and I don't use WOT or even close.

And my Volvo was 30 years old...your Beta is brand new.

FWIW, love the Beta marine engines...my number one choice.

I have to admit, that old volvo started every time, and never let me down. She wasn't pretty, but she sure could dance. Seriously, it shook the hell out of the whole boat...I think the engine mounts were all broken.

[roland stockham]

You can fit any size motor you like. The traditional 'rule of thumb' is 2hp/ton for race boats that just want enough power to get to the start line, 3 for eastuary/sheltered waters work, 4 for offsore and 5 for a motorsailer where the engine is a bad weather stratagy option. Th BIG but though is making sure the prop size is right. The test is - can the engine pull full revs at all times - If it can you have no problems. If you find that with some wind and waves the engine revs are down (often with some black smoke) you are overpropped for that engine. This is really important, if you overload the engine with to big a prop you will kill it. Sometimes with smaller engines people will overprop to get hull speed on flat water but are then overloading the engine when there is a bit more resistance. Basically an engine should use about 60% of its power to reach full revs on flat water with no wind. This leaves enough power reserve to cope with times when there is a greater load. Does not matter what the boat speed is but at less than 3hp/ton it may be around sq root WLL. Insted of theoretical max of about 1.4x LWL. It is important to note the engines rating. Beatas are 'leisure rated' which means the govener will run the engine at higer power on wide open throttle. Useful when you need a bit extra but if you do it to often for too long you overstress the engine. Typically it means the engine is rated to give full power for 30min in any 6hrs then needs to throttlr back. Hence the advice to set the prop to use 60% power at full reves. The prop size is what determins the load not the throttle setting. The problem with overpropping is that you may think throttling back will reduce the engine stress, not so. When you throttle back you reduce the engine speed so although the boat is going slower and therefore needs less power the engine is now also going slower so produces less power and you have a viciouse curcuit. Note also that speed is always speed through the water not gps speed. Punching a current you do not get more speed from a bigger engine, speed is determined but the hull and you don' use more power into a current. It is only wind and waves that create more resistance and therfore draw more power from the engine.
Hope this helps, sorry if it sounds a bit techical