The only choice is Yamaha with it's 25" shaft. The T8 or T9.9 model.
Unless Honda has one thesedays with a reduction gear and same with Nissan.
The reduction gear puts the power curve nicely into sailboat hull speed
range. Honda advertised they covered a wide variety of applications but in
reality most of the power curve ended up being wasted fuel. Yamaha (and I
think Mercury but they didn't have a long enough shaft) used the reduction
gear and put the power in the 5-7 knot max hull speed range. Fuel use is
tremendously better than the Honda and Yamaha also has the best reputation
maintenance and repair wise and factory/dealer support wise. Now bear in
mind I bought mine for the 26' Westerly as a 2002 model. Yamaha added an 8
and I think maybe a 6 HP but I don't know what changes Honda or Nissanmay
have made. But what I wrote is what you want to look for. Also Yamaha has
the six foot tiller extension cables so you can control the engine from in
the cockpit. Finally . . .don't change the prop! For your size boat the
factory pitch prop is perfect.

M.

"Ed" wrote in message
news:n8WMc.162743$IQ4.64275@attbi_s02...
Time to replace my old Evinrude. Sigh...... Looking at a 4-stroke for a 25
foot cruiser. I'm not a racer so weight is not a critical factor. Looking
at
an 8 or 9 hp with electric start. Any opinions on Honda vs Nissan vs
Yamaha?