1950s Chestnut 18’ Ogilvy vintage outboard motor size?

[Douglas Kestell]

I am ready to purchase a 1950’s Chestnut Ogilvy and am wondering what horsepower outboard would be appropriate for the age and canoe

 

[Todd Bradshaw]

Interestingly, my old Chestnut catalog (maybe 1969, 1970-ish) doesn't mention suggested outboard size for any of their models, whether pointed stern, V-stern or wide freight canoe sterns. At that point in time, the only 18' Ogilvie model was a pointed stern version and the V-sterned Ogilvies with a transom didn't start until above 20'. The photo shown of an outboard powered, V-stern Ogilvie is that of a 20.5'"Pool" model and the outboard looks like it probably was not more than 5 HP. If your 18' model is a pointed stern Ogilvie (18' x 36" pretty flat bottom) then you probably wouldn't need to go over about 3 HP on a side mount and less would probably do the job just fine. Pointed stern canoes can get rather squirrelly when you try to push them above hull speed, and as far as the waterline shape is concerned, a V-stern is pretty much the same as a pointed stern.

 

[shelldrake]

We use a 3 hp side mount on a 20' Old Town Guide. More than enough hp.