Hi Pepe,

Congratulations on your recent Cape George purchase. I saw that boat listed and it looked like it a good deal and well equipped. I have a CG 38 also, and it has a Perkins M50 (50 HP) paired with a Martec AutoStream 18' feathering three blade prop. It moves the boat along well at hull speed at 2400 RPM, and will go to 3000 RPM if necessary. I have motored into a 30 knot headwind with steep 8 ft (2.5 meter) waves without any problem. For general use, it is better to run a diesel near it's maximum power. A larger engine will be running at low power most of the time and will not last as long (low power= low operating temperature=not good for a diesel). If you think you are frequently going to push through heavy winds and high seas, maybe you can justify a larger engine. If you change the engine HP you will probably need to match the prop diameter and pitch to it so that the engine is not over/under loaded at cruising RPM. Look at the engines that are in the Cape Georges on YachtWorld.com. A few are large for the boat size, but most are not high HP. For example, the CG45 that is listed (40,000 lbs displacement) has a factory installed Perkins M60 in it (60 HP). However, for the best advice you should contact Todd Uecker at Cape George Marine Works.

You need not apologize for your English. You stated everything very clearly. If I tried to answer you in Spanish we would all have a good laugh!

Best regards and happy sailing, Mark SV MILAGRO