Outboard or Inboard

[SeaLady]

p.s. I have never had water pool near the companionway.
Ever!!!

[rob.lovelace]

ummmm........ nah

[Rod]

To those getting on in years with an outboard motor in their Top Hat. I inspected a prospective purchase yesterday and was quite surprised at the difficulty of manhandling the 8hp outboard in/out of the well. Do people with o/b in well usually keep them in the well or stow away every time they go for a sail. If kept in well, is the padlock through the handle usually enough to deter the thieves? I don't want to purchase the boat to find that it is too difficult to stow the o/b

[Dolphin]

Rod,
I raced on a Mk 1 Top Hat on Sydney Harbour with Sydney Amatuers, That boat had an outboard in the transom cut out and we used to motor from Lane Cove R to the bridge and then move the motor to the cockpit locker where it stayed. We'd sail home. It wasn't a big problem but I can't remember the size of the motor. Maybe I was younger and fitter then too.
I had a Cole 23 with a 9Hp Chrysler, pull start, on an offset transom bracket. That is the WORST way to mount a motor. Mike's setup on Dulcamara works well.

I've got a 12HP Volvo diesel, it replaced a BMW (Hatz D12). I think it is heavy. It is certainly powerful but at full throttle it buries the bum of the boat in the water to the extent that the water level in the cockpit comes up to the rudder stock. Does this happen with outboards?
Be aware that the BMW's are getting old. They're great as a piece of farm machinery but they give a lot of trouble if they've not been looked after. I'm sure they happily pump water from the Danube on Fritz's farm all day long but they weren't meant for marine applications.
The mixing elbow (exhaust manifold) on the Hatz rusts out about every 5 to 7 years. It costs, are you sitting down, $ 874.95. I broke a head stud and the alternator wasn't working. That made me change the motor. THe Volvo cost $10k and installation was $4k.

BMWs also have a design flaw where the alternator is a motorbike, and outboard, style alternator (made by Ducati) under the flywheel with permanent magnets. Water leaks from the O rings around the head studs and runs over the alternator and rusts the laminations. They then expand, cutting the wires and jaming the flywheel. The only way to fix it is to remove the engine and then the gearbox and flywheel.
The list of pros and cons goes on for either side. Nothing is perfect.

The biggest decider for me was the flamability of petrol compared to diesel.

Hope it helps.

[rob.lovelace]

it stays in the well when sailing, theres very little drag as its tucked in behind the keel.some folk leave them in there until they get a bit slimy then pull them up for a clean. I pull mine when I return and flush it then clamp it on the pullpit. A clamp lock will deter honest thieves, but even locking it inside won't make it safe in reality.

[Tales]

Hi Rod,

Like Rob (above) I sail with the outboard in the well. Also flush it and clamp it to the pullpit seat when I have finished. It is a 4 stroke 6hp and weighs about 27kg.

If you do a search on this site you will find pictures of 2 different instalations of lifting frames/slides so that the motor can be lifted for sailing and storage.

I am planning to do something similar.

If you can't find the pics let me know.

Cheers,

Tom

[SeaLady]

I have a block and tackle lifting harness thingy on mine.

So even a girl can lift it in and out relatively easily.

Can be done without muscles.

[Killick69]

Hi Diana,
Thanks for the info on the charging circuit. I have seen specs for the charging circuit but was more interested in the real experience of using one. Seems like it works for you and that was the kinda info I was after. BTW with all the rainy weather thought of you and the work being done on Sea Lady. Hope it worked out OK.
Cheers, John

[SeaLady]

Thanks John,

Yes all this wonderful weather for ducks...
has slowed down the work.

Poor John the shipwright is struggling.
Using power tools in the rain is not an easy thing to do.