Advise please: Aux motor size.

[Somerset Jim]

Thanks for the info. So how low is your platform? Mine is probably 6 inches from the waterline.

Yours sounds very similar to our old setup. I only had to use it the once and would not be comfortable leaving the outboard on the bathing platform as a permanent setup so storage is a must imho. Here's a photo of the bathing platform to give you an idea.

 

[BruceK]

I guess the question is, is a 10-15hp outboard better than nothing if the main engine fails catastrophically?

IMO Yes. It may not get you back against wind and current, you may have to work with the elements or wait on tide changes etc, but it might help in getting you out of immediate trouble. So long as you understand the limitations and work with them I can see no harm, so why not?

 

[Somerset Jim]

Do I know you!

I pretty sure we've met on a few occasions Ljs.

 

[Momac]

Service your main engine replacing all oils belts impeller filters. Do so as often if not more often than recommended. Check oil ,water,coolant raw water filter every trip. Check batteries and the entire engine bay regularly.
You will be be rewarded with a reliable engine.

 

[BruceK]

If only it were that simple. The tree times I had to use the aux when I was on a single engine boat were:

Commando lever lost a grub screw on the splines. Couldnt engage gear or throttle, couldn't find grub screw and when I did, what do you know it was American sized and no allan key in my arsenal would have fit anyway.
Starter motor bolt sheared jamming the ring gear. Apparently reasonably common in Mec 3.0GL early motors
broke a tooth on the outdrive top gearbox (no reason for it, just went). Alpha MR prone to overheating the top gearbox when on the plane