Auxillary outboard needed?

[matt13]

Hi apologies if this has been asked before, is an auxillary outboard needed? I will be doing my boating around the solent for my first season next year, perhaps the furthest destination being the IOW, however I have seen a few posts regarding having one of those auxillary outboards fitted incase the main outboard engine packs up.
Would I need one if I am not essentially going too far? Should I just get a inflatable dinghy instead incase the need arises? Can a spare outboard be stored away and fitted whilst on the boat and would this be a better option?
I will have VHF and flares pack etc.

Am I just unduly worrying myself because this week is Crimbo Limbo and ive got too much time on my hands?!

Sorry for all the questions but hoping someone can give me some advice.

 

[burgundyben]

You dont say what your boat is?

I'd reccomend having a dinghy with you in the Solent, its good for exploring creeks and harbours and can double as a liferaft.

You might think a 4hp could double as a outboard for the dinghy and as a back up for the boat.

Reality is that a 4hp might move your boat along in flat calm with little tide, but in any kind of weather or tide a 4hp back up wont do much. anything bigger than 4hp might be too heavy for the dinghy or a devil to manhandle when needed.

 

[tinkicker0]

Depends on how much you rate the reliability of your engine (I take it you have a single engine) and how embarrassed you will feel getting towed in by the RNLI?

If this ratio is 100% to 0%, you don't need a kicker.

However, if you are a self doubting wreck of a human being like many on these forums, out on the water, one engine is good, a spare is better for a life with the minimum of fuss and trepidation.

 

[gjgm]

yep.. whats the boat/how old/how reliable?
Assuming its not a wreck!, and as long as you have a VHF radio, and will be based out of somewhere popular, then no, I wouldnt bother with an aux engine.
You are not that likely to break down, you can always join Seastart,you can always call the coastguard,someone will probably be able to tow you home, and if its a dangerous situation, RNLI are out and about. I never bothered with one, and never needed one.
But, the idea of boating is to have fun. If you are going to worry about breaking down all day long, have back up engine for the peace of mind. Of course, your back up might break down too You are more likely to get run down in the Solent, than find yourself stranded.. I'd have a different opinion if you were frequently in isolated waters.
Its worth noting that a huge numbers of RNLI callouts are full fuel problems, including running out. Seems to me this is something that can be avoided with a modicum of forethought.

 

[matt13]

thanks for the replies, the boat is 19ft cuddy and engine (Suzuki 150) only a few years old and has been regularly serviced, being 19ft may be a little small to store a spare onboard.

 

[l'escargot]

On a 19' cuddy boat, I would have a 4 or 5hp auxilary on the transom. It would get you home no problem.

 

[volvopaul]

I have a nice yamaha 8 2 stroke for sale if you need it, or anyone else????

 

[Cliveshep]

If you go to sea or anywhere you cannot paddle to the edge, meaning most harbours like Chichester/Langstone or a river estuary then get an auxiliary. It has nothing to do with your confidence, or anyone else's for that matter, it acknowledges the fact that sooner or later you WILL have a problem. Just try paddling a 19ft cuddy even as little as 100 metres, never mind more, and you'll soon get the point. It's a form of insurance for you and your crew/family, at least you can get yourselves back to a place of safety. I suggest 6-10hp on a transom bracket if no space alongside your main o/b.

 

[VicS]

I have a 6 hp outboard on a 19 ft boat. It is more than adequate to get me any place in the Solent.
A 4 or 5 would be adequate in any of the conditions that am likely to be out in.

It lives permanently on its bracket on the transom although when i first had it it was light enough, just, to lift off and stow in the cabin. It seems to be a lot heavier now than it was 25 years ago!

On a good day of course I dont use it much .... the sails drive the boat along nicely!

 

[oGaryo]

I have a 19ft cuddy and also own a Seago 270 with a small 2.2hp suzi outboard.. the outboard fits nicely in one of the lockers where I've installed a couple of ring brackets to keep the motor upright and I'll strap the dinghy to the swim platform when not in use.. I then have a battery powered pump that'll inflate the dinghy in approx 2 minutes.. As above, you can then explore creeks and the like with the dinghy but also if your outboard has the muscle to do so, you could raft the dingy to the side of your boat in times of trouble and use it to limp the bigger boat back to port, a beach or wherever is appropriate at the time. Having said all that, I've never had the need to do any of the above yet so all theory for now after doing a bit of reading up

 

[gjgm]

If you go to sea or anywhere you cannot paddle to the edge, meaning most harbours like Chichester/Langstone or a river estuary then get an auxiliary. It has nothing to do with your confidence, or anyone else's for that matter, it acknowledges the fact that sooner or later you WILL have a problem. Just try paddling a 19ft cuddy even as little as 100 metres, never mind more, and you'll soon get the point. It's a form of insurance for you and your crew/family, at least you can get yourselves back to a place of safety. I suggest 6-10hp on a transom bracket if no space alongside your main o/b.

Each to his own; I think there are always two camps on this topic- those who prefer the added comfort/security, and those who accept the limited risk, and the even more limited consequence. I wonder what % of boats under 21ft , say, have an aux? 5pct? Dont know.

 

[matt13]

these are all really great points so thank you, will look into all options but it would be interesting to know the percentage of boats under 21ft with a spare as you say gjgm.

 

[tinkicker0]

these are all really great points so thank you, will look into all options but it would be interesting to know the percentage of boats under 21ft with a spare as you say gjgm.

I have a 20' cuddy and would have a kicker outboard if I could justify the expense, but then I'm on a river.
I have invested in a pair of canoe paddles to retain some semblence of control however.

If I was putting to sea on a regular basis, then in my book the expense of kicker would be fully justified.

Machinery fails, usually at the point where you expect to rely on it completely.

2 types of people in the world - risk takers and conservatives.

The risk takers ironically are the ones who would risk not having a kicker, yet they tend to be (on here) self made men who can afford a twin engined boat.

Funny old thing life.

 

[lovezoo]

these are all really great points so thank you, will look into all options but it would be interesting to know the percentage of boats under 21ft with a spare as you say gjgm.

I don't generally see many sports boats with a spare outboard, but lots of the small fishing type boats do. Maybe its because they are more likely to go out at odd times to odd places and want to be able to get themselves back if they have a mechanical problem.

I have a 5HP outboard on my 19ft boat as a spare. It pushes the boat along ok, but I have never had to use it in anger (and hope that I never have to). Really you pay your money and takes your choice...

 

[Cliveshep]

Each to his own; I think there are always two camps on this topic- those who prefer the added comfort/security, and those who accept the limited risk, and the even more limited consequence. I wonder what % of boats under 21ft , say, have an aux? 5pct? Don't know.

The point is that it is NOT a limited risk just for Matt13, but for anyone who has to go out and rescue him. One more thing, everyone seems to think that mechanical reliability of an engine is the only issue here, it is not. All it needs is a bit of rope or old netting to get round the prop of a 150 and the chances of clearing it at sea successfully are probably remote. That of course always assuming the prop boss isn't knackered!

If Matt13 is basing his survival on percentages of other people who DON'T have a spare engine I'd say that was simply illogical thinking. I guess I feel quite strongly about this, each of us is responsible for our own safety, I'm not supposed to be responsible for Matt13 or anyone else who is left helpless through their own inaction. For what it's worth we go to sea in our tender quite regularly, 5 mile or so out in a 4.5 m inflatable, with a regularly serviced Yamaha o/board that has more than once just stopped, and bouncing around at sea is no place to try and find out why! We are no risk to anyone else and cause no problems to anyone else because we also have a 3.3 spare get-you-home engine. I stand by my statement, it is in my opinion poor seamanship preparation to go to sea with an outboard hanging off the back you can't fix afloat and no spare lump, unlike an inboard you can at least get at whilst afloat!

 

[AndieMac]

This issue seems to be some do and some don't. As Lovezoo said, the fishers ratio of aux. motors (out here) is about 90 percent yes, where the rivers and lakes dwellers are a total reverse.

We went away with a guy who has a brand new MPI fitted only a month before the trip. He was bristling with confidence about his new machinery.
Prior to the launching of our 4 day trip, he put in 200 litres of fuel from a local coastal filling station. To cut a long story short, after plenty of towing (in sheltered water) and extensive investigation, 5 litres of fresh water was extracted from the fuel tank, thanks to slack processes from the local filling station.

You can never have too many toys as far as the boat is concerned, the dinghy idea seems to be a great way to justify the new aux. motor.

 

[whisper]

I don't generally see many sports boats with a spare outboard, but lots of the small fishing type boats do. Maybe its because they are more likely to go out at odd times to odd places and want to be able to get themselves back if they have a mechanical problem.

I have a 5HP outboard on my 19ft boat as a spare. It pushes the boat along ok, but I have never had to use it in anger (and hope that I never have to). Really you pay your money and takes your choice...

I've been involved with a 17ft fishing boat and a 21ft Walkaround prior to the present boat.
We had a 4hp auxilliary on the former and an 8hp on the latter - both mounted on hinged brackets on the transom.

I'd go for the lightest 5/6hp available if I was the OP. This would give him peace of mind and should make it unnecesary to worry the Coastguard/RNLI who usually have more important jobs to do.

 

[MarkMac]

You are not that likely to break down, you can always join Seastart,you can always call the coastguard,someone will probably be able to tow you home, and if its a dangerous situation, RNLI are out and about. I never bothered with one, and never needed one.
But, the idea of boating is to have fun. If you are going to worry about breaking down all day long, have back up engine for the peace of mind. Of course, your back up might break down too You are more likely to get run down in the Solent, than find yourself stranded.. I'd have a different opinion if you were frequently in isolated waters.