Begone Seagull! I consign thee to the Garage!!!

[Captain Haddock]

A new season and a new start. Today is the day my Seagull is consigned to nostalgia as I bought the excellent Suzuki 2.5 outboard to replace it.

Do I regret the Seagull? Not one bit as it got me out of a hole. After an expensive boat refit I had bugger all cash left for the outboard so the 50 quid Seagull was perfect and turned out to be quite the experience. My experience with it was interesting namely:

• It started first time which was good
• The vibration from the engine loosened the bolts holding it to the bracket so much they fell out and I nearly lost the outboard in the drink - Bad!
• It's very noisy - Didn't bother me but....
• Nearly lost all the fuel when the pipe fell off - Bad!
• Nearly got water in the fuel when the fuel filler cap vibrated off - Bad!
• No emergency kill cord - Bad!
• No emergency stop - Very Bad!
• Oil... That's all I need to say - Bad!
• Hot exhaust after use - Bad! Couldn't pick the bugger up to pass into the boat until it had cooled!
• It was cheap! - Good

With the above in mind I still don't regret buying and using the Seagull as it was cheap and did the job when I needed it to last season when I ran out of funds. For anyone thinking of a Seagull I hope my experience above helps give you an idea of what's to come.

However, the new Suzuki is just so lush and I'm very, very happy with it.

 

[FullCircle]

My Seagull comes out about once a season for some nostalgia.

The old petrol always works - Good!
The noise is evocative of another era - Good!

 

[LONG_KEELER]

Have always been impressed with the bloke in the advert for Seagulls.

He is carrying the outboard in one hand, and, a giant kitbag in the other.

He was probably a winner of " The Empire's Most Strongest Man ".

It is probably why yachtists that have a swinging mooring, a long hard and and an Seagull are so tough.

 

[prv]

Have always been impressed with the bloke in the advert for Seagulls.

He is carrying the outboard in one hand, and, a giant kitbag in the other.

He was probably a winner of " The Empire's Most Strongest Man ".

I thought it was generally understood that what was in the kitbag was another seagull, for when the first stopped working

I can carry my Suzuki 2.2 quite comfortably over one shoulder. Not sure how that compares weight-wise with a cast-iron Seagull though.

Pete

 

[Baggywrinkle]

I almost bought a seagull, my parents had one when I was a nipper ... many fond memories of pottering around in the redcrest with the segull on the back - whack it on full throttle, stick a broom handle in as a tiller extension and crouch in front of the seat - it would plane on flat water but I didn't weigh much.

In the end I bought a Mercury 6 and it weighs a ton - makes the Wetline 265AD go like stink though now I'm a bit heavier.

 

[Burnham Bob]

I've always had a soft spot for Seagulls - they are the ultimate in machine evolution. The simplest possible mechanism for the required task (but designed when green issues and emissions were less to the fore). However, the bearing on my 40 Plus went and the cost of repair was simply not economic. I now have a new-ish
Honda 2.3. Not quite as light as the seagull but i can carry both with one hand like the guy in the logo. But for £65 my seagull lasted eight seasons with a little care and attention. For anyone as penniless as I was when I bought the seagull, Saving Old Seagulls is the best resource for advice, spare parts and membership of the seagull fraternity. Not quite as exclusive as the masons but similarly steeped in arcane knowledge and funny ceremonies such as the flat hand salute over the air intake to stop the engine.

 

[Rivers & creeks]

I had a soft spot for our Seagull, lovely soft muddy spot in 10m at the entrance to The Swale. Best place for it.

 

[Captain Haddock]

For anyone as penniless as I was when I bought the seagull, Saving Old Seagulls is the best resource for advice, spare parts and membership of the seagull fraternity. Not quite as exclusive as the masons but similarly steeped in arcane knowledge and funny ceremonies such as the flat hand salute over the air intake to stop the engine.

+1 brilliant resource. SoS was invaluable in giving me the background info and manual i needed for the engine.

 

[Searush]

+1 brilliant resource. SoS was invaluable in giving me the background info and manual i needed for the engine.

You'll be back for it in 5-10 years time when the Suzi is dead, the Seagull will still be waiting & ready to serve.

 

[Tam Lin]

I did the same thing last autumn when my normally reliable Seagull stopped working with my daughter and two of my grandchildren in the tender with me. Got a good deal on the new Suzuki and have only run it in the dustbin so far but am looking forward to using it properly soon. As for the Seagull, it is in the shed waiting for me to take it to bits and learn something!

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

My seagull is at the bottom of the Wash, Norfolk; been there since late 90's when I lost my patience with it and chucked it overboard. My Honda 2hp 4 stroke had been great but now replaced by the Mercury 3.5hp 4stroke; marvelous. I sympathise, a bit, with the seagull lovers, but the reality is that they are dirty old things.