Do I need an auxiliary outboard ?

[redfreddie]

Hi everyone, this may seem a stupid question but i'm going to ask it anyway as its been bothering me since i bought my boat !
I have a rinker 212 Festiva and its great, have done one day of the powerboat level 2 course and am trying to be sensible and learn all i can as i want to enjoy the boat and not be panicking every time i go out !

My only real fear is going out to sea and the engine cutting out and being stranded. Do I/Should I have an auxiliary outboard engine in case it ever happens so that i can get back to the marina or wherever ?

 

[balzan]

Hi did you managed to make an auxiliary on your festiva 212?

 

[Bigplumbs]

Hi did you managed to make an auxiliary on your festiva 212?

Have you seen the date on the post above yours

 

[snowbird30ds]

Have you seen the date on the post above yours

The poor sod has been bobbing about at sea ever since wishing he had got that auxiliary outboard....

 

[Bigplumbs]

The poor sod has been bobbing about at sea ever since wishing he had got that auxiliary outboard....

Quite

 

[QBhoy]

Only thing I’d say…is that unless you get a certain arrangement of bracket installed, it will be useless on that type of boat.
Boats like that with the platform…guys tend to make the mistake of fitting the right angled L shape bracket onto the platform. This means that even a long shaft engine doesn’t have the prop and lower unit deep enough to reach below the lower hull line (especially if it’s put in the middle of the platform). What then happens is that the prop vents because it’s just pulling dead water from behind the transom of the boat. Ends up whirlpooling and gulping air from the surface most times. Added to this…that long shaft, then drags in the water when cruising, turning or similar.
You’ll need a bracket that can have the conventional lowering bracket attached to it. So you can get the engine low enough to be effective at all. Should also lift it clear of the water when not in use.
Overall, very unsightly and means horrible permanent holes in the boat.
It’s a tough one…but quite simply, boats like this aren’t ideal for such a thing unless it’s set up as mentioned.
I might be of the opinion that you’d be better off making certain that your main engine is as reliable as it can be…and carry a good anchor onboard, to buy time…should the worst happen.
All that said…one of my boats has a bracket on her…but it’s one of those boats that are less awkward for one. The flat transom area is exposed to take a lowering bracket. Its been very well set up for height and allows a short shaft to work well. Short being also handy for the dinghy too. With a 3hp on there…I’ll get my
19-20ft cuddy to about 3.5-4mph at 3/4 throttle. Engine steering locked off and the main outboard will allow steering from the helm. But I fear that Sod’s law would dictate that the day of any breakdown and requirement for such a thing…would no doubt be horrid, choppy and windy. Making things pretty marginal perhaps. I don’t often have an engine on there. Anything more than a tiny engine, worries the life out of me, with thoughts of the forces at play, with the engine movement in harsh conditions…in danger of ripping the whole thing off the back of the boat…a section of transom along with !