Hunter duette

LONG_KEELER said:
Personally, I found an outboard in a well a brilliant compromise.

With a small older boat , to replace the inboard was a constant worry.

If you did not replace it, the boat was effectively valueless. The cost of replacement was really not worth it.

When you add the performance and modern twin keels it's a winner.

Just to drop the outboard off for service , pick it up at Easter and screw it on again was just wonderful.
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I'm wondering if a similar set-up could be devised for girlfriends right now..., or maybe I could charter one in the winter :)

Realistically at anything less than 25' an outboard in a well has to be the best compromise; as long as the engine is taken out, a fairing plug put in and the engine stowed for the main part of proper sailing, ie it is an auxilliary, though modern outboards ( maybe with a hint of main ) will punch one into anything an experienced sailor like Dylan might try.

Edit - I have been along with people trying an outboard left in a well on an Anderson 22, with a fairing plug fitted with brush bristles ( ! ) to go around the engine leg, but the experiment was called off as it was thought the engine was overheating; afterwards that was thought a false alarm by someone, but unfortunately the experiment wasn't repeated.

I also tried an Everitt designed wooden 25' boat with the outboard retracting from its' well vertically upwards into a large bridgedeck, attached to aircraft style 'undercarriage doors' to close off the well.

Like many ideas which shine bright in the design office or pub, this didn't allow for reality and mud forcing in, wear / slop on linkages etc etc.

All I have found from 34 years experience with outboard wells is 'keep it simple', an engine in the well causes far less turbulence, noise & drag than an empty well, but by far best to stow the engine & fit a fairing plug; along with the vastly reduced drag, no prop to catch flotsam & lobster pots.

A well also makes a handy cockpit drain, especially in wave action cockpit filling conditions; tried it twice.

In my boats' case there is normally a large self bailer in the well plug for 'normal' conditions, or in heavy weather one can remove the plug entirely, giving a drain about 18 x 10 ", draining down to 3" higher than the cockpit sole along with the 2 standard 2" dia drains at sole level - handy, though I prefer not to use the 'here we go as a submarine, plug out' technique !
 
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LONG_KEELER said:
Personally, I found an outboard in a well a brilliant compromise.

With a small older boat , to replace the inboard was a constant worry.

If you did not replace it, the boat was effectively valueless. The cost of replacement was really not worth it.

When you add the performance and modern twin keels it's a winner.

Just to drop the outboard off for service , pick it up at Easter and screw it on again was just wonderful.
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I'm going to have t-shirts made... "Keep Calm - My Outboards in a Well".. :D

Your comments exactly describe my experience - so much easier...
 
Seajet said:
Dylan,

one thing I found interesting recently; a Hunter Europa has just joined my club, on the half tide soft mud moorings.

As you may rcall, the Europa is related to my boat, and I'd find it hard to accept any critiscm of sailing qualities, especially handling.

However, unlike my lift keeler, this Europa has bilge keels besides the central ballast job; snag is, the bilge plates are very short longitudinaly ( Oliver Lee was great at reducing Wetted Area Drag ) but in the soft mud they simply don't present enough resistance; every low water I've seen, the boat is on her ear, and of course there's the threat that a bilge plate once near horizontal may hold her over and flood her.

I don't think it's so drastic that she will flood, but I'm afraid that particular format - very short thin bilge plates - doesn't look a good bet for your purposes !
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Andy - having seen her I reckon the problem with that specific boat and her old mooring was probably the lack of mud as unlike most of the moorings that one seems to be scoured by tide more than most, leaving a shingle/gravel bottom... indicative of the problems you might have if you do end up on a firm surface when the water disappears though... very dramatic and your description as "on her ear" sums it up nicely....

She was moved yesterday (ironically to my old mooring), as her owner was aware of the problem; new one is far gloopier and she now sites far more nicely.... :)
 
on paper that is true

PeteCooper said:
A Sonata is quicker than an E Boat. It doesn't really matter as neither fits Dylan's requirements.
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in light winds I reckon the eboat has the edge

once the wind chips up then the sonata has the advantage until you get into downwind surfing conditions

then if you have the guts to put the kite up - flown from the masthead - you can get the eboat planing on its flat bottom

My bothers and I experienced it twice

the helm went as light as a feather and glances full of fear and exhileration passed between us

although I am the youngest I was the owner of the eboat and we had all four of us on board - I thought I was about to wipe out an entire blood line

as for sailing an eboat single handed - it is possible - but only with a roller genoa in my opnion

stop this talk of nice boats

I am now a plodding ditch crawler
 
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I sail my E-boat singlehanded 98% of the time, and I dont have roller reefing gear. I love the thing but your right, anything but pure sand/mud on the bottom and I simply wouldn't put her down on it through the fear of puncturing the hull.
Dylan, go for the Centaur. You'll appreciate that big engine and protection/interior when you get all the way up here!!;)
 
Centaur

Even Chance said:
I sail my E-boat singlehanded 98% of the time, and I dont have roller reefing gear. I love the thing but your right, anything but pure sand/mud on the bottom and I simply wouldn't put her down on it through the fear of puncturing the hull.
Dylan, go for the Centaur. You'll appreciate that big engine and protection/interior when you get all the way up here!!;)
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I know that it would be the most sensible and seaworthy boat for the job

and the Westerly owners are very loyal to their boats#

I am sure I would sell more dvds if I bought one and the wonderful westerly magazine gave me a few column inches.

My mum dropped off her perch two years ago and I have inherited enough money to buy a mid range Centaur - say £9,000

but that would leave just £1,000 left over

A centaur could eat the contingency fund without even blinking

If I can buy a boat for half that price then that leaves me some money to keep sailing

I would hate to end up with a good boat but no funds to sail it

and I really have lost confidence in my ability to withstand the financial squalls that can come with a diesel inboard

the thought of sitting in the boat looking at a knackered engine for the umpteenth time is too depressing to contemplate

if it is an outboard I can put it in the car and get it fixed or look on ebay for a replacement

and be back under way within a day or so

of course if I thought 2000 Centaur sailors would be likely to buy dvds of me taking it up the North sea and around Scotland at £15 a pop..... then the maths begins to look a bit different

And if there is a boat that is utterly english then I think the Centaur is the one

Dylan
 
Your post makes complete sense. Any boat will make it round the top with ease on the right day, my posts about the Centaur being better for the job are in complete jest. An outboard is perfect for the job. A mere 4hp one suffices for me, and I have to sail up here ALL of the time. I also like simple pleasures like being able to take it home for service and storage, being able to use it on the tender (yes longshaft on inflatable works a treat!). The lack of any thru-hulls is also nice to know for my E-boat!!
I am currently looking for something a wee bit bigger for my growing family, but the damned E-boat is just so much fun to sail!!:D
I have built a small cabin top to fit over the hatch/garage hole that is removable so I can have at least stooping headroom below! Hope it works out better this year for an Orkney holiday.

All e best.
 
Dylan - I was joking about the Ecume De Mer, fantastic boat but the 5ft draft would not suit you.

However I did see this:

http://hirondelle23.blogspot.co.uk/

And it seems to fulfil your criteria - and is cheap. If I wasn't looking to downsize to a trailer sailer I would be looking at this one.
Nice stable platform for photography as well.
 
eboat

Even Chance said:
Your post makes complete sense. Any boat will make it round the top with ease on the right day, my posts about the Centaur being better for the job are in complete jest. An outboard is perfect for the job. A mere 4hp one suffices for me, and I have to sail up here ALL of the time. I also like simple pleasures like being able to take it home for service and storage, being able to use it on the tender (yes longshaft on inflatable works a treat!). The lack of any thru-hulls is also nice to know for my E-boat!!
I am currently looking for something a wee bit bigger for my growing family, but the damned E-boat is just so much fun to sail!!:D
I have built a small cabin top to fit over the hatch/garage hole that is removable so I can have at least stooping headroom below! Hope it works out better this year for an Orkney holiday.

All e best.
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Jill, I and ghe dog had some great sailing in the eboat in Scotland

at its best scotland knocks the socks off Greece for the visuals, the wildlife and the history

water is cold.... but clear and lovely

I wrote an item for PBO about it

we got the front cover

Dylan
 
dylanwinter said:
Jill, I and ghe dog had some great sailing in the eboat in Scotland

at its best scotland knocks the socks off Greece for the visuals, the wildlife and the history

water is cold.... but clear and lovely

I wrote an item for PBO about it

we got the front cover

Dylan
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Aargh, must have been before my time then Dylan, cos I havent seen an E-boat on the cover.:( Any idea on the back issue number?
 
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