mounting and using an outboard

[Guest]

Hi,

I am new to sailing and have just bought a second hand mark 2 GRP Wayfarer Dinghy. I would like to mount a small outboard on my boat for getting me out of trouble and exploring areas unreachable under sail. Does anyone have any suggestions on the best way to mount a small outboard. Should I use an outboard mounting bracket so that the engine sits away from the transom? or would it be easy enough to mount it straight onto the back of the transom?

When in use should I fix it's position and use the tiller to steer? Also can the outboard be left on the mounting when under sail and just pulled up out of the water or should it be removed and stowed?

Finally should I be looking for a 2 stroke or a 4 stroke? Long or short shaft?

Thanks in advance for any help

regards

Mat

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Sybarite]

Welcome to sailing and to the forum. I haven't sailed a Wayfarer but I think the first rule is : there are no rules. What works best for you is the answer.

As far as the outboard is concerned I would think anything up to 5hp would be fine but the smaller probably the better as an auxiliary. As to models and choice between 2 and 4 stroke, there have been various recent threads on the subject. I would think that a short shaft would be sufficient; just look at the height of your transom. The more you get accustomed to sailing the more you will find probably that it is the sails that will get the outboard out of trouble more often than the reverse.

Try mounting the o/b on the transom and see to what extent it interferes with the free movement of the rudder. You may need to ship the rudder. However there are enough Wayfarers around and I'm sure this question has been dealt with. Whether you take the o/b off the transom or not may well be a question of aesthetics; however if doing it in deep water I suggest you fix a lanyard from the o/b to the boat before displacing it.


As to specific experience on the Wayfarer others are more competent to advise.

Good sailing.

John


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[fluffc]

Check out the wayfarer website - www.wayfarer.org.uk. There are many people out there who seriously cruise in Wayfarers, and have engines mounted as auxiliaries.

You can't mount directly to the transom as it is not designed for it; and the rudder will hit it any way. You are best getting an outboard bracket (see above website, under cruising), and using your (relatively large) rudder to steer with.

Would recommend the lightest, simplest engine you can get. 2-3HP should be fine. 2-Strokes are recommended - they are simpler and lighter. The only benefits that 4-Stroke gives you is slighter quietness and better fuel economy.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Guest]

Hi,
I'd echo all that Fluffc has said in one of your previous replies. I've cruised a Wayfarer for a few years and had the following setup:

Long Shaft is prefered......the prop tends to stay under the water much better in any kind of a rolling sea.

A stand-off engine mounting bracket.......that way the main sheet doesn't catch or tangle around the motor. The motor can be tilted out of the water and kept there without having to unclamp it when sailing. That way there's no need to stow/rig it (always a heavy, smelly and potentially dangerous problem) and it's always ready for quick use.

A motor with the capability of plugging in an external tank......I went for a Yamaha Malta but had to modify it to take an external tank, its internal one only lasts 20 minutes on half throttle (which pushed the boat along at hull speed). Its surprising how often you'll use your engine and refuelling whilst kneeling on the rear buoyancy tank when the boat is rolling is no joke, its dangerous.

Beware of using your boats normal tiller/rudder whilst motoring. You may have anticipated the rudder blade being turned into the whirling blades of the prop and therefore installed the motor stand-off bracket as far from the centre line as possible to reduce the chances of this happening but the rudder blade is deeper than the outboard skeg and so in shallow water will hit the bottom (I guarantee it will at some time!), kick up as it should and all of a sudden you have a lot more horizontal rudder blade which is less effective in steering and is guaranteed to get chewed up by the prop.....sods law you turn the tiller the wrong way!

No more than 4HP.........You'll reach hull speed at between a quarter and half throttle so any more throttle just makes a lot more noise, gurgles the water a bit more, uses up the fuel quicker but you won't go any faster. The bigger the engine the heavier it is. Of course you may want to tow several other boats behind you, then the extra HP/throttle setting is usefull.

If you want to reach the pub at the end of your cruise a little faster or the weather looks to be turning for the worse and you need to get to shelter........motor-sail. Keep the sails up and turn on your engine, who cares about the purity of sailing when you need to get there fast. Just don't forget about the shallows.

Finally get an outboard tiller extension. When you steer with the outboard, it's normal tiller length will have you sitting on the rear buoyancy tank at a really awkard angle. Much better to sit on the side bench inside the boat and still be able to steer. These tiller extensions attach and detach simply and quickly.
<hr width=100% size=1>An Ron Beag<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by RON on 26/05/2003 20:03 (server time).</FONT></P>