outboard power on a 28' westerley

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Laundryman

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outboard power on a 28\' westerley

My inboard yanmar 1gm has given up for good. i have acquired a brand new mariner 15hp 4 stroke bigfoot complete with elec start remotes etc. The boat already had an outboard bracket fitted which i have removed and had extra stainless steel bracing welded on, together with some s/steel plates for strengtnening both inside and outside the mounting points. Does anyone see any reason why i shouldnt go ahead and fit it?
 
Re: outboard power on a 28\' westerley

Well, I speculated about this for similar reasons on my 27' long keeler. My conclusions were that prop so far back would make marina manoevres even more difficult (lack of propwash, although a cunning arrangement might make remote steering a possibility). My boat has a counter so rocking movement even more pronounced and so difficulties with prop not immersed or even engine getting drowned. Then there is the weight - right at the back plus heaving it about. It was a toss up whether to get a 9hp with saildrive prop and maybe sell on when funds allowed for new inboard or to gulp and pay for another inboard. If boat was light displacement trailer sailer with transom I might well have gone for outboard. I've noticed that the French seem to have more outboards on their smaller yachts so it works for them.
 
Re: outboard power on a 28\' westerley

We have an 8hp Honda 4 stroke on a stern bracket on our 25 ft longish keel yacht.

The only downsides are that it does make close quarter manouvering more interesting /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

In a short steep chop the prop may lift out causing the motor to race but modern engines have over revving protection so damage wont occur.

Plus side is we now have the inflatable and other junk stowed under the cockpit where the engine should be and its great tilting the engine so theres no prop dragging when sailing.
 
Re: outboard power on a 28\' westerley

Graham, didn't know you had outboard on your new boat. Hmmm, now you've made me think again since I haven't quite made the plunge for another inboard. BTW, what about a post describing your experiences and impressions on changing boats - would be valuable from a canny old hand
 
Re: outboard power on a 28\' westerley

Not a great output but it depends on how long you will have the outboard running and how much current you will be drawing when not running. There will also be an battery drain when starting the engine.
 
Re: outboard power on a 28\' westerley

On your Folkdancer I think the transom is raked at quite an angle which will complicate fitting a bracket as it will need to stand off a long way.



Another consideration is the resale value of your boat will be adversely affected by not having an inboard diesel.

I dont want to sound too negative as I like having the extra stowage space and being able to remove it from the boat for maintenance more easilly.Also its very satisfying having no prop dragging through the water when sailing.

It all depends on your personal preferences .
 
Re: outboard power on a 28\' westerley

Westerly 25 was designed to have an outboard.

I liked being able to work on it in the open air, taking it home for winterising, having it out of the water when sailing & having bone dry, dusty bilges!

I disliked pulling it up & down to use it, starting it by cord when hanging over the stern, the cost of 2T, the lack of charging power & the odd occasion it came out of the water in overfalls.

On balance, one of the key benefits on changing to a Pentland (beside the huge increase in accom) was a reliable inboard.
 
Re: outboard power on a 28\' westerley

[ QUOTE ]
Not a great output but it depends on how long you will have the outboard running and how much current you will be drawing when not running. There will also be an battery drain when starting the engine.

[/ QUOTE ]

Just a couple of points from someone who lives with an outboard powered boat...

The starting current required to get a petrol outboard going of similar hp to an inboard diesel is much less.

A 15hp petrol outboard can easily be started by hand if required, whereas it is usually almost impossible to hand start a diesel inboard of that size.
 
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