Sailing with outboard

coveman said:
I have an outboard that is fitted in a well, which works fine. My question is - Is it best to leave it in neutral when I am sailing and not using it or leave it in gear to prevent to prop turning? If its left in neutral the prop "free wheels" with an irritating whine. What do others do?
Sailing purists will say the engine should be removed as it slows the boat down but that would not be a practical option on my boat and there is no way of tilting the engine up.
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No mechanical negatives on letting the propeller spin when sailing. I get a slight vibration at various speeds with very little noise. Perhaps different makes vary or might be worth checking gearbox oil for correct level/grade/age.

In high summer for me, for perhaps 8 weeks, there can be much water level weed where a free spinning prop definitely attracts more weed. It's always the stringy stuff like thin rope.


I stuff one of these Kids 43cm Plastic Swimming Assistant Colorful Kick board Pool Float Pool Beach | eBay down the well.


Cut to shape which may help lessen the noise and sloshing. Not to mention the saviour of screwdrivers, spanners nuts and bolts and in my case a non floating VHF. :) I like to kid myself that it's more aerodynamic too.
 
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When we had a boat with a well mounted OB we just kept it in neutral most of the time. Prefferred to remove it to rail or locker if possible.

The only problem I ever had was on the way into Castletown when we ended up surfing on some standing waves in the offshore outfall.
I had to start the engine and run it at full throttle to stop the cockpit from being flooded by the in wash up the leg. 14 knots in a 24 foot lift keeler was a wild ride!

Best if you can remove and use a plug fairing in well. We would gain at least a knot. On a 12 hour passage makes a big difference in distance covered and your ability to carry a tide.
 
FWB said:
You could swap the petrol outboard for an Epropulsion and have it recharge itself as you sail ?
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That assumes the boat will go fast enough under sail (6 knots+) over a long enough period to get any worthwhile ouput

Just seen post#21 These products are largely a gimmick and only of value to a very small number of potential users which does not include small cruising boats with outboards in wells.
 
Tranona said:
That assumes the boat will go fast enough under sail (6 knots+) over a long enough period to get any worthwhile ouput

Just seen post#21 These products are largely a gimmick and only of value to a very small number of potential users which does not include small cruising boats with outboards in wells.
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My Torqeedo is no gimmick. If I were to start again I’d probably get an EPropulsion. They are both 3hp at the prop and will propel a small yacht.
 
You have clearly stated that you cannot remove the outboard when not using it. But can you raise it , say 15 inches?
If so, can you not fit another piece of 25mm ply standing up at 90 deg to the existing outboard bracket to the side of the well. You could possibly raise the engine. Rotate it 90 degrees & hook it to the holding bracket. It need not be as strong as a driving bracket. It is only for storage. If one can stand astride the well one might be able to raise it with a strop, or perhaps a block & tackle from a piece of timber laid across the cockpit combing.
 
FWB said:
Yes apparently it can Epropulsion Spirit PLUS & EVO 1kW Electric Outboard
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Generally you need to be sailing at 6 knots plus to get any material recharging - and any turbulence around a an outboard well would reduce this.
Also, in spite of the marketing, 1kW is about 1.3hp. Yes at low throttle it gives good torque in a tender, but in tests it generally lacked enough flat out power to get a dinghy planing - which a 2.5hp two stroke can do quite easily.
This could be a big issue for any size of yacht trying to push into wind / tide, before we even start on range.

OF course, much bigger electric outboards are coming on the market, at a price. Or with enough budget, could convert the outboard well to fit an electric saildrive instead. But may be talking 2-3 times the cost of most small boats.
 
FWB said:
My Torqeedo is no gimmick. If I were to start again I’d probably get an EPropulsion. They are both 3hp at the prop and will propel a small yacht.
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Science - and one of the biggest UK dealers of Torqedo and ePropulsion - says not. 1kW is circa 1.3hp. But as above, as many tenders don’t run at full throttle, 1kW / 1.3hp is enough for gentle pootling.
 
dunedin said:
Science - and one of the biggest UK dealers of Torqedo and ePropulsion - says not. 1kW is circa 1.3hp. But as above, as many tenders don’t run at full throttle, 1kW / 1.3hp is enough for gentle pootling.
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And it’s out of context. Nobody has said electric outboards are useless, just that e propulsion regen is marginal at best. I’ve got an e propulsion, it's a fine motor, but I didn’t bother with the regen version.
 
FWB said:
My Torqeedo is no gimmick. If I were to start again I’d probably get an EPropulsion. They are both 3hp at the prop and will propel a small yacht.
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Electric outboards per se are no longer a gimmick and progress is being made on inboards to appeal to a wider market. It is the regeneration claims that are a gimmick on displacement boats.
 
You tried changing the gear oil ? Sorry if that’s cheeky. Might just lessen the whine. Other than that…I think I might be tempted to watch the gps and see if it has any significant effect when in gear.
despite being in an inboard well…can it not be tilted even a little up out the way ? Into a shallow water setting at least ?
 
If average speed is 4 knots and you’re losing 1/2~1 knot of that to drag then worth lifting out to rail mount and plugging hole with foam as suggested.

Or look at transom mount options.

Electric outboard motors are v clever, lightweight and powerful for what they are.
 
Tranona said:
That assumes the boat will go fast enough under sail (6 knots+) over a long enough period to get any worthwhile ouput

Just seen post#21 These products are largely a gimmick and only of value to a very small number of potential users which does not include small cruising boats with outboards in wells.
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How about a petrol/electric driven propeller ?

Something like this Honda GX200 6.5 HP Petrol Generator 3.5 kva | Diffin Supplies Located in it's own locker near the bow . Cables run to the cockpit driving a modified petrol outboard leg or electric motor. It would have little height and would not foul the tiller when lifted. Attach a lever mechanism to lift the leg up or down with a sprung flap to fair the hull under sail.
 
LONG_KEELER said:
How about a petrol/electric driven propeller ?

Something like this Honda GX200 6.5 HP Petrol Generator 3.5 kva | Diffin Supplies Located in it's own locker near the bow . Cables run to the cockpit driving a modified petrol outboard leg or electric motor. It would have little height and would not foul the tiller when lifted. Attach a lever mechanism to lift the leg up or down with a sprung flap to fair the hull under sail.
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Not a good idea. Why have a noisy smelly dangerous petrol generator on your boat to convert power to electricity when you can have a simple outboard (or inboard) motor that will power the propeller direct?
 
On my old Sonata, tilting up the outboard did more than just improve speed, there was also a perceptible improvement in responsiveness and handling. In light airs especially sailing pleasure was hugely improved by getting the outboard up. The experience has left me with the feeling that all sailing boats should either have liftable outboards or good folding propellers.
 
Tranona said:
Not a good idea. Why have a noisy smelly dangerous petrol generator on your boat to convert power to electricity when you can have a simple outboard (or inboard) motor that will power the propeller direct?
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I think the idea has some merit. Petrol outboards in wells are already noisy. A forward anchor type locker could house the generator and could have sound insulation although cooling may be a problem . Some deckhead space in the V berth would also be lost.

A few years ago, I came across a barge with the system designed for the French Canals. It did have a large battery bank though. The owner seemed happy with it.
 
MisterBaxter said:
On my old Sonata, tilting up the outboard did more than just improve speed, there was also a perceptible improvement in responsiveness and handling. In light airs especially sailing pleasure was hugely improved by getting the outboard up. The experience has left me with the feeling that all sailing boats should either have liftable outboards or good folding propellers.
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Yes. My 6hp 4 stroke is 26 kg which is about the limit for me to lift in and out. Rather than change the system which works well for me, I could lessen the impact by taking up weight lifting during the sailing season. :)
 
Daydream believer said:
You have clearly stated that you cannot remove the outboard when not using it. But can you raise it , say 15 inches?
If so, can you not fit another piece of 25mm ply standing up at 90 deg to the existing outboard bracket to the side of the well. You could possibly raise the engine. Rotate it 90 degrees & hook it to the holding bracket. It need not be as strong as a driving bracket. It is only for storage. If one can stand astride the well one might be able to raise it with a strop, or perhaps a block & tackle from a piece of timber laid across the cockpit combing.
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If it's anything like my old boat the well was directly under the tiller with about 2 or 3" clearance between top of engine and tiller..
 
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