The 'Jesus Christ, don't do that you idiot!' advice thread.

Seajet said:
Denninglj,

it should be a simple fun trip; but do have an anchor on a long line - say 30 metres of at least 12mm nylon if buying it - as Plan B for a pondering period in case the engine packs up, happens to everyone at some point.

Have Fun !
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Denninglj

You have been given lots of expert advice. Go out and enjoy yourself but it is also worth remembering that a Seagull can be used as in anchor in emergencies!:o
 
Thanks for all of the advice guys.

I've had a go at taking it out against the tide and i'll not lie, it didn't go that well... The engine just isn't strong enough to go against the pull so I ended up on the opposite bank...twice.

I've gone back into the mooring and i'll wait for the tide to change before having another crack at it.
 
You have made an old man very happy.
Sailing the Medway and the estuary in Seawych was how I started, after a quick pratical course in dinghies and a lot of reading. Took the boat back to Tonbridge to haul out every winter and kept it at home. Finding my way through the backwaters terrified of loud bangs from Foulness. It brings it all back.
 
Sorry it didn't go so well, are you on the inside line at Cuxton marina?
If so, the tide runs harder there on the ebb so you're going to be fairly committed when you pull out into the flow.
 
!!! I am shocked at the advice given here - shocked I tell you !!!

The fellow should be taking his CompetentCrew//DaySkipper//Theory//Yachtmaster

...then he would be ok.

To be honest though - when I looked at those and their cost - I didn't bother and used the money to buy a boat instead.

:)

very happy
 
DenningLJ said:
Thanks for all of the advice guys.

I've had a go at taking it out against the tide and i'll not lie, it didn't go that well... The engine just isn't strong enough to go against the pull so I ended up on the opposite bank...twice.

I've gone back into the mooring and i'll wait for the tide to change before having another crack at it.
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So not too bad for a first trip, you started, got into a scrape, got yourself out of it no harm done, learned a lot, and got back home ready and keen to try again with your new knowledge. Sounds like something many of us have experienced.

I hope you enjoy it for many years to come.
 
Is mooring one of the Hoo Ness clubs out in the river - if so need a dinghy to get ashore. My boats in Hoo marina currently and can get out 2 hours either side HW with 6' draft so Id guess 3 hours either side OK for you.
The Orinoco is the creek up to the marina - it starts just up river from the small yellow buoy near the island. Then look for the withies - branches stuck in the mud; trouble is at high water some are covered. Chug up keeping withies just to left, parallel to island. Keep scanning left until you see another line of 3 or 4 withies lining up with marina entrance and steer sharp left for them.
I would have happily come up to the bridge and come down in consort - trouble is I'm in Greece. Look me up in either marina or club. After your trip you'll have probably sailed farther than most Medway denizens have in the last 10 years.
 
Alright, that didn't all go quite to plan, I didn't quite manage to get out of Cuxton Marina... or past the boat next to me. I realised very quickly that the Seagull is just not powerful enough to really direct the boat, even with the tide going in the right direction. It all kind of finished with the boat (I'm thinking of the name Sea Bitch) pointing the wrong direction and the missus shouting at me as she pushed off the boat next to us so we don't smash in to it, all while the Black Sails theme was blasting from my phone ( epic music to set sail to!) . I think I could have got it turned around and made it out of the marina on the tide but I wasn't confident that after that point I could control the boat as much as I'd have liked with the p̶i̶e̶c̶e̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶m̶e̶c̶h̶a̶n̶i̶z̶e̶d̶ ̶c̶r̶a̶p̶ Seagull...so I'm currently on e-bay bidding for something a bit more substantial.

It's not all doom and gloom though! Spending the day on the boat I hooked up the solar panel, did a bit of sanding and varnishing, made a cracking sandwich and drank my weight in coffee while reading my book. Buggering up, I'd highly recommend it for a bit of relaxing.
 
Mine had a 4HP long shaft Yamaha 4 stroke no charging circuit but the best sort, boring. ( IE it just started/idled/gave thrust/stopped..) No charging circuit, the leisure battery had to go home once a month
 
DenningLJ said:
Alright, that didn't all go quite to plan, I didn't quite manage to get out of Cuxton Marina... or past the boat next to me. I realised very quickly that the Seagull is just not powerful enough to really direct the boat, even with the tide going in the right direction. It all kind of finished with the boat (I'm thinking of the name Sea Bitch) pointing the wrong direction and the missus shouting at me as she pushed off the boat next to us so we don't smash in to it, all while the Black Sails theme was blasting from my phone ( epic music to set sail to!) . I think I could have got it turned around and made it out of the marina on the tide but I wasn't confident that after that point I could control the boat as much as I'd have liked with the p̶i̶e̶c̶e̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶m̶e̶c̶h̶a̶n̶i̶z̶e̶d̶ ̶c̶r̶a̶p̶ Seagull...so I'm currently on e-bay bidding for something a bit more substantial.

It's not all doom and gloom though! Spending the day on the boat I hooked up the solar panel, did a bit of sanding and varnishing, made a cracking sandwich and drank my weight in coffee while reading my book. Buggering up, I'd highly recommend it for a bit of relaxing.
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Classic:). Well done mate. All been there, done that.

Keep at it.

Steve
 
DenningLJ said:
Alright, that didn't all go quite to plan, I didn't quite manage to get out of Cuxton Marina... or past the boat next to me. I realised very quickly that the Seagull is just not powerful enough to really direct the boat, even with the tide going in the right direction. It all kind of finished with the boat (I'm thinking of the name Sea Bitch) pointing the wrong direction and the missus shouting at me as she pushed off the boat next to us so we don't smash in to it, all while the Black Sails theme was blasting from my phone ( epic music to set sail to!) . I think I could have got it turned around and made it out of the marina on the tide but I wasn't confident that after that point I could control the boat as much as I'd have liked with the p̶i̶e̶c̶e̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶m̶e̶c̶h̶a̶n̶i̶z̶e̶d̶ ̶c̶r̶a̶p̶ Seagull...so I'm currently on e-bay bidding for something a bit more substantial.

It's not all doom and gloom though! Spending the day on the boat I hooked up the solar panel, did a bit of sanding and varnishing, made a cracking sandwich and drank my weight in coffee while reading my book. Buggering up, I'd highly recommend it for a bit of relaxing.
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Just what engine do you have?

In your opening post you said a 5hp Seagull ! I assumed therefore a Century Plus, a Silver Century or a KB series Osprey.

5 hp is enough to power a Sea Wych. I originally had a 5hp VP51 . Some folks have just 4 hp.
I now have 6hp Evinrude but it's more powerful than necessary, The original 5hp was a good match.

I have used my 2 hp Seagull Featherweight to get me home when the brand new Evinrude failed.
 
NickRobinson said:
Mine had a 4HP long shaft Yamaha 4 stroke no charging circuit but the best sort, boring. ( IE it just started/idled/gave thrust/stopped..) No charging circuit, the leisure battery had to go home once a month
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Solar panel now days will probably supply all he needs... Less wires to engine less agro, easier to remove....

Dennign Keep it up I want to read more of your exploits they sound like true boating fun as it should be.... Just dont harm the other boats :D
 
nil desperandum

first.... is the propellor turning?

if it is you should have enough drive to move the boat anyway you wish

2 hp will shove yur boat along no probs

so do not give up on the seagull yet

although better, cleaner, more reliable, more fuel efficient engines are available

D
 
Toutvabien said:
Would anybody really recommend relying upon a Seagull Outboard?
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Why not?

Simple basic ruggedly built engines requiring minimal maintence to keep them in good running order.

Main objections are that they are noisy and messy and awkward to handle.

I have two. Never any trouble, totally reliable, despite now being 40 years old.

I gave up with the Volvo because it was so temperamental.

The Evinrude which replaced it failed totally after about 10 hours.
 
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