Outboard placement

[Richard Whitney CS#70]

I have finished painting the hull (two pot paint is great but shows every imperfection in my finishing )and turned her over to start finishing the cockpit, deck etc. I am trying to think through the best way to attach an outboard. I am looking at using a 2hp to get me back to shore when the wind drops. I have built the closed in back deck version of the CS17. I don't want a permanent heavy looking bracket on the stern. Any suggestions or ideas appreciated.

[mustangermatt]

I have seen a very small "well" used on blanchard jr's, which are 19' and have a covered aft deck. The well is no more than a recess in the aft deck just ahead of the transom. It is about 4" deep, 6" wide and maybe 4" or 5" long, with one or two drain holes through the transom overboard. This gives an area on the transom for the outboard to clamp to without breaching the water tight integrity of the after comparment. The main thing is that the well is big enough to unscrew the motor clamps. The transom usually has some reinforcing in this area.

On the blanchards the well is usually in the center of the transom as the rudder is under the boat, not behind it. I don't see any reason you couldn't put the well to one side.

Now that I think of it I might do something like this on mine :-)

[John Yow]

Mustangermatt, I would be interested in hearing more about the motor well you were describing. Have you decided to try it?

Thanks,

John

CS17#102

[Richard Whitney CS#70]

Matt

Thanks for that. This is an option I have been looking at. I am having difficulty working out whether the cavitation plate on a 2 hp will be in the water if I hang it from the side of the transom. I have measured to be 15 3/4 inches from the transom.

[mustangermatt]

I have not decided if I am going to have any provision for an outboard. Originally I planned on strictly sail and oars. The one reason I would do anything for an outboard is because it is easier now than later. If I do it will be something along the lines of the well, but I will have to work out the shaft length. Don't some of the other coresounds without the aft deck just hang the outboard right off the transom? The well should be the same height I think.

[Brent]

For what it is worth... In my opinion the motor well concept is a great way to go. Much more attractive than a motor mount hanging from the transom. An additional benefit is that the motor well would tend to shield the motor from getting hung in the rigging during a jibe. The motor well concept allows the decked over stern (that I personally prefer) while providing a secure motor mount location.

I would consider cutting down a section of transom to accomodate a short shaft outboard (typically about 15" shaft length). The transom would need to be reinforced appropriately of course, but that will be no problem for anyone in this group.

Wish I would have thought of this before the boat was built.

I have considered an electric motor, oars, and a yuloh. While all have their place, the reliable gas outboard still has its advantages.

[John Yow]

Brent, could you give more detail about your idea for a motor well. I have not completed my aft deck yet and may be able to make a well. I am thinking of making a "notch" in the transome, so that there would be a recessed place for the motor to hang. So it would really be an alteration of one side of the transome and bottom, rather than a well (an indented transom). But I can't figure out a good way to raise or tilt the motor that would have an advantage over the outboard bracket as far as fouling lines on a jibe. I am also concerned that the notched transome might change the boat's performance. I would be interested in your thoughts.

Thanks,

John

CS17#102

[John Yow]

On the other hand, I don't want to make things too complicated. I generally need a motor to travel the busy channel into Galveston Bay. Since I too think that the arched aft compartment is very pretty, I am planing to complete the boat with that. But as we are discussing, it makes matters more difficult to conveniently hang the motor. My plan to date has been to use the same type of mount as is used on "Ketchup."

John

CS17#102

[Brent]

Based on prior notes in this thread, I was imagining a short section of the transom to port of the rudder being cut down to a height that would allow a short shaft outboard to be clamped on and tilted up. I am imaging this transom cut out to be as narrow as possible (about 12-14") to accomodate access to the motor clamps and provide room for the motor tiller and motor to swing as necessary to run to the boat. The stern decking would need to be modified to provide room for the motor to steer and tilt. I would build a well for any water coming over this section of the transom to drain out, similiar to the motor well found on many outboard powered boats.

Seems like the stern on my boat is about 21-22" deep (this is from memory, and so I could be off here). A 15" shaft motor would need to be set down so that the cavitation plate is maybe 6 inches below the bottom of the boat. This would put the top of the motor mount area about 9" above the bottom of the boat, therefore the motor mount would be about 12-13" below deck level. This would leave the top of the motor sticking above the deck, but largely hidden.

Seems to me this provides a clean looking installation versus a bracket of the back of the boat, but is considerably more compliated to build.

[mustangermatt]

Ok, I was able to make a decision on my boat. I have to keep coming back to my "mission statement" which is simplicity. To that end I originally decided against an outboard, and I am going to stick with that. However I am going to glue a heavy doubler to the inside of the transom so if I change my mind in a year I won't have to hang upside down in the lazerette trying figure out a way to bolt a bracket on.

An engineless sailboat becalmed is a better excuse than running out of gas any day, just ask my wife

[Rob Blackburn]

I know we did not go with the aft deck but here is what we have for what it is worth. I like it as there is no sign of the motor if you don't take it for the day... apart from discolouration of the white paint but that is fixable with a different rubber mat.

http://homepage.mac.com/blackburns/PhotoAlbum60.html

I also had an outboard in a closed well when I had my Norwalk Island sharpie and it had a problem in that the fumes from the motor did not escape easily and choked the performance of the motor. It was quite a significant effect even with the hatch off it tended to bog down and give the appearance that you had a major fire happening in the back.

It was also awkward as I had it on a set of rails/bars that let you lift and lower the 10hp. It was not user friendly to say the least.

Nothing is perfect as we all know though. I still think an electric would be good for occasional use though. You could have it up under the deck suspended there on rubber shock cord loops or of course in the stern locker if you built that option. If you got 4 hours out of a moderate battery you would probably go 15-20 miles in calm water. If it was not calm you would be sailing probably.

Our 5 works well for what we want though. It looks bigger in the photos than when you stick it on the boat. I took 4 kids fishing last week with out the sails and the tiller and it worked perfectly. Sort of a suv of boats as you guys in the US call them.

See you

Rob