Mounting outboard motor to weekender

[Pepe]

Hello

I come fron Finland and have behind one summer sailing with my weekender.

Now I have electric motor and it works fine in short trips ,but in next summer I have plans  to make longer adventures. The battery wont last the hole trip, so I m thinking to change it to gasoline outboard.

I m wondering shoud I choose the longer or shorten type of engines frame? 15" or 20" ( dont know the right english word for it ) Have someone qood tips obout mounting these.

And about horsepowers. Would 2 hp be enough?

Thanks

Perttu

[Barry Pyeatt]

Hello,

Couple things to think about.  Currents and tidal flows.  How much wave action?

The Longshaft outboards will be more appropriate for this use since the prop will be far enough below the surface for normal wave action to allow it to remain submerged.  An adjustable height motor mount will also help.

A two hp outboard would be fine in a lake or calm water area.  a 3 or 4 hp would be better if you need to work against currents or tidal flows.    None of these are going to allow you to go any faster than hull speed but will help you to work cross or against a current or tidal flow. 

We have tidal currents in our area of the Pacific Northwest that exceed 10 knots a peak flood or ebb.  No use trying to work against them, you just need to sit and wait them out.  The Weekender that I have sailed upon the most uses a  longshaft 4 hp Johnson Sailmaster.  It has worked out fine and never seems to run out of fuel. 

[Pepe]

Hello.

I sail in lake Saimaa, so there no tidals or currents or so. The lake is splitted in many parts and beetween these open lake parts are long narrow straits.

Here are several second hand ( reasonable prised ) short saft engines, but long shaft engines you have to by new and expensive one.

Just thinking can the shot chaft engine be mounted in weekender - so you can use the motors own tiller - that it wont lie behind the teffrail.

[Barry Pyeatt]

Most Weekender and small boat owners end up with a short shaft motor.  To use it they need to have an adjustable height motor mount so that they can get the prop deep enough to keep it in the water. 

This type of mount will allow you to lift it clear for sailing or when you are not using it and also allow you to get the prop down into the water while underway.  It will also give you enough clearance so that you can turn with the motors tiller.

You can find them on ebay, they get listed quite often.

[Frank Hagan]

Hello.

I sail in lake Saimaa, so there no tidals or currents or so. The lake is splitted in many parts and beetween these open lake parts are long narrow straits.

Here are several second hand ( reasonable prised ) short saft engines, but long shaft engines you have to by new and expensive one.

Just thinking can the shot chaft engine be mounted in weekender - so you can use the motors own tiller - that it wont lie behind the teffrail.

I found that I had a hard time trying to steer with the motor.  I don't think it would work well in place of the high aspect ratio (tall and thin) rudder the Weekender has.  I had the small outboard fixed and then used the rudder to steer.