MOTOR ?

[Denis Goyette]

would a 2HP motor be sufficient for a weekender?? A Quick answer would be greatly appreciated so i dont miss out on a deal if it's good enough.

Thank

Denis

[Johannah]

Denis, hp needs depend on how and where you use your boat. Also somewhat on what brand of motor. A 2 horse British Seagull pushes with more force than a 2 horse Merc, even though horsepower ratings are supposed to be equivalent. The most important variable is where you plan to sail. For inshore ocean sailing or on large lakes where wind and currents are a big factor, 2 hp is a bit small. In those conditions, 3.5 would be safer. If you're not at sea or on the Great Lakes, you might find it big enough.

[Denis Goyette]

Thank you for you input

[Tim Diebert]

Personally...I think 2 hp is way too small.I tried one and it was lame.

I have a huge 6 horse on my WE and love it. Ya its big and a little heavy (30 lbs) but it does the trick very well. I can putter around in almost any conditions at hull speed (though I don't). It gets me to where the wind is, fast...it gets me home, fast...it gets me out of trouble, fast. I can decide to sail downwind all day...and motor home if the conditions are not favorable.

I have towed other boats out of trouble...and to the wind.

I am thinking of changing the name of my boat from Annie M (after my 100 year old Grandmother) to Tugboat Annie. I am going to do some beachcombing for extra gas money....

Oh....and last fall I was able to out run a nasty little storm coming down our lake. I was on the trailer helping other folks get out by the time it hit hard. I love my Johnson...both of them.

[rmckdo]

lol...good one

[ken connors]

what 6 hp do you have that only weighs 30#? my merc 6 weighs 70#!

[Tim Diebert]

...actually, closer to 35lbs.

Gee, I dunno Ken. I guess I am just lucky. It is a 1971 model I think. Quite old, but like many outboards, it has not seen a whole lot of use. I used it for a kicker when I was salmon fishing, my Dad bought it new and used it for the same thing. It is light and strong and runs like a top.

70 lbs! Wow.

[Johannah]

Is that merc 6 a 4-cycle? Our Tohatsu 5hp weighs 48 and is 2-cycle. My pet Seagull is 2-3hp and is very light.

[MikeStevenson]

Well, I don't know if I agree altogether. We have had everything from oars to a Merc. 2-cycle 4.5 hp. on the Weeenders. The Merc. 4.5hp would push the boat at hull speed at about half-throttle. There's no reason to go with anything larger, we think. We have settled on a 50lb. thrust electric for our current Weekender, as we don't need more. If you have big currents, you need gas. I can't imagine that a 2hp. wouldn't do the job you need.

Mike

[ken connors]

johannah, the merc is only a two cyl. -mercs are very heavy. im selling to trade up to the tohatsu 4 cyl.-- lighter and much quieter

[capt jake]

Mike, I have a 2hp Johnson (2 cycle) and 4hp Montgomery Wards (2 cycle). I know, you chuckle about the Monky Wards!! Built by Chrysler. :D

Which would be the better motor for the Weekender?? I am leaning towards the 2hp.

[Tim Diebert]

Go 4 hp Jake, you'll love it.

Take your kids water skiing....I do.

[High C]

The itty bitty 2 cycle Mercs are actually Taihatsus. Taihatsu also makes the Nissan 2 hp the 3.5 hp, and the Merc 3.3. They all weigh 28 to 30 pounds.

I have the Nissan 3.5 w/ neutral gear, that I use with my 10' dinghy. It's way more power than is needed for the dinghy. It's a great motor, and I think quiter than my neighbor's Honda 2hp, which is air cooled. I also plan to use it on my Weekender when it's done, any minute now, soon, one of these days...

[Knut]

I have a 2.5 hp Mercury 2002 and I am pretty happy about both weight and performance. After all, the Weekender is a sailboat and so far I have only used it to get out through the narrow marina channel when the wind is dead against. I also expect to loose the wind completely at some stage and then a motor will be good as a back-up.

I will check the speed one of these days, but I cannot see that even wind and waves against would stop progress, only slowing it down.

[MikeStevenson]

I think I'd have to agree with Knut: the 2hp. is probably fine for the Weekender. I guess it depends on how you want to motor.

If you want the smallest weight/volume that will work, and don't mind if it has to go at full throttle once in awhile to do its job, then the 2hp. range is more appropriate for you.

The other approach is to go with the larger motors, which means you probably won't ever slow down, just give it a little more throttle. This is fine; you'll go at half-throttle most all of the time, then every once in awhile open it up more if needed.

Either would get the job done. I think I'd rather have the smaller machine, as long as it was as dependable, but that's the fun of making your own boat: YOU get to chose what you want to do!

Mike

[High C]

One more thing that's really important in some cases, whether or not it has neutral and/or reverse gear. Some of the little motors start in gear, they have no neutral or reverse. Pull the starter rope, and off you go. This could be a problem for some. These motors do pivot around 360 degrees so you can back up, but the lack of a neutral could be a problem. Be sure you think it over and know which type you're getting.

[Knut]

High C wrote:

Some of the little motors start in gear, they have no neutral or reverse. Pull the starter rope, and off you go.

which is correct, also in my case. I would have liked very much to have a neutral position even if there was no reverse. Problem is, you don't want to cast off and then start pulling the rope. If it is critical to have the motor start immediately, you can be sure that is the time when it won't. Starting first, idling and then start letting loose the ropes under load may work, but it is also ackward. Coming in, you have to cut the engine at the right moment. Too late, and you may hit something; too early, and you will need a paddle or re-start the engine to get the last few feet.

I have found it very unpractical to try and rotate the motor for reverse or for steering. With a standard shaft length I would be hanging over the stern to control this and the position is not very nice. In my case the motor is fixed in streight forward and the rudder alone is used for steering. Only, be aware that the rudder does nothing until the boat has got some speed forward with this solution. It works OK with a little training and partly I don't use the motor at all. A good a paddle oar is a fine supplement.

[Knut]

Some discussion about motor size before: I tried out the Mercury 2.5 HP today measuring the speed using the GPS. About as expected, the motor managed to give the Weekender 4.8 knots which I think is quite OK.