Trimaran - Especially Searunner - Owners

[sea dragon]

Originally Posted by Mark Johnson

(He was, btw, building his fantastic "nacelle sled mount" for an OB motor, at about the same time. IT was VERY successful, VS the old transom location).

I know that plans for the OB sled option, (recommended), are out there, but don't know about the swing up sugar scoop transom for the 31'er. Ask John.

I'm very much interested in this nacelle concept.
Can you elaborate on it?
I just bought a new Yamaha T25 high thrust out board for my boat,and need to mount it.
The transom won't work (too big/heavy)208lbs
I've designed a well in the lazarrette behind the sterncastle which will work,but have been thinking about a sled mounted on the side forward of the stern.
Do you think this nacelle idea could be scaled up to a 40sr with a bigger motor?
From the one picture I saw of your boarding step,it really looks good.
Do you have any other pictures/information of it.
Mark,you are a wealth of help and information.
It is much appreciated by me and I'm sure alot of others
i will try emailing Marples about the nacelle/sled idea.
Thanks!

[Boatguy30]

Is the T25 available with a 25" shaft in the US now?

[rossad]

Excellent posting Mark , your remarks are very honest. I like how you are proud of your accomplishments and also passing on your knowledge helping others from going through costly mistakes and hour and hours of work that if done differently or with different materials lasts longer with a better result. I know there are so many ways to finish and create these Trimarans.. Amazing really what fantastic ships they are with so many interesting spots and places to achieve something new or something incredible user friendly. Searunners are great for this apparently with a safety record second to none... Quote ..... John Marples

[sea dragon]

Originally Posted by Boatguy30

Is the T25 available with a 25" shaft in the US now?

The longest they come is 20" but a 5"extension kit is available from Bay Mfg for about 500.00.I'm putting one on
The t25LA motor cost me $4200.00 not including the remote controls, cables,and extension kit.
It's twice the weight and at least 2 1/2 times the power of the 9.9
12" prop pitched and geared for high thrust.
The power tilt and trim is very cool too.
I think it will make a big difference fighting current,wind,and chop.
Another nice feature is that the alternator output is 13.5 amps as opposed to 6amps on the 9.9
I'm going to wire it to charge the house batteries while in use.
It's a huge beastcompared to the 9.9
another upgrade I will add is a remote bulkhead mount water seperator fuel filter.
On the subject of the sled/nacelle bracket.
I'm thinking "the sweet spot"for the motor would be right under the sterncastle side window.
If you look at post #1732,Doggone has a photo of that low profile hatch.
Right where that hatch is,is a nice spot with a fairing that blended into the underwing.
way more protected and 7 ft farther forward than a bracket on the stern.
He says he has never had water on it in alot of sailing miles
The weight would be like me sitting in the sterncastle.

[Boatguy30]

For that price you'd have to give some serious thought to a good used diesel.

The reason I mention the 25" is that it is available in Australia and some other markets; the model number does not even show up in the US parts catalogs though. I was looking into that motor for my cat as it was pricey, but 2 diesels were too much weight and cost. I heard from a guy that did use an extension kit on that motor and said it ruined his crank shaft. I don't know it was a Bay kit, but they are the only ones I'm aware of.

I guy here in Florida built a Searunner 40 with a Yamaha 60 in a well. Don't know the exact details, but boat had been for sale on Yachtworld. Although called a "custom trimaran" in the ad as apparently be has built several and not been paying the design fee.

[sea dragon]

Originally Posted by Boatguy30

For that price you'd have to give some serious thought to a good used diesel.

I heard from a guy that did use an extension kit on that motor and said it ruined his crank shaft. I don't know it was a Bay kit, but they are the only ones I'm aware of.

I guy here in Florida built a Searunner 40 with a Yamaha 60 in a well. Don't know the exact details, but boat had been for sale on Yachtworld.

I don't want a used motor of any kind.
The local Yamaha dealers are installing the extension kit prior to me getting the motor.
They put them in all the time and have never had any problems with them.
I've known these guys for years and trust them not to steer me wrong.
The motor comes with a 5 year warranty.
I'm no mechanic and have no ambitions in that direction.
Any problems,and I will just take it to them to fix and use my little spare outboard in the meantime
I was looking at the 50 hp Yamaha,which doesn't weigh much more,but I don't think you'd gain much because of the boats hull speed.The complexity of the engine goes way up with a 4 cylinder motor,and the gas consumption would be too much for any slight benefit.
These high thrust engines are popular with big pontoon boats,and that's what I have.

[gskufner]

Thank you all for the good advice. I understand the SR concept and cherish my boat for ehat it is. Last summer i was cruising mostly in long island soundand with the wind being mostly arround 6 kn current running against me it was frustrating. I have a F27 pin top main,which does not have a huge roach and otherwise fits well on the mast and the boom, i may be able to fit it under the existind backstay.We got too much snow for me to try it on.
In terms of motor mount, i have the same setot like Scrimshaw, my motor is on what i believe is called a sled and it works well. the only problem is that at low speed the the boat turns to the side,opposite to where the motor is monted, which take some getting used to when docking for fuel.
I built a mold for the sled but my layout is for a SR 31 and a 8 hp motor.
Gerald

[Boatguy30]

Could you post a pic of the mold or sled? I need to build 2.

[Boatguy30]

Have your dealer put all that in writing. I believe the bay kits will void a factory warranty.

this is all clearly "shoulda woulda coulda" as it sounds like you already laid out the cash. I have training as an outboard mechanic and carefully consider this all for a same displacement multi, but 2 hulls not 3.

I ended up deciding on 2 identical motors for redundancy and maneuvering as well as it is the more standard setup. A larger SR with motors on each side on sleds seems like it could a good concept?

[Sand crab]

Originally Posted by Boatguy30

Could you post a pic of the mold or sled? I need to build 2.

Forum member Georgetheleo built sleds fo his cat and posted the pics here somewhere. Try contacting him. They looked pretty slick.

[Boatguy30]

I would be most interested in borrowing the mold. I have a friend that comes down for NY on a regular basis to his boat here.

[gskufner]

Not sure how to post a photo on this forum and when it comes to computers i a terrible but i know how to send photos by emai and can send it that way.and of course you can have the mold boatguy, gerald

[Sand crab]

When you open Reply to Thread box you will see a paper clip in the top row. Click on that and then you can browse for the pic in your computer. Click on the pic and then click upload. That's it. If you have several windows open then it messes up so just have CF. Also it won't take high resolution pics so you may want to reformat to smaller size. Try Gimp.

[gskufner]

These are photos of the mold and the sled in progress

[sea dragon]

Originally Posted by Boatguy30

Have your dealer put all that in writing. I believe the bay kits will void a factory warranty.

this is all clearly "shoulda woulda coulda" as it sounds like you already laid out the cash. I have training as an outboard mechanic and carefully consider this all for a same displacement multi, but 2 hulls not 3.

I ended up deciding on 2 identical motors for redundancy and maneuvering as well as it is the more standard setup. A larger SR with motors on each side on sleds seems like it could a good concept?

What type/size motors will you use?
Will they counter rotate or both spin the same way?
Twin 25's on sleds would be awesome.
I can almost picture myself water skiing behind the boat.....
Gskufner:
Where did you get the plans?Do you have any pictures of the finished sleds on the boat?
What makes them raise and lower?
is it vulnerable to wave slamming?
Where exactly are they located?