Small Outboard (on a sailboat over 30')

[thomm225]

Has anyone tried this, and if so what type boat?

Thanks,
Tom

[tkeithlu]

Lots of people. Are you thinking of dumping an inboard?

Relevant questions would include whether you plan to steer with it or hard mount it and use the rudder, the need for a power prop, and whether you can raise it out of the water to reduce drag and to keep it from getting pooped.

People who have done it may have other concerns/advice. I considered it as a get home rig on my diesel, but decided that 4-53 Detroit Diesels just don't quit.

[Shawn67]

2' short but I have a Suzuki 9.9BTX on my Sabre 28. Awesome engine, with the remote controls it is as easy as the inboard was (when it worked) and I can press a button to tilt it out of the water for no drag when sailing.

Shawn

[thomm225]

So on my present boat, I steer with the outboard when leaving my slip (combined with the boat's tiller if needed) and also use it sometimes to get home from 20 miles out if the wind drops off.

It's a 5 hp 4 stroke Mercury extra long shaft. The boat weight is 6600#.

I'm thinking of trying to use an outboard on a Viking 33 which displaces 8900lbs. I may just steer with the boat's tiller since the rudder is much larger than what I have now and is all the way aft.

I know that folks use outboards on 8,000lb displacement Pearson Tritons so maybe it would work on the Viking since the stern is almost straight as compared to my Bristol 27.

I've used the outboard for the last 8 years on this boat

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by Shawn67

2' short but I have a Suzuki 9.9BTX on my Sabre 28. Awesome engine, with the remote controls it is as easy as the inboard was (when it worked) and I can press a button to tilt it out of the water for no drag when sailing.

Shawn

Thanks.

Your boat's weight/displacement is very close to that of the Viking so an outboard should work.

I want to get the old rusty, smelly A4 and all the associated parts that support it out of the boat including the ancient gas tank then just use the outboard

[boatman61]

Wauquiez 37 an 8hp Suzuki l/s two stroke.

[Shawn67]

Just make sure you have good access to the inside of the transom to reinforce it. On my Sabre I glassed in (2) 1'x2'x1" fiberglass boards and bolted the engine mount to that.





Based on pictures of that boat I think you would want the remote controls as it looks like you would be reaching down a bit to get to an outboard on that boat. If you go with that engine I wouldn't even worry about the articulating mount. I never touch mine all season long. Just use the power tilt to get the engine out of the water.

https://flic.kr/p/JFca8H

The Suzuki drives the boat better than the Volvo MD7A did and it sails better due to the Sabres weird offset prop layout.

Shawn

P.S. Getting rid of the inboard, fuel tank and all the rest gives a lot of extra space you can have fun with. I just put a 5000 BTU window AC unit where the Volvo used to live. Awesome at the dock when working on the interior.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Wauquiez 37 an 8hp Suzuki l/s two stroke.

So you moved/delivered one with this setup?

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by Shawn67

Just make sure you have good access to the inside of the transom to reinforce it. On my Sabre I glassed in (2) 1'x2'x1" fiberglass boards and bolted the engine mount to that.





Based on pictures of that boat I think you would want the remote controls as it looks like you would be reaching down a bit to get to an outboard on that boat. If you go with that engine I wouldn't even worry about the articulating mount. I never touch mine all season long. Just use the power tilt to get the engine out of the water.

https://flic.kr/p/JFca8H

The Suzuki drives the boat better than the Volvo MD7A did and it sails better due to the Sabres weird offset prop layout.

Shawn

Thanks for the info. I'll be able to access the stern after I pull out the A4.

I removed the Bukh 10 from my Bristol but didn't beef up the stern at all except the exterior angled wooden plate

I could go with a replacement rebuilt A4 from Moyers Marine but that technology is so old.

They do a good job on their rebuilds though and give a one year warranty so you should have some idea if the engine is good or not by that time.

my problem with the boat is that it has been closed up for so long and smells of gas etc from the old tank and engine so I want to remove all that crap and go with a small outboard and maybe one 3 gallon tank mounted below to feed the engine when i'm not on the integral tank

https://moyermarine.com/

[Shawn67]

Originally Posted by thomm225

my problem with the boat is that it has been closed up for so long and smells of gas etc from the old tank and engine so I want to remove all that crap and go with a small outboard and maybe one 3 gallon tank mounted below to feed the engine when i'm not on the integral tank

https://moyermarine.com/

It is nice getting all that old crap out of the boat. I was able to pull out a ton of unneeded wiring, hoses and so on. Pulled the strut and glassed over the prop shaft (both ends) and the raw water pickup too to just reduce all the yearly maintenance items and to reduce drag. Way easier to change oil and impeller on the Suzuki than it was on the Volvo.

My prior boat was a Compac 23 with a Tohatsu on the stern. After getting the Sabre the kids really didn't like being down below when motoring due to the noise and smell of the inboard. They far prefer the outboard too.

Shawn

[thomm225]

I did the same with my Bristol 27 in 2011.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by thomm225

So you moved/delivered one with this setup?

Yup.. Motored her from Seville to the sea, sailed to just short of Lisbon then the wind died so we ended up motoring the remaining 100nm to Fig da Foz.

https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...cture11254.jpg

The Westerbeake needed rebuilding so I persuaded the buyers to invest in the outboard and bracket..

[thomm225]

Okay, thanks.

I was thinking it would work on this Viking 33 I'm looking at also but the darn boat needs everything except a head (they installed a composite head a few years back)

All the running rigging is ancient,, rotten, ripped, and/or dirty, the boat smells of gas, engine is a rust bucket, but it is a nice looking boat with speed. Bimini is shot but so I was thinking of using the frame to mount solar panel

The mast step looks good but haven't inspected the keel bolts because the floor (sole) boards were stuck and I didn't want to splinter them yanking them up. It has a tiller! And the stanchion bases have no cracks around them even though this is an old racing boat

[fourlyons]

If you use the right kind of outboard, a "high thrust" style, it will work fine.
We push 40' and 22,000# with two Yamaha 9.9 High Thrust outboards to 7 knots, 5 knots with one engine. They pivot up out of the water for storage.

[thomm225]

Very nice!

And they are relatively new engines which is why I'm considering a new outboard for that boat rather than a totally rebuilt Atomic 4 since those engines are so old