Circumnavigation with only an outboard.

[philipmclaren1]

I was wondering how many people have completed a circumnavigation with only an outboard engine?
Is it a viable option rather than having a diesel inboard?

[billknny]

Given that people have circumnavigated with no engine at all, the absolute answer to your question should be rather obvious...

The practical answer is (like all things sailing) IT DEPENDS. It depends on the boat (and the sailor at the helm!) It has to be a boat where you can sail out of what ever trouble you get into, because you really can't count on an outboard in large waves or strong winds to save your bacon.

Now the question you really want to ask yourself, is do I want to circumnavigate in a boat small enough that an outboard is a appropriate engine. Nobody can answer that for you...

[Jammer]

Hello Philip. Interesting question.

Generally, boats suitable for bluewater cruising are constructed with inboards (or saildrives), so it would be difficult to find a suitable boat.

I would be concerned about the reliability of a stern-mounted outboard in extremely heavy seas, where motoring is sometimes necessary, because of the possibility that the motor could be flooded above the air intake.

Then again there are some circumnavigations completed in boats that have no motor at all. @boat_alexandria has been cruising in this fashion for quite some time. I do not know if he has completed a circumnavigaiton.

[thomm225]

Yes, it is a viable option.

There are a few small Water boats">Blue Water Boats that are well suited to outboards. Sailboat Reviews of Offshore Cruising Yachts : Bluewaterboats.org

A few of these are :

Contessa 26 (Tania Aebi)
Bristol 27
Pearson Triton 28 (James Baldwin, atomvoyages.com)
Vega 27 (Matt Rutherford circumnavigated the Americas, solo the Americas)
Marieholm International Folkboat 26

A Pearson Triton has circumnavigated with an outboard and without. A Contessa 26 has circumnavigated mostly with a broken inboard engine

The others have crossed oceans so I'm sure they could circumnavigate if they haven't already with an outboard

A Lapworth 24 with an outboard sailed 3/4 the way around (Robin Lee Graham) before he bought a bigger boat

[Jimmathieson]

Richard Woods designs from the 35' Romany & Eclipse & Tamar & Gypsy could all circumnavigate and all use OB's as an option....As others have mentioned Pardeys' cruised without an Engine as have others most likely.
With Catamarans you move the OB's forward from the stern ,use long shaft etc.
One or two as option ,I'd go for a 20HP as Yamaha's newest are lighter now depending if you want to save weight back there and your situation ,9.9 HP is enough or 8....

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by Jammer

Hello Philip. Interesting question.

Generally, boats suitable for bluewater cruising are constructed with inboards (or saildrives), so it would be difficult to find a suitable boat.

I would be concerned about the reliability of a stern-mounted outboard in extremely heavy seas, where motoring is sometimes necessary, because of the possibility that the motor could be flooded above the air intake.

Then again there are some circumnavigations completed in boats that have no motor at all. @boat_alexandria has been cruising in this fashion for quite some time. I do not know if he has completed a circumnavigaiton.

Stern mounted outboards can be removed and placed in a protected area after leaving the slip.

For example, I put mine on the stern railing mount where the PO used to keep his dinghy engine.

I could also place it inside the cabin if necessary. The prop could be removed and it
could put it in the area where the diesel used to be, in the hanging locker, or the V Berth

Also, my new (2012) 5 hp extra long shaft (25") 4 stroke Mercury outboard with integral and external tank capability can push my boat as well as the old 10 hp diesel that used to be in it.

Btw the outboard weighs 58 lbs. The old diesel weighed 352 lbs

I think it helps if you've sailed a few years engineless though if you plan to use an outboard

[philipmclaren1]

At the moment i have two yanmar 1 gm in each hull, its a Catamaran. I have the option of putting in an outboard in a central well, central cockpit, its a Heavenly Twins.

I have bought two Selva 9.9 Sail Drive one with 5 year warranty. I could do with the extra space in the hulls as we have 5 kids and it would be great for putting stoop throughs into the aft cabins for safety.

I am at the stage in my project where i need to decide. so thought i would put the question out there.

[boatman61]

Dont.. DONT go sail drive.. worst thing ever created.
Stick a 25hp LS in the cockpit well and use the underseat lockers to store your fuel.
The HT outboard set up is pretty good I have found.. it wont push you into 25kts+ winds and 1.5+ metre seas.. but then neither will the sail drives which will sit further aft.
Speaking as someone who has sailed them.. go for the ob.

[a64pilot]

5 kids?

[philipmclaren1]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Dont.. DONT go sail drive.. worst thing ever created.

Stick a 25hp LS in the cockpit well and use the underseat lockers to store your fuel.

The HT outboard set up is pretty good I have found.. it wont push you into 25kts+ winds and 1.5+ metre seas.. but then neither will the sail drives which will sit further aft.

Speaking as someone who has sailed them.. go for the ob.

The selva sail drives are 9.9hp out boards.
So you would recommend 25hp instead?

[philipmclaren1]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

5 kids?

Yeah I’m getting the snip now. [emoji51]

[boatman61]

Sorry.. when you said Saildrives I immediately pictured holes cut in the hulls and a Lagoon style set up.. especially with you saying you would prefer to keep aft cabin space.
If you already have the 9.5hp OB's give them a try.. see if you are happy with the performance before going for something bigger.
But from scratch I'd choose a centre cockpit L/S 4 stroke outboard, minimum 15hp I would say as you'll likely be weighed down to your lines or beyond.
That should give you plenty enough power to push you at hull speed with 50% to 75% revs and a good prop.

[catsketcher]

I had a quick look at the specs on the Selva and they are a bit different. The 9.9 Sail version is light but is only 1 cylinder which is a bit strange. The prop is not big like the Yamaha 9.9 Hi thrust. The Selva does not have the 3:1 ratio gearbox of the Yammie. I would go for two Yamaha 9.9 a they are very reliable engines and you can get spares anywhere. I would not buy a Selva.

A steerable Yamaha 25 sitting in the middle nacelle would do pretty well in the Heavenly Twins. Steering a central outboard makes a huge difference. It would be much easier to mount than twins and the Yammie 25hp Hi thrust is a really nice engine (Mine has worked flawlessly for 12 years now.)

There is a lot of misunderstanding about good outboards and their usable life. My 12 year old Yammie is showing no signs of age and is performing as well as ever. It will cost less to replace (buy new and sell old one) than my friend spent on doing a major service and hose replacement on his diesel.

cheers

Phil

[philipmclaren1]

Originally Posted by catsketcher

I had a quick look at the specs on the Selva and they are a bit different. The 9.9 Sail version is light but is only 1 cylinder which is a bit strange. The prop is not big like the Yamaha 9.9 Hi thrust. The Selva does not have the 3:1 ratio gearbox of the Yammie. I would go for two Yamaha 9.9 a they are very reliable engines and you can get spares anywhere. I would not buy a Selva.



A steerable Yamaha 25 sitting in the middle nacelle would do pretty well in the Heavenly Twins. Steering a central outboard makes a huge difference. It would be much easier to mount than twins and the Yammie 25hp Hi thrust is a really nice engine (Mine has worked flawlessly for 12 years now.)



There is a lot of misunderstanding about good outboards and their usable life. My 12 year old Yammie is showing no signs of age and is performing as well as ever. It will cost less to replace (buy new and sell old one) than my friend spent on doing a major service and hose replacement on his diesel.



cheers



Phil

https://www.european-business.com/selva-spa/portrait/

Selva makes a lot of the Yamaha engines for Yamaha

[fatherchronica]

Moitessier had to install an engine in order to teach sailing before his circumnavigation, and he installed, as I recall, an 8 hp pull start, 2 stroke lawnmower motor, which he took out before his circumnavigation. Webb Chile (?) is doing his 6 th or 7th right now with an electric outboard.