Feasability of British Seagull Outboard

[ConradG]

Originally Posted by zeehag

they run like other brit engines and cars did and still do--- by the grace of lucas.

To drive a Jag you need two-one to drive while the other is being fixed?

But the old land rover 88s and 90s with the three and four cylinder Perkins diesels could be kept going simply enough. Sort of likie the seagul come to think of it- tinker enough and they go. For a little while.

Hey, it's for a sailboat! Don't need it anyway. There's a sail. (Perhaps fitting a sail to the landrover is the answer. Certainly a must for the Jag!)

[sailvayu]

Think Honda! You can go boating or stay ashore and work on things to go boating.

[Unicorn Dreams]

My SEAGULL was built in 1951 and I acquired it in 1960. It was on a boat my Grandfather and I saved after Hurricane Donna.
Still have the engine and it still runs great. Have used it as emergency power for this boat 3 times ans it pushed it along pretty well, wouldn't work in strong winds, but then it's only 5 HP pushing 22000 lbs +.
These are working engines, not play engines, built for work not speed.
When my first boat was destroyed in a yard fire in Durban, the Seagull was about the only thing I brought back..
And, if your skiff is an old design, the Seagull will look a lot better than one of the new plastic looking engines.. Polished brass or brass with patina looks better on classic style boats!!

[onestepcsy37]

unicorn dreams, funny you should mention pushing a 22000lb boat. back in the late 70's i spent some time in key largo. there was a couple living on an owner built 35 foot aluminum sloop - had to weigh about 15 to 20000lbs. one calm day, just to try it, we attached a small seagull to the stern ladder and slowly motored across rock harbor. i have the feeling that most small outboards might have done the same, but it was certainly an eye opening experience.

i've owned three seagulls. all of them worked well. all of them needed to be maintained, maybe a bit more than other two strokes. all of them were dirty. couldn't keep one on the stern pulpit because oil was always slowly leaking out of their lower units. back then there was a guy in fort lauderdale who stocked parts for them so service wasn't difficult.

they started pretty easily, especially when they went to cdi ignition. the best thing about them is that they are incredibly easy to fix. they should use them in engine schools as a first project. i always thought that if you couldn't diagnose and fix a seagull you couldn't fix any engine.

i would recommend them to anyone who likes to tinker.....

[CalebD]

Lucas. The prince of darkness: Lucas - Prince of Darkness - Lucas Electrical Humor Jokes
Don't miss the '
Lucas Replacement Wiring Harness Smoke

"
section.

[markpierce]

Originally Posted by KillerBoo

Sheeesh.. is that really an engine? It looks like an oversized milkshake machine

Whaaa? It looks what a proper outboard should. Other outboards place too much importance on "skin-deep" beauty.

I had a 5hp Seagull, and it never failed to start quickly.

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by KillerBoo

Sheeesh.. is that really an engine? It looks like an oversized milkshake machine

The local council (city) supply every resident with a large green plastic bin to wash your outboard motor in, yes seriously, but most folk just seem to put there rubbish in them for collection.

Anyway that Seagull makes a great way to wash them out whilst flushing the engine at the same time. The council are soooo thoughtfull

Interestingly, we tried the Seagull on a 2.5T 22ft rib, pushed it along at 3 knots all down to gearing and size of prop.

Pete

[foggysail]

Someone once said in a different forum that Seagulls were appropriately named. They are loud and dirty just like the bird.

Foggy

[Tia Bu]

I bought an old Seagull to use as my dinghy motor almost a year ago. Had a great time fixing it up, getting it running, putting around the marina proudly. Then sailed with it down to the Bahamas, where I spent two weeks of my vacation yanking on it, breaking it down, rebuilding it-- often with the help of admiring and enthusiastic fellow boaters on a nostalgia kick. Finally, I sold it to a guy in Nassau who wanted something old to work on. Then I bought a new Mercury for reliable transportation. The Mercury isn't nearly as beautiful, but it runs more often. (Notice I didn't say reliably :-))

Have you considered a set of oars or a sail? :-)

[WillJacocks]

My dad had one back in the mid to late 70's for our South Coast 22 "Blue Dove". That thing was awesome, never had a problem with it except when getting caught out in a bad t'storm and the waves would just cause it to come up out of the water too much for it to do any good. Always started, never ran out even with about an hour puttering out to the lake to sail.

[Tashtego]

Please note that tinkering on a Seagull requires some new (old) tools. The fasteners are Whitworth and none of your inch or metric wrenches will fit.

[Tia Bu]

While you are technically correct about the Whitworth bolt and nut sizes, practically I took my 1968 Seagull Forty Plus completely apart and put it back together (more times than I would have liked) with my standard English size wrenches.

[bruce smith]

The SOS guy can keep it in tip top shape for you and if it goes nicely with a character boat then it is a no brainer. half the folks will comment on the cool boat and half will comment on the cool engine.
I built one of thoses Around Bermuda Raceboats 20 years ago, 20'long ,7 1/2 knots for 40 miles. (One Trick Pony).
2 sizes 40cc =1 1/2 hp
102cc =3 1/2 hp

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Tia Bu

While you are technically correct about the Whitworth bolt and nut sizes, practically I took my 1968 Seagull Forty Plus completely apart and put it back together (more times than I would have liked) with my standard English size wrenches.

I just use my Whitworth pliers and Whitworth crescent wrench along with my Whitworth screwdrivers.

[perchance]

Don't forget the Whitworth ballpein. A metric adjustable will work if you don't have a Whitworth handy.