So much for Merlin engines in spitfires and failing bridges where did all that come from?...Many thanks for the back on topic comment about
outboard swamping in the
San Juan Islands.
As stated previously we usually use a 2 horse
power British Seagull Minus on the walker bay 8 which is perhaps immersed a bit deeper than the design specification due to crew weight...but with
anchor, chain and
Rode in the bow for
safety and
boat trim: we seem to get away with it. Also it is possible to adjust the distance between the
propeller shaft and the clamping bracket on that one: though I have not bothered to do it yet.
During July we tried to transit through the
Canal between the Pender Islands with the 2 hp heading west and had to bare off before passing under the bridge. We tried again and succeeded later in the day, So this is what prompted the curiosity thought to acquire the 4.5 horsepower British Seagull to try it out on the walker bay 8, I did not think the the additional 12 pounds difference between the two would be such a huge issue. (The adjustment of
motor height on the Century model of 1963 vintage is not possible)
I conducted the test in the calm sheltered waters of the Deas Slough of the Fraser river. We had more push against
wind and
current, but no appreciable increase in speed. However the
motor did not seem to be able to reach top revolutions possibly due the the immersion preventing the
exhaust from escaping efficiently, thus causing an excessive back pressure. Back in the close proximity to the
boat launch
ramp Three
power boats nearby heading in different directions churned up the
water causing a partial swamping of the
dinghy and the
outboard motor died. Causing it to subsequently refuse to start. One of the ski
boats seeing us using the oars towed us to the
dock. The next day back at the workshop it started on test without any difficulty.
Thus I find the report of the problem in the San Juans islands interesting and possibly similar to my testing the 4.5 HP
experiment... In various
parts of the world there are River Bore's and high
water flows through narrow channels between islands that are affected by tides that have to be challenged at slack water. So has anyone considered the merit of having both an inboard and and outboard running at the same time in these situations? or has the outboard proven too vulnerable to be useful in the very turbulent water.?