Auxiliary Motor Bracket, 26M?

[Chip Hindes]

i'm gonna paddle my inflatable for a bit longer and enjoy the exercise.

That's exactly what I thought. However, read this.

[Bobby T.-26X #4767]

good story...
i'll buy the 2hp when i plan a trip to a known gusty area.

[James V]

Most of the outboard motors mounted on the stern are either in the water or never in the water because they cannot tilt enough to be out of the water.

I have seen 2 different types of Lift & Lower OB Bracket. Short and long. Has anybody put a longer one on and have the motor out of the water and be able to put it in the water?

[Chip Hindes]

That's exactly what I have. Mine is a Garelick with, I believe, 11.? inches of travel. Unfortunately, all my records are with the boat, 50 miles away and I won't be able to check until at least the weekend, maybe next weekend if the weather doesn't cooperate.

The bracket is mounted to the starboard transom. As long as the boat is straight, the motor is well in the water when the bracket is down, well out of the water when up. The only problem is, because of the way a sailboat works, when it's supposed to be in the water but the boat is healed to port, it comes out of the water.

When out of the water if healed to starboard the prop will drag.

I don't believe a bracket with less than 20 inches of travel will prevent this from happening under all conditions.

[Greg]

The Dinghy does make a good place to stow refuse when traveling though.

May be a good place for the porta-potty after a multi day trip!

Greg

[Bobby T.-26X #4767]

this thread is regarding a OB motor bracket for an M.
brackets on X's work great.
i've seen many pics on the site and in person.
several have outboards up to 60#.

however, the M is a problem child because of lack of transom room on each side of the rudders.
and even if one was installed, the rudders movement would interfere.

even mounting a 2hp on the swim ladder would be a tight squeeze when making tight turns with the primary OB.

i vote X!

[They Theirs]

Mounting an Outboard,Outboard
Auxiliary mounted outboard, to remove inboard diesel for storage and weight advantage, proved excellent for world cruising.


The Re-power of Jean du Sud

[NautiMoments]

I have been contemplating purchasing a motor for my dingy and was looking at a Merc 3.3 2 stroke. I have found out that the manufacturers are stopping importing 2 stroke engines into Canada & US due to the California polusion standards. This means if you want one of those light weight 2 strokes you have to find if anyone has one left. This is my quandry, do I but a 28.5# 3.3HP 2 Stroke Merc. or a 2.5HP 38# 4 stroke. The mixing of fuel, possible not being allowed to use on some places, 4 strokes last longer are down sides to the 2 stroke. But the extra weight of the 4 stroke and thus storage problem is their down side. Not sure which way to go but have to do it soon.

[DLT]

If I were seriously looking for a motor that small (<5hp), I'd look real hard at an electric trolling motor...

You many not be saving any weight, as you'd have a battery to deal with too. But, at least you'd have two pieces that would be easier to handle, and could safely be stored in the cabin.

Charging is the other issue, an it won't be energy efficient, but there lots of ways to do it: main engine, solar, shore power, generator, etc...

That isn't a good solution for everyone, but I'd be looking real hard at it, if it were me...

[Bobby T.-26X #4767]

i just talked to someone who purchased the new Suzuki 2.5hp 4 stroke for $725-US (plus tax) and it included a 6 year warranty.
it weighs only 29#.
it's water cooled vs the honda 2hp air cooled model.
the Suzuki should be quieter.

i got an idea...drive across the border to Bellingham and use your Canadian currency exchange advantage!

Bob T.
"DaBob"
'02X w/ '04 90-TLDI

[Terry]

The Suzuki @ 29# sounds like a good alternative, but unless you have a means of securing it to the M transom it is not the only solution. It appears from the discussion so far that Stern Rail seats would be the most appropriate position for an engine bracket modification and even then the engine would have to be light enough to lift off and on easily. The approx. 30# sounds light enough and if it was a 30# or 60# dumbell it would not be that difficult, but spread over the length of the engine it does become a bit cumbersome and unweildy especially when approaching 60#. Another solution is simply tow the dinghy with the engine mounted on it, at least it is ready to go on shorter notice, and opens your options for a larger engine. Keep in mind the dinghy can double as an extra toy, it does not have to be restricted to dinghy dock or shore service. Put a 6hp on it like Duane does and you have a toy power boat for the kids to play in (yes I'm a big kid), it adds another dimension to extended sailing trips. It depends on what you want to use your dinghy for. I have a 60# 5hp honda, and even though I can shoulder press a 60# dumbell in each hand for 120#, it is all I can do to wrestle that engine onto the dinghy transom, once I get it on there it stays put. I do enjoy having it at my slip for zipping around to visit other boats or even to zip outside the marina to check conditions, I look for any excuse I can find. On extended trips it comes in handy for exploring while leaving the Mac anchored and if you have the kids with you it gives them something to do besides getting in your way. Just because the larger hp is heavier does not rule it out, it simply opens more options if you don't mind towing it. Having a dinghy that tracks well also helps.

[Frank C]

.... If it can't be mounted on the stern like I've seen them on X's, is there another spot on the rails or ?? where it can be mounted or stored?

Just a dumb question from X owner, but is it a foregone conclusion that, since aft rails are absent from the M, there's no other way to mount an outboard bracket? Aren't the heavy-duty lifting brackets on the 26X are always mounted to the hull? ... isn't that best for the M, too?

Seems, from here, as if a full Boatbuck for stern rail seats is the long, expensive path to this solution.

[Catigale]

I agree Terry...you are not going to hand-mount a 60# motor onto a dinghy easily...you need a winch arrangement of some kind.

I was practicing with my 30# motor on Sunday and that wasnt easy....

[Terry]

Just a dumb question from X owner, but is it a foregone conclusion that, since aft rails are absent from the M, there's no other way to mount an outboard bracket? Aren't the heavy-duty lifting brackets on the 26X are always mounted to the hull? ... isn't that best for the M, too?

Frank,
perhaps someone could post pictures of the X & M transomes side by side for comparison, so we could all see the differences, I can only speak for the M I have and it does not appear feasible to mount a bracket right onto the fiberglass transom to use the engine as a spare auxilliary if the 50hp quits. The curvaceous hips of the M are a bit narrow and an engine there may interfere with the rudders when they are raised. The X clearly has wider hips with more room to carry more weight, it is more rectangular. The rounder hull combined with the rounder transome on the M reduces available surface area for mounting brackets. Stern Rail seats or some other SS mount for engine storage is about all that is feasible, and would allow for mounting further from the rudders.

[They Theirs]