spare outboard storage

[saltyrogue]

Because the outboard that came with my 26s is a 1994 2-stroke, I have decided to upgrade to a new Mercury 9.9 4 stroke. However, I want to keep the 2-stroke as an emergency engine. I like how Sumner has mounted his to the back rail, but, I do not need to lower the motor for use in a dingy. Also, does this mounting system put too much weight at the stern plus at a higher center of gravity? I am contemplating storing the spare motor in a wooden crate and cutting an access door to slide it under the V-berth. Once stowed I could forget about it unless I needed it. I know the arguments regarding the dependability of today's outboards, but 95% of my sailing is exploring the bays and fjords of western Prince William Sound where I need to be able to seek sanctuary in a protected cove quickly, and a tow home is 2-3 thousand dollars.

My questions are... is a 2-stroke motor okay being stored on its side? and... it seems that other people have tried to get heavy equipment such as batteries and anchors under the V-berth. Is it best to try to get more weight low and forward?

Thanks again for the help.

Dave

[nedmiller]

The issue with storing an outboard on it's side is that if there is moisture, it will collect around the piston on whatever side is down and cause rust and can lock up the engine. I had a 3.9 Merc do that after storing it in the barn one winter. In a boat... with a shorter time of storage, you may not have that issue. You could shoot some fogging oil into the spark plug hole and that would help..Pull the rope often to move the piston.

SILK

[Russ]

Gasoline in the cabin is not a good combination. You leak some vapors and you have a problem. I'd look for an outside solution.


--Russ

[Sumner]

How heavy is the old outboard? The 5 HP Nissan I have....



http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner ... de-12.html

...mounted is about 60 lbs. Since the mount is almost down at the transom I wouldn't worry (I haven't) too much about the weight. I'm about ready to mount 140 watts of solar much higher that will probably come in weighing 40 lbs. or so.

Also since Tohatsu.....

http://www.tohatsuoutboards.com/Tohatsu ... rcury.html

....probably makes the Merc (see above link) you are looking at maybe save the money and get a 9.8 HP Tohatsu. That is what we did....





...this spring.............

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner ... de-25.html

Some people have stored a smaller outboard in the lazarette, but there again you could have the gas fume problem. Also most outboards are marked on the outboard or in the manual which side they should be stored on if you do store it on its side.

Good luck,

Sum

Our Trips to..

Our Mac Pages

Mac-Venture Links

[grady]

If it is a emergency engine then you could pickle it and store it in the cabin with no issue in any orientation.

To be really safe you could find a place to shrink wrap it and place a couple of bags of Desiccant in side. keep some two stroke oil to put in your gas can you already have. no gas or fumes in the cabin. Engine will be able to sit for years and be ready to use with no issues.

[saltyrogue]

Sumner, the engine is an 8 hp Tohatsu. I originally looked at the Tohatsu 9.8 but was worried that the 10 hp would not have enough umph to push the boat against wind and tide (a cheechako fear perhaps). So I decided to go with a 15 hp, thinking more power = better. With a 25" shaft, that left Honda ($4100) or Mercury (3400). The Mercury dealer sold me on the 9.9 Bigfoot with the low angle prop, explaining that it would supply more torque than the 15 hp, so thats what I went with.

Even though I am not ready to sail it for the first time, I put the boat on the lake yesterday. I was surprised that the little 8 hp moved the boat as well as it did. But, it seems that the rudder comes dangerously close to the prop and I see a few dings in my rudder. Is this an issue with the rudder fully down? If so, can a stop be installed to prevent the rudder from pivoting too far and hitting the motor. And, (last question, I promise) I have heard mention of a prop shroud- is this an after market accessory or are people fabricating them?

Thanks for the help!

Dave

[Russ]

Since you bought a 9.9, why not sell the 8hp and buy a small 2.5 for a dinghy motor and spare.


--Russ

[Sumner]

............ dealer sold me on the 9.9 Bigfoot with the low angle prop, explaining that it would supply more torque than the 15 hp, so that's what I went with.......................... it seems that the rudder comes dangerously close to the prop and I see a few dings in my rudder. Is this an issue with the rudder fully down? ...............have heard mention of a prop shroud- is this an after market accessory or are people fabricating them?.....Dave

The 9.8 HP Tohatsu extra long shaft (25 inch) comes with a 5 pitch high thrust prop stock, just in case someone else wants to know. Yep, you didn't need anything bigger than the 9.9. In fact the first time we went out the Honda 8 HP we had wouldn't start and we used the 5 HP Nissan (had been re-proped to a lower pitch) and it moved the boat easily into 25 mph winds on part throttle. We got the 9.8 HP for the 25 inch shaft as you can't get that on the 8 HP and for the electric start.

You can turn the rudder and the outboard in such a way that you can get into the prop. We have done it twice, but both times Ruth was backing us up and the current caught the rudder and pushed it around into the outboard. Normally if you are in a tight situation they should both be pointed the same way and then won't come together. I recently made the rudder tiller to outboard tiller linkage to use while docking or in other tight situations. I don't have the build up, but here are 3 youtube videos showing it being installed, working and detaching it. It takes less than 15 seconds to attach it or detach it. I'm hoping it works well. Normally just point the outboard straight ahead and use the rudder....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UYc2ZHe ... re=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COMAPYd5 ... re=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sWbLBGc ... re=channel

On the shroud, yes you can buy them and people make them. With the new mount we have that is...............



............... 5 inches higher and 5 inches further back it looks like the prop can no longer hit our rudder. Now I made the mount so that it quickly removes and then the outboard mounts down on the transom in the stock location if we want it deeper in the water and there it could hit the rudder.

c ya,

Sum

Our Trips to..

Our Mac Pages

Mac-Venture Links