MacGregorSailors.com

i know bigger is always better, to a point. but my tender http://www.achillesinflatables.com/boat ... nghies/lt/ is only rated to a 3hp- , how would that work as an emergency back up motor for a .
might be a bit small??
i know it would not buck tides or strong winds- well if i had a wind i would be sailing i guess, and if the tide was in the wrong direction, i would have to throw out the hook and wait it out-maybe i have answered my own question- but any thoughts are welcome!

My 2.5 Merc 2s gets my 16' hunting/lake boat moving 10-15kmph. I use it for trolling and drift hunting when its not on the tender. Used it for 350 km on this years hunting trip. Fully loaded (two people gear and food for a week) and I could turn it into the current (7-8kph) and make headway going up stream! (i was blown away) It does push a rigid boat much better than the inflatable.

I always figure if my main 70HP dies on me and its nasty out I have the sails. If its dead calm and sails won't work then I can probably keep off the rocks and very slowly make headway to harbour or at least to a suitable anchorage and wait for wind or help. Not sure if i'd pull it out to dock in a good wind or try and give it a go under sail if the conditions were right. When I have it on board this season I intend to throw it on and see what it'll do.

There is a young couple that have an older larger sailboat that is about 35 feet long and 20,000 lbs. Their diesel died on them a couple years ago and the sailed near here and then used their Inflatable as a tender (maybe an 8 HP) and pushed the sailboat through the lock and though 8 miles of canals to the yard. Then the next year still not having the money to fix the diesel took the boat out and later back in with the dinghy again.

I have no doubt that the 3 1/2 long shaft we bought would push the S about anywhere it needed to go with caution doing it. Might have to put the anchor down and wait for currents to go down in cuts and such but it would get you there. After sitting some place on a Bahamian moor for a couple days with 3 anchors down and the lines twisted I found the easiest way to untwist them was to tie the dingy to the side of the boat and start that outboard and push the Mac around in circles to untwist them,

Sumner

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Our MacGregor 26-S

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

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One of my favourite winter sailing watches is Trevor Dickson's travel's up the inside passage on Youtube. His goal was to use as little fuel as possible and in one of his videos (4 part series I believe) he has no wind and rather than waiting at dock he starts rowing the dingy with his boat in tow (27 cat I think). Can't remember how many km's he puts on but doable in a pinch. Much easier with a 3hp

I believe the challenge is not HP, but rather how on an do you attach an auxiliary engine. This Mod was posted, but I don't know how well it works. http://macgregorsailors.com/modt/index.php?view=1931

Ray

I 'M with You Ray...... I bought the mount and am trying to figure how and where exactly to mount it.... With the rudder being so close, there is zero room to wiggle Ron.

thanks all,
i know its not ideal, but one might just use it on the dingy, and maybe try a rather tow the mac, than try and mount it on the mac- the rudders would sure get in the way- and trying to keep some weight off the stern- although they dont weigh very much!
that will be the way to go i think!!
cheers
wayne

I use my Suzuki 2.5hp a lot, coast or in rivers. Ballast in, half throttle will push it around 3 knts. 4 plus max and go on forever on a litre of fuel. I have test docked with it okay. note, I mounted inside the engine and rudders.

thats good first hand info, thanks mate- so i looks like i will be looking out for a little 3horse.
at least it can help get me home if needed.
thanks all

NiceAft wrote:I believe the challenge is not HP, but rather how on an do you attach an auxiliary engine. This Mod was posted, but I don't know how well it works. http://macgregorsailors.com/modt/index.php?view=1931

Ray

The aux motor mount added last winter performed very well during our cruising season last summer. As mentioned by others, location is critical to ensure no interference with rudders when in the up position. There is no extra space, when the helm is hard to starboard the rudder touches the motor, however no interference or limitation to the rudder movement. Also, hight is important to make sure the lower unit does not drag in the water when heeling. At a 20 deg heel the tip of the motor skeg just touches the water.

Marc

forgot to mention, the main reason I positioned between the engine/rudders is that it will rotate back fully without the need for extending a motor bracket etc. large powerheads may have clearance issues though.

Wayne nicol wrote:thanks all,
i know its not ideal, but one might just use it on the dingy, and maybe try a rather tow the mac, than try and mount it on the mac- the rudders would sure get in the way- and trying to keep some weight off the stern- although they dont weigh very much!
that will be the way to go i think!!
cheers
wayne

That would work. My son has been in the dinghy with the 2.5 Suzi and pushes the Mac nicely. You could tied the dinghy alongside and get you back to port.

If you had a big headwind, you might have some issues, but then again might be better off sitting it out anyway without proper power.

133bhp,

The afts of an & an are not the same. An auxiliary mount which works on the does not work on an

Mdean,
Thanks for the follow up report.

Ray

Mdeane : I sure would like to know the measurements from the points You used and the measurements of that snazzy fiberglass piece You made to level it out Dauntless is a 2011 so the sterns might be the same as Your 09 Thanks Marc. Ron.

Ron,

Our M is a 2005, not sure if there are differences with 2011 M.

The "snazzy fiberglass piece", as you call it, is 5.5" wide x 9.5" high, roughly matching the purchased motor mounting bracket.
The mounting face is in the same plane as the centerline of the transom. If I were to do this again, I would make the mounting faces parallel but moved out 1.5" to 2" to provide a little more clearance between the motor power head and the transom.
The vertical centerline of the motor mounting bracket is 6.75" from the vertical centerline of the starboard rudder.
Bottom of the "snazzy fiberglass piece" is 1" above the top of the rudder mounting crevice.

Disclaimer- This works with the 5 HP motor & mounting bracket make and model I have, any other combinations may not work as well.

Marc