[Public-list] another outboard discussion

[J Bergquist]

Dear List,

 

Me again, with the busted atomic 4. 

 

So I have been kicking around all kinds of harebrained ideas about how to
propel my boat when there is no wind. Today I went to the marina where I am
coming out of the water for the winter (Fairwinds on the Magothy), and I
discovered that they do a lot of business in outboard motors. I found out
that I can buy a brand new, four stroke 9.9 hp Yamaha high thrust long shaft
motor with electric start for only $2200. It comes with a 2 year warranty.
It weighs just over 100 #. 

 

Now, my other options are as follows:

 

1.	Install a rebuilt Atomic 4. My short block is worthless. But my
alternator and carburetor are good. Head and manifold need replacing. By my
calculations, I need about $4000 to get a rebuild A4 from Moyer. Plus a
bunch of time and effort to install it. 
2.	Install a new diesel. This seems to be a good option, but I'm
currently estimating at least $8000 after I buy shafting, propeller,
dripless packing, new fuel system, and a few other while-you're-at-its. Plus
even more time and effort spent installing it. 
3.	Install electric propulsion. I love everything about this option
except the range limitation (severe!), the longevity (electronics and
water.no no), and the unconventional nature (might be tough to sell to a new
owner). Its cost is more difficult to estimate because there is not much in
the way of comparables, but it would be at least $5000 and maybe as much as
$9000. Depending on how many batteries I buy and what kind of onboard
charging system investment I make (solar, wind, fuel cell - yikes), it could
be a lot more. Then there is the risk.there's nobody out there who has a
comparable system and can say yes it works or no it doesn't. 

 

So I know that Yves Gelinas repowered Jean du Sud with an outboard. And he
seems to have come up with a nice way of mounting it on an articulating
bracket on the port side. My existing gas tank is on the starboard side. I
am thinking that I could make a real nice bracket and install the plumbing
for gasoline from my existing tank right out to the motor and hook it into
my existing electrical system (of course, it only has a 10 amp
alternator.wouldn't charge batteries very fast). 

 

Even considering the cost differential between this motor and an A4, I could
buy some really nice canvas, a second bank of batteries to make up for the
additional time I would have to go between charging (boosting my capacity
from 200 to 400 amp hours), and a super nice shore-power based charging and
monitoring system and still have cash left over. Not to mention my boat
would be a couple of hundred # lighter (would y'all still let me race?)

 

Can someone tell me what is silly about this idea? It seems to me a really
good option. Allows me to invest more time and money in sailing, rather than
in my motor. It is, after all, a sailboat. Sometimes I think I might forget
that.

 

Your pal,

 

J Bergquist

Calliope #287

 

PS. Is anybody out there interested in helping me sail my boat up to
Fairwinds Marina on the Magothy this Saturday? I need crew!