Thanks for this - and I second it - sail in, sail out whenever possible, that's why we call it 'sailing' not 'motoring', right? :-) I've gained the most skills and knowledge from sailing in and out of slips, on and off moorings, and in and out of coves and other swirly flukey wind zones. It can be frustrating; patience may be required; it's also seldom boring (unless it really is dead calm). I have always been surprised, when at a marina for some days, that most 'sailors' just crank up the motor and motor way out to "clear air" where there's nothing much to learn. And back in again. When I've been at Fern Ridge, and Howard Prairie (Oregon), I'm usually the only one sailing out and sailing in (excepting dinghies and other small necessarily motor-less boats). Personally, if it looks like there's any way I can sail out and in, no way will I crank up a gas motor. For the first few years I had my M17 I got by with an old Tanaka 1.75 hp ("AquaBug" branded) from back in the mid-80's. I only used it a few times for a couple hundred yards, to get in and out of a tight slip when the wind was blowing reverse of the normal. Once for maybe ten minutes solid, to get back when it went glassy unexpectedly on an odd weather day. Looking to cruise in larger NW waters "sometime soon," with often calm summer days & currents, I bought a Honda 2.3 a couple years ago. Mostly it stays silent. I might have two hours on it total so far. The most I used it yet was last year at Fern Ridge, mainly to test it out in various conditions from glassy to gusting 20+. I'll post test results separately. short version is, it's plenty of motor as an "auxiliary." If one wanted a water-cooled, then the Tohatsu (or Mercury, same motor different label) 3.5 would be more than enough. Suzuki also has a 2.5 water cooled since a couple years ago. cheers, John On 5/20/20 8:13 AM, Edward Epifani wrote:
Hi All, This thread got me started on motor musings. Nasty, wonderful little beasties that they are. My M15 came with a 2 hp 4strk Honda of ancient origin. It starts reliably , in gear, lacking a centrifugal clutch,putting and hissing it’s fine spray exhaust. Reverse is simply turning the whole contraption 180degrees. It can be easily taken off and stored. Previously I had an old style Mac 25 with a six hp Yamaha. Even in the raised position it dragged the prop on stb tack in a good breeze. Arhg..... One day a cruiser came into our cove, skippered by a Chilean/Alaskan guy and his wife. The 36’ cutter had a motor but they never used it. They invited me out for an evening sail. We slipped the anchor on a bouy, with a secondary float hanging 50’ back on a 1/4” line. It was a spectacular scene, clouds and sky typical of Baja. What followed was a wonderful introduction to motorless sailing. He tossed cushions over, we picked them up under sail, etc. Spun on a dime, backing and filling twisting, turning, jibing and tacking. Returning, we tacked , Jib backed hove to, luffed the main and drifted down lazily and picked up the trailing painter, hauled her up to the main bouy, stowed gear.. The tequila came out, fine sipping stuff, as the sun went down. All of my previous sailing, with the exception of dingy racing and windsurfing, had been under the pressure of time, abetted by the little tyrant on the stern. I got two books on boat handling written with humor and precision by Englishmen, detailing endless exercises. I took the motor off. A week, then weeks, then years passed, hand, reef , launch,retrieve, fish all under sail. And always a book, food, and coffee for calms. Sailing became a joy again. I’m back in the PNW, and the motor is useful, morning calm and currents always. But my little frenemy doesn’t run the show.
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On May 20, 2020, at 6:32 AM, Peter Zimowsky via montgomery_boats <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> wrote:
Hi: I have a 4-stroke, 4 horse Mercury that is fabulous. I use the motor’s tank most of the time on local reservoirs. When I am sailing the San Juans I use the external 3 gallon tank. Going from Anacortes to Blakely Island Harbor (in SJs) or Orcas and no wind and cruising I use about a gallon depending on currents. I carry a small one gallon plastic gas container to get it filled at the harbor and then replace the gas in the external tank. This has worked well. When on small reservoirs I keep extra gas in the one gallon container and leave the external tank at home. Good winds Pete WinterSky (Zimowsky)
outdoors writer and photographer www.getoutdoorsnorthwest.com <http://www.getoutdoorsnorthwest.com/> Twitter: @zimosoutdoors
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On May 20, 2020, at 6:47 AM, Charlie via montgomery_boats <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> wrote:
I have a newer model Honda 5 hp with internal tank. Can also be feed with an external tank if needed. Works great. I’m a believer in Honda motors as I’ve had an older model 5 hp for at least 10 yrs on a Drascombe Lugger and never a problem. I use the 3 gal tank. It can only be feed by external tank but fits perfect in Lugger.
Charlie A
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On May 20, 2020, at 7:31 AM, Rob Bultman <rob.bultman@gmail.com> wrote:
I'm looking at getting an outboard for my M17 and I have a few questions.
1) If you have an external fuel tank, where do you keep it when you are under sail? 2) If you have an external fuel tank, where do you keep it when you are under power? 3) To what degree does the fuel tank get in the way either when under sail or power? 4) Any opinions on gasoline vs propane outboards?
Thanks, Rob
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