Don't put sandbags at the bow to balance the boat. This will just make hobby horsing worse. You don't want weight at the ends of a boat. Really don't know why the boat with feel that off just because of the outboard. It's not the best location but it's not as if the boat will be completely off her lines. I have a Suzuki four, which is really a six horsepower motor just with a smaller carburetor, that weighs probably 65 pounds. My Montgomery 17 doesn't feel off balance in any significant way. If the boat is correctly on her lines the bottom of the transom is about 1-2 inches or so under the water at most. ( I can go and look at the water stain on my boat if needed) Is the feeling of off balance in the helm? Excessive lee or weather helm? This feeling would come more from mast rake being incorrect, sail trim, or blown out sails. :: Dave Scobie On Sep 13, 2015 8:17 PM, "Ron McNeil via montgomery_boats" < montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> wrote:
I have a newer M17 with a Honda 5Hp on a motor mount. The boat is off balance especially when sailing alone. In order to level the boat I'm planning to add about 50lbs of sandbags near the bow. I'm hoping that the improved water line will improve the speed and help break through small waves. I'm also going to add some weight closer to midship on the starboard side since my motor and battery are both on the port side. Does anyone see issues with this?
Thanks, Ron McNeil M17/#675/jackpot
Sent from my iPhone
On Sep 13, 2015, at 4:19 PM, John Schinnerer <john@eco-living.net> wrote:
Interesting to me because my M17 has the cutout but also a nice spring-loaded stainless mount. It came with a Tohatsu 6hp long shaft, which seems like overkill in both weight and HP - thoughts on that?
But if I keep it for now, sounds like it would affect balance less if I remove the mount and put it in the cutout, yes? Assuming it tilts enough to clear the water and the cutout is wide enough for its head/throttle configuration.
thanks, John S.
On 09/06/2015 09:15 PM, Dave Scobie wrote: for the old cutout transom M17s the Suzuki 4HP or 6HP (same motor, the 4HP is just a 'de powered' 6HP ... the 6HP has the external tank option) is great. the reason the Suzuki works great is the control/throttle arm is set closer the center of the powerhead than other motors. a control/throttle arm that 'sticks out to the side' is difficult to fit into the transom cutout - do some measuring before you purchase a motor.
DON'T, in my opinion, be tempted to put an outboard motor mount on the transom. the boat will sail better with a motor mounted in the cutout (a weight balance issue). when Jerry modified the hull mold, and make the new deck mold, in '82 he removed the cutout because of 'market forces', not because the transom mounted motor mounts are superior.
a 20" will work fine ... a longer shaft could be a challenge as it will drag in the water (maybe?).
-- John Schinnerer - M.A., Whole Systems Design -------------------------------------------- - Eco-Living - Whole Systems Design Services People - Place - Learning - Integration john@eco-living.net - 510.982.1334 http://eco-living.net http://sociocracyconsulting.com