Outboard rig in case of inboard engine failure

[tominny]

My Atomic 4 is not the most trustorthy and I have a 4HP Yamaha outboard ln my dinghy. In the case of an inboard engine failure I would like to have an emergency rig option to use the outboard as the main engine to propel my boat, a Tartan 34C.

Two possibilities I can think of is attaching the outboard to the transom high up and have a shaft extension that puts the propeller into the water. The other is to attach the outboard to the swim ladder and use some sort of tiller extension for steering.

Does anyone have experience with this or any good suggestions, keywords or links to photos or sites that describe examples?

[Faster]

I've seen various efforts at such a backup plan.. should work and other than the throttle you can steer with your own rudder for the most part.

After a a series of persistent fuel starvation issues a friend with a Hunter 37.5 just built a ladder mount out of 2x4s, essentially, that should do in a pinch - just in case.

If you can handle the aesthetics, I've seen a standard spring-loaded retractable OB bracket mounted as low as practical on the transom for just that eventuality. Also Chrisncate recently built a transom mounted bracket that you can slip an OB mount into.. see here:

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/genera...pic-heavy.html

[mm2187]

Do you usually sail alone. If you have an extra hand, might be easier just to tie the dinghy up to the side of the boat and run it from there.

[sawingknots]

i have a transom mounted bracket that will pivot up so the outboard is out of the water when not in use,i lock the outboard down so it doesn't turn easily and use the main rudder,i like the reassurence of having it as a backup,i also keep about 5 gal. of gas for it.btw a six hp isn't going to do much for a boat your size especially in a strong current

[marianclaire]

If the A-4 is not trustworthy I would go here. Moyer Marine Atomic 4 Community - Home of the Afourians - Powered by vBulletin. Dan S/V Marian Claire 1965 A-4 with thousands of miles.

[sawingknots]

even the most reliable engine can fail unexpectedly [murphys law] and ofcoarse it will be at the absolute worse possible time,its amazing how fast a 3-4 knot tide can push you toward a drawbridge etc

[Chris12345]

Are you pulling our leg???

If not: The part you are looking for is called (transom) outboard bracket.

It is what attaches the outboard to pretty much every sailboat under 27 feet.

Originally Posted by tominny

My Atomic 4 is not the most trustorthy and I have a 4HP Yamaha outboard ln my dinghy. In the case of an inboard engine failure I would like to have an emergency rig option to use the outboard as the main engine to propel my boat, a Tartan 34C.

Two possibilities I can think of is attaching the outboard to the transom high up and have a shaft extension that puts the propeller into the water. The other is to attach the outboard to the swim ladder and use some sort of tiller extension for steering.

Does anyone have experience with this or any good suggestions, keywords or links to photos or sites that describe examples?

[lans0012]

I considered something like this on my Cal 27 just in case because I carry a 6hp for my dinghy. However, if the engine fails then you can always sail.

In the event you can't sail because you are in a channel or something and trying to buck through chop and headwinds think about how you are going to reach down and lift that heavy thing down to the water, somehow contort your body enough to pull the cord the numerous times it would take and then adjusting throttle...etc all the while you are in chop or current.

If a current is pushing you towards rocks or a bridge, would you have time to even get it moving? And what is a 4 or 6hp really going to get you on the tartan 34? Maybe 3 kts or less with the outboard popping in and out of the water in the chop.

Maybe instead of taking the time and energy and money of mounting an outboard, you could put in a new carborator, water pump, starter, ignitinon, plugs, exhaust, fuel lines, dual filters, upgrade batteries, or whatever it is about the motor that keeps you up at night, and really get that motor back to reliable condition.

Just my .02.

[Chris12345]

I can mount an outboard bracket in one afternoon for a bit more than a hundred dollars, but rebuilding an old engine to like-new, rock solid condition would probably take weeks and hundreds or thousands of dollars.

Originally Posted by lans0012

I considered something like this on my Cal 27 just in case because I carry a 6hp for my dinghy. However, if the engine fails then you can always sail.

In the event you can't sail because you are in a channel or something and trying to buck through chop and headwinds think about how you are going to reach down and lift that heavy thing down to the water, somehow contort your body enough to pull the cord the numerous times it would take and then adjusting throttle...etc all the while you are in chop or current.

If a current is pushing you towards rocks or a bridge, would you have time to even get it moving? And what is a 4 or 6hp really going to get you on the tartan 34? Maybe 3 kts or less with the outboard popping in and out of the water in the chop.

Maybe instead of taking the time and energy and money of mounting an outboard, you could put in a new carborator, water pump, starter, ignitinon, plugs, exhaust, fuel lines, dual filters, upgrade batteries, or whatever it is about the motor that keeps you up at night, and really get that motor back to reliable condition.

Just my .02.

[tommays]

If his A4 runs BUT is not reliable it can be repaired with a carb/fuel pump kit and decent electric connections to the motor as the motor is simpler than the average lawn tractor