what should i do for a motor

[smallboatlover]

i have a 16' mistral sailboat. i would like to have a form of propulsion so if the wind dies down or going from shore to the sailing area. so my choices are no motor just learn to sail by boats and carefull or get a outboard motor and use that. or get a electric motor and battery and than i can put a radio in the boat and some technology in the boat. but which would be better?

[MarkCK]

The cheap way to go would be to get an electric outboard. It should get you in and out easy enough although you wouldn't be able to rely on it to take you a long way if the wind dies. And as an added plus you could put a radio in it.

[denverd0n]

With a boat that size I would just get a pair of oars.

[travlineasy]

Some of today's, new, electric motors are pretty incredible, have enormous thrust, yet they don't draw nearly as much current as their older counterparts did. It's a very, viable option for a boat that size, and of course the addition of a heavy-duty battery will allow you to use other devices such as a VHF and GPS Plotter.

Good Luck,

Gary

[JoeDiver]

A daysailor like that, I think I'd just put in a strong trolling motor and a group 27 battery. Get something like THIS for the battery and you can plug in a few things as well as the trolling motor.

[LakeSuperiorGeezer]

Your boat is a clone of the Wayfarer which is smaller than my O'day Day Sailer. The Day Sailer is 16 foot on the waterline. A 1.2 HP outboard will push it at about 4.5 knots with one person. At 5 HP it gets up and planes. I would go with the smallest outboard and use a 12 watt solar panel for a battery so you can have lights and radio. If you use an electric motor, you might need a larger panel with a controller to keep from over charging the battery.

[smallboatlover]

i was just thinking if i learn how to sail with out a motor i will be a way better sailer first of all. and second with out the motor bracket and all the equipment for a motor i think going fast will make it all work the idea of not have a motor and all that extra weight on a boat that small. i think two collapsible paddles should do.

[deniseO30]

Funny... no one thought of rowing. ALSO very wise to have on board even if you do get a motor., Oars have many other uses, like emergency rudder, broken boom...

[fallard]

To be sure, you will learn to sail more quickly if you don't have a motor for backup. If you are in a coastal area with currents, however, the motor is a piece of safety equipment. My first sailboat was an O'day Daysailor and I started off without a motor--until I got caught with a dying breeze and an increasingly foul current and the prospect of beaching the boat miles from home. You can paddle or row a boat of this size, but you don't want to do it when the wind is up and in your face.

Get a motor--preferably a small gas outboard, unless you can be assured of keeping a battery charged for an electric motor.

[smallboatlover]

i will try to get a motor but i'm think that i just won't put a rush on it. i mean if a good deal on a used motor comes up than i will but not till then. my first ride on the sailboat is going to be this weekend so i can't wait for that.