Make sure your prop is still there. Make sure it''s not stripped. If you have no wind or current the 2HP will move your boat but I wouldn''t like to do it. There''s always wind or current.

 

With engine not running, put it gear and try to rotate the prop.

Don''t know if Evinrudes have shear keys or rubber bushings, but it sounds awefully suspicious.

Next thing to check might be a bad case of barnicles.

 

It may be a shear-pin in your prop that has, well, sheared! It is the connection of choice years ago between the prop and the drive. If your prop hit anything, or became entangled, the shear-pin was "sacrificed" in order to prevent more costly damage to the motor. Problem was, those damn shear-pins always seemed to let lose for no appearant reason. I recall that our club had a whaler with a 25hp "John-rude" OB that went through a pin a week!

Easy fix though. Pull the prop, drive out the remains of the old pin and install a new one.

Your engine is probably turning the prop through friction just enough to make it seem like its working, but won''t put any torque to the water.

 

OK, so I jumped in the water, and put it in gear, and it did not spin freely. it went about 1/2 turn each way very freely, and after that it gave some tension but was still easy to rotate, but definitely didn''t spin. Now what? I took it out of the water and I''m going to mount it in a trash can and see what I can see.

 

Sounds like you have the rubber friction type, but it could be that the shear pin is lodged somewhere causing just enough resistance.

I''d say you have the rubber friction type and they need to be replaced.

I''ve always had shear pins in any OB I''ve operated, so I can''t be of much help in fixing/replacing.

Good Luck,

Tim

 

Bite the bullet take the thing to a pier an pull the motor then look take the prop off shear pins cost about 50 cents each not a high price to get going again. Don''t know much about the bushing type but with luck the shearpin type will take less time to fix then to read this,besides I hate treading water and or standing in a foot of goo while working on a motor. good luck

 

Bite the bullet and bring the ****ing thing to an outboard mechanic. While I agree with the above posts regarding the shear pins, it could be a problem anywhere along the drive train. I would not risk burning out my 2hp motor or my boat for something that can probably be fixed for $100.

 

I ran all around New England waters for 5 years pushing my Columbia 22 with a 1.2 HP British Seagull. She was a heavy barge as I lived aboard, year round and carried all of the things I needed to make it do-able. I got 3 1/2 knots average out of her. Yes, without a doubt you can push your Kells around with a 2 HP but don''t expect her to come out of the hole like a dragster. You''re not going to hurt it any, it''s only going to push just a certain amount and that''s it. Planning is the key to working around with low HP. As for the big motor, it sounds like the prop has let go from its bushing, in which case, you may need a new prop. Or if it has one, the shear pin has let go.

 

Hamiam
Profanity is the way for an immature mind to express itself forcefully. That gotten out of the way I do concur with your basic premise,that the problem could be anywhere in the drive line,I''m just suggesting that they would check the inexpensive things before calling in the big guns.

 

thanks pirate. over the past 3 weeks I have gotten much better at sailing off and on my mooring without motor help, but if the wind totally died or something, it''s good to know that I may get something out of the 2hp.

 

KenD: My wife would probably agree with your immature mind comment. And it may indeed be true. That being said, my point in using the expletive was both for effect and a feeble attempt at comedy as, honestly, I find it comical to suggest that a 2hp motor is appropriate for a 23'' sailboat. As a captain of a boat you need to plan for the what if''s; what if I need to return to my mooring in a hurry and the wind and/or tide is against me, what if I need to avoid another boat or get off a lee shore, what if I experience rigging or another mechanical failure, and what if, god forbid, I or a member of my crew is injured and getting to help is urgent? In any of these situations you will be cursing the 2hp engine and thanking the lord for the extra power. Just a thought..

 

Wives are always right just ask them. A 2hp motor on a dingy is just about enough,and I think a good rule of thumb is 2HP for every ton of boat. I don''t think I would feel comfortable with a underpowered boat in the circumstances you depict,gives me the sweats thinking about that. we are all here trying to help others by our experience

 

My experience is that, about once a season, I need every last drop of HP out of the 50hp inboard diesel that powers my 35'' sailboat for various reasons. I can do 8+ knots under power which just gives me a warm feeling all over.