"Rick Cortese" wrote...

Thanks for the info! I guess I should provide a bit more myself. In strong
winds my son will even have the motor WOT and calls it "Power Sailing". He
can't get more then an extra knot or two out of this combination but I will
admit it makes tacks go a little truer: Less lost speed when crossing over and
jib doesn't spin the boat quite as much/over turn. Still an 18 hp 2-stroke
hammering away at WOT while under full sail is not my idea of a pleasent
afternoon sail so I have to do something to make sure that doesn't happen.
Liable to have to tell him the big motor slipped off the transom!grin

Motorsailing in light wind or to gain more windward advantage is a valid
technique. But again, you are simply wasting fuel by using WOT at ANY time the
sails are pulling! With the sails pulling at all, you will likely get the same
extra 1-2 kt and anti-stall coverage during tacks with 1/3 throttle!

You don't say how old your son is, but he is turning into an irresponsible
sailor. Wasting that fuel and dumping all that 2-stroke oil needlessly into the
water is ridiculous! Don't forget also that when the motor is on, REGARDLESS of
the sails, you are a POWERBOAT for ALL purposes of the COLREGS (Rules of the
Road)!


Your mileage makes me envious. Sounds like my best bet would be ~4-6 hp, 4
stroke, and maybe some kind of throttle restrictor plate. Actually I don't
mine what my son does when I am not on the boat so... Your post made me think
it isn't just about the money for gas but the range and safety margin it would
provide. Sheesh! I wouldn't want to carry a 50 gal drum of gas just to get a
50 mile range under power. Matter of fact I have already turned in an
order.grin

You can do even better by ensuring the motor you get is a "high thrust" or
"sailor" version. It will have a prop much more suited to the low speed range
of the sailboat, and will help you get near hull speed even against heavier
seas. I don't know if they are available in the 4-6 HP range, but I had a
Yamaha 9.9 on a previous boat that was specifically set up that way from the
factory. Also note that many/most 8 HP motors are identical to the 9.9
offerings from the same mfgr, except for the RPM limit (and maybe the
aforementioned carb or throttle restriction). The 9.9 on my old boat was
definite overkill (3500#, fin keel), but the $100 savings for the 8 HP that
weighed the same wasn't a good trade for the versatility. IIRC you said yours
is 5000# or more, so the 6 HP may be marginal in any weather...