I use a Yamaha T9.9 four stroke on my 26' sloop. On the second boat 31' LOD
I use an inboard diesel. Both out of PortTownsend. For the San Juans you
definitely need an engine but both will work. Inboard takes up inside space
diesel is safer. Outboard gives you more internal room but gas is more
dangerous. Diesels last at least 10 times as long as outboards in terms of
engine hours. If you go inboard use diesel not gas. If you go outboard use
four stroke with a reduction gear and a long shaft not a two stroke. Both
work fine.

M.

PS You want a ready to go boat or one that needs a bit of work?


"engsol" wrote in message
...
If this has been beat to death before, my apology.

I'm looking for a boat to enjoy upon retirement this May. Being poor,
I'll have to settle for an older boat, 30-32 feet. I've seen a number of
boats
in my price range on my list, but have rejected the ones with an OB. But
then I got to wondering...should I do so?

The advantage of an OB is cost, doesn't take up interior room, at least
semi-reliable these days. But then I wonder about enough power in a
seaway. The area I plan to sail (San Juan Islands) is quite sheltered....
wind chop, but seldom any significant swells. A safe haven is rarely more
than 4 - 5 hours away.

So what am I missing, or haven't thought of, as regards to OB power?

Thanks,
Norm

Norm, I know of a boat that you may like at Everett Marina. An older
man own's it and is unable to take it out anymore. He show's up every
summer on weekends to hang-out on it. Told me once he'd probably
almost give it to the right person. Email me for directions. (it has
an inboard)


engsol wrote in message . ..
If this has been beat to death before, my apology.

I'm looking for a boat to enjoy upon retirement this May. Being poor,
I'll have to settle for an older boat, 30-32 feet. I've seen a number of boats
in my price range on my list, but have rejected the ones with an OB. But
then I got to wondering...should I do so?

The advantage of an OB is cost, doesn't take up interior room, at least
semi-reliable these days. But then I wonder about enough power in a
seaway. The area I plan to sail (San Juan Islands) is quite sheltered....
wind chop, but seldom any significant swells. A safe haven is rarely more
than 4 - 5 hours away.

So what am I missing, or haven't thought of, as regards to OB power?

Thanks,
Norm

Norm, I know of a boat that you may like at Everett Marina. An older
man own's it and is unable to take it out anymore. He show's up every
summer on weekends to hang-out on it. Told me once he'd probably
almost give it to the right person. Email me for directions. (it has
an inboard)


engsol wrote in message . ..
If this has been beat to death before, my apology.

I'm looking for a boat to enjoy upon retirement this May. Being poor,
I'll have to settle for an older boat, 30-32 feet. I've seen a number of boats
in my price range on my list, but have rejected the ones with an OB. But
then I got to wondering...should I do so?

The advantage of an OB is cost, doesn't take up interior room, at least
semi-reliable these days. But then I wonder about enough power in a
seaway. The area I plan to sail (San Juan Islands) is quite sheltered....
wind chop, but seldom any significant swells. A safe haven is rarely more
than 4 - 5 hours away.

So what am I missing, or haven't thought of, as regards to OB power?

Thanks,
Norm

In article ,
engsol wrote:

If this has been beat to death before, my apology.

I'm looking for a boat to enjoy upon retirement this May. Being poor,
I'll have to settle for an older boat, 30-32 feet. I've seen a number of boats
in my price range on my list, but have rejected the ones with an OB. But
then I got to wondering...should I do so?

The advantage of an OB is cost, doesn't take up interior room, at least
semi-reliable these days. But then I wonder about enough power in a
seaway. The area I plan to sail (San Juan Islands) is quite sheltered....
wind chop, but seldom any significant swells. A safe haven is rarely more
than 4 - 5 hours away.

So what am I missing, or haven't thought of, as regards to OB power?

Our boat came as inboard or outboard and I'm in regular contact with a
sister who has the outboard.

For "short" distances, particularly if you're not in a hurry, the
outboard is just fine. If you might like to go far and "fast", inboard
is the way to go.

I'm somewhat arbitrarily thinking 25 nm and 5-5.5 knots as short, and
up to 70-80 nm at 6 knots (on our hull speed of 6.6) as fast.

"not in a hurry" includes: "If it ain't fun, it ain't fun and I'm
parking it until it GETS fun!" (AKA cruising)

An outboard will require alternate charging unless you're VERY frugal.
In a heavy slog, the prop will come out of the water more often than
anyone likes. A larger than needed outboard not only gives you the punch
to go fast if you have to, but will last longer.

For our purposes, I'd want an diesel inboard. But I lust after the
cavernous stowage our sister has under the cockpit. I think you could
park a small car in there.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

In article ,
engsol wrote:

If this has been beat to death before, my apology.

I'm looking for a boat to enjoy upon retirement this May. Being poor,
I'll have to settle for an older boat, 30-32 feet. I've seen a number of boats
in my price range on my list, but have rejected the ones with an OB. But
then I got to wondering...should I do so?

The advantage of an OB is cost, doesn't take up interior room, at least
semi-reliable these days. But then I wonder about enough power in a
seaway. The area I plan to sail (San Juan Islands) is quite sheltered....
wind chop, but seldom any significant swells. A safe haven is rarely more
than 4 - 5 hours away.

So what am I missing, or haven't thought of, as regards to OB power?

Our boat came as inboard or outboard and I'm in regular contact with a
sister who has the outboard.

For "short" distances, particularly if you're not in a hurry, the
outboard is just fine. If you might like to go far and "fast", inboard
is the way to go.

I'm somewhat arbitrarily thinking 25 nm and 5-5.5 knots as short, and
up to 70-80 nm at 6 knots (on our hull speed of 6.6) as fast.

"not in a hurry" includes: "If it ain't fun, it ain't fun and I'm
parking it until it GETS fun!" (AKA cruising)

An outboard will require alternate charging unless you're VERY frugal.
In a heavy slog, the prop will come out of the water more often than
anyone likes. A larger than needed outboard not only gives you the punch
to go fast if you have to, but will last longer.

For our purposes, I'd want an diesel inboard. But I lust after the
cavernous stowage our sister has under the cockpit. I think you could
park a small car in there.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

On Thu, 12 Feb 2004 19:20:46 +0000, engsol wrote:

If this has been beat to death before, my apology.

I'm looking for a boat to enjoy upon retirement this May. Being poor, I'll have
to settle for an older boat, 30-32 feet. I've seen a number of boats in my price
range on my list, but have rejected the ones with an OB. But then I got to
wondering...should I do so?

The advantage of an OB is cost, doesn't take up interior room, at least
semi-reliable these days. But then I wonder about enough power in a seaway. The
area I plan to sail (San Juan Islands) is quite sheltered.... wind chop, but
seldom any significant swells. A safe haven is rarely more than 4 - 5 hours
away.

So what am I missing, or haven't thought of, as regards to OB power?


Well, most of my points have already been covered, but I'll add them anyway...

The only advantage I can think of with an outboard is cost: I just dropped $10K
CDN on a 26hp inboard diesel, and you can buy a 25hp 4-stroke outboard for about
1/3 of that. Then again, my old engine was 20 years old and had about 4000 hrs on
it...

Disadvantages?
- Prop leaves the water when in waves. This includes wakes from larger boats
such as ferries or tugs, and is worse the larger the boat is (one reason you
don't see many OBs on larger boats)
- Access for repairs, etc. when at sea is hazardous at best.
- Doesn't charge batteries well (My new engine has 71 Amp alternator)
- Is raw-water cooled, so even if you flush it after each use, it's not good for
more than 5 years or so in salt water.
- You can't heat domestic water with it
- not available in diesel

I don't think the swamping issue is significant in San Juans, although you might
get a rogue wave or wake that would temporarily swamp it.

So unless you're using the boat as a glorified day-sailor (A friend use to call
them "sammich-anna-sixpack sailors"), I'd say the inboard is a better bet.

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36

On Thu, 12 Feb 2004 19:20:46 +0000, engsol wrote:

If this has been beat to death before, my apology.

I'm looking for a boat to enjoy upon retirement this May. Being poor, I'll have
to settle for an older boat, 30-32 feet. I've seen a number of boats in my price
range on my list, but have rejected the ones with an OB. But then I got to
wondering...should I do so?

The advantage of an OB is cost, doesn't take up interior room, at least
semi-reliable these days. But then I wonder about enough power in a seaway. The
area I plan to sail (San Juan Islands) is quite sheltered.... wind chop, but
seldom any significant swells. A safe haven is rarely more than 4 - 5 hours
away.

So what am I missing, or haven't thought of, as regards to OB power?


Well, most of my points have already been covered, but I'll add them anyway...

The only advantage I can think of with an outboard is cost: I just dropped $10K
CDN on a 26hp inboard diesel, and you can buy a 25hp 4-stroke outboard for about
1/3 of that. Then again, my old engine was 20 years old and had about 4000 hrs on
it...

Disadvantages?
- Prop leaves the water when in waves. This includes wakes from larger boats
such as ferries or tugs, and is worse the larger the boat is (one reason you
don't see many OBs on larger boats)
- Access for repairs, etc. when at sea is hazardous at best.
- Doesn't charge batteries well (My new engine has 71 Amp alternator)
- Is raw-water cooled, so even if you flush it after each use, it's not good for
more than 5 years or so in salt water.
- You can't heat domestic water with it
- not available in diesel

I don't think the swamping issue is significant in San Juans, although you might
get a rogue wave or wake that would temporarily swamp it.

So unless you're using the boat as a glorified day-sailor (A friend use to call
them "sammich-anna-sixpack sailors"), I'd say the inboard is a better bet.

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36