Offset motors are NOT unusual, except maybe on white fiberglass bathtubs
with outboards on the back. Dive boats often have offset motors to make
room for a dive door next to the motor that opens onto a swim platform. As
an example, see the first link below. Boats by this designer range in size
from 18' to 24' and are very commonly run with an offset main motor, with or
without a kicker. The designer publishes a formula for how much to raise
the motor versus how far you offset it:

http://www.fishyfish.com/bobbruce/index.html (the main is WAY offset on this
one, 24-1/2' LOA)
http://www.alaska.net/~tolmanskiffs (the designer's web site)
http://www.fishyfish.com/tolmanskiff.html (several other examples)

Brian


"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...
Harry Krause wrote:
K. Smith wrote:

Harry Krause wrote:

K. Smith wrote:

JJ wrote:

I am new to boating and am trying to add a small 6 hp outboard to my
fishing boat for trolling. Can I simply move my existing 30hp over 6
inches to make room on the transome ? or is it crutial that this main
motor be centered ?

Thanks
John


You should try it, oft the simplest solution does turn out to be
the best & given it will cost you nothing; try it first & see.




Ms. Smith is big on suggesting how others should waste their time.



Given your main motor is 30Hp I'm guessing the boat isn't too big
(no offense intended) & in smaller boats having the OB offset while
not exactly common is still seen regularly.




It is? Damn. I'm 60 and have been messing around with boats for more
than 50 years, and I've never seen the main outboard "offset" on a
smaller boat. Perhaps it is peculiar to Australia, where everything is
a bit peculiar.


You're a liar you've never owned a boat & never will & every time
you pretend to know about boats you come unstuck as all liars do.



Your internal supply of bile is pouring out your nose, Ms. Smith. I've
owned dozens of boats in my lifetime. That you have convinced yourself
otherwise is your problem, not mine.

The Whaler catamaran brands used to be sold with a single offset
OB.





Whaler catamaran brands? What brands were those?



Here's one link;

http://www.marinews.com/fibreglass/btf_1dominat4.3.htm



Ahhh. I thought you meant BOSTON Whaler, which is what most think of when
someone mentions the "Whaler" brand name. So, you are claiming some
obscure brand of catamaran outboard boat, derived from some sort of
catamaran sailboat, had an engine on one pontoon only? Sounds like that
would indeed appeal to you.


you lying idiot!!! These were well known years agao & performed
surprisingly well.


Uh-huh.



By the way, there was some line of spatterpainted outboard cats which
offered an "offset" outboard model in the USA a few years ago, but the
idea never took hold.

"Too Australian," were the comments heard.

I'm not kidding. I remember reading a test or two. The boat was something
like a Twin-Vee spatterpaint.

But for a monohull?

Absurd.




--
Bush and the NeoConvicts who control him
are destroying the once-great United States.

On Sat, 16 Apr 2005 14:37:40 -0700, "Brian D"
wrote:


Offset motors are NOT unusual, except maybe on white fiberglass bathtubs
with outboards on the back. Dive boats often have offset motors to make
room for a dive door next to the motor that opens onto a swim platform. As
an example, see the first link below. Boats by this designer range in size
from 18' to 24' and are very commonly run with an offset main motor, with or
without a kicker. The designer publishes a formula for how much to raise
the motor versus how far you offset it:

http://www.fishyfish.com/bobbruce/index.html (the main is WAY offset on this
one, 24-1/2' LOA)
http://www.alaska.net/~tolmanskiffs (the designer's web site)
http://www.fishyfish.com/tolmanskiff.html (several other examples)

Very interesting. Thanks for the post.

I have never seen anything quite like that.

Later,

Tom

The boats in the links that I gave have minor fairbody and side strakes, in
addition to their 8 to 12 degree deadrise (depends on model). They all work
hunky dory with offset mains. The only thing some owners have said is that
if they offset too far, that they get more cavitation turning in one
direction compared to the other as you might guess. They ALL say (in spite
of that Kraus asshole) that the boats operate fine and that you can't tell
the motor's offset by how the boat handles. They probably lose a little
efficiency since the boat is probably traveling at an ever-so-slight crab
angle when motoring straight ahead (due to the offset line of thrust). But
if so, it's not measurable. These boats get good mileage due to their light
weight and modest deadrise regardless. They are used offshore in Alaska and
have 'seen it all' when it comes to ocean weather/waves/swells, and that
includes with an offset main. As I mentioned, the use of an offset main is
very common on these. It's also common on many of the aluminum boats around
here, and for the same reason. I suppose Krause knows all about commercial
fishing and letting nets out the back, dive doors, etc right? Yeah, right.
I don't know where Kraus is, but he sure ain't from around here and he sure
does NOT know it all. That's for damn sure. I've only just 'met' him and
I'm adding him to my 'blocked' list already. Not worth responding to. What
a dumbass.

Brian D



"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 16 Apr 2005 14:37:40 -0700, "Brian D"
wrote:


Offset motors are NOT unusual, except maybe on white fiberglass bathtubs
with outboards on the back. Dive boats often have offset motors to make
room for a dive door next to the motor that opens onto a swim platform.
As
an example, see the first link below. Boats by this designer range in
size
from 18' to 24' and are very commonly run with an offset main motor, with
or
without a kicker. The designer publishes a formula for how much to raise
the motor versus how far you offset it:

http://www.fishyfish.com/bobbruce/index.html (the main is WAY offset on
this
one, 24-1/2' LOA)
http://www.alaska.net/~tolmanskiffs (the designer's web site)
http://www.fishyfish.com/tolmanskiff.html (several other examples)

Very interesting. Thanks for the post.

I have never seen anything quite like that.

Later,

Tom

On Sat, 16 Apr 2005 23:48:38 -0700, "Brian D"
wrote:

~ ~snippage~~

As I mentioned, the use of an offset main is very common on
these. It's also common on many of the aluminum boats around
here, and for the same reason.

Interesting. My main concern with the original post was exactly what
you mentioned - crabbing while under way. Thinking about it though, I
can see how it would work on these boats with the moderate deadrise.

I also am curious about chine walking at speed.

I guess the real question is why the boat isn't built a little wider
to accommodate the door?

Even in the standard configuration, it would seem to me that there is
plenty of room on the starboard side of the boat to put the kicker and
leave enough room for the door on the port.

The only experience I have with dive boats have mostly been boats with
open sterns like Privateers.

Later,

Tom