Al D wrote:
I stumbled accross an old Evinrude Junior outboard motor today in a
local chandlers: asking price £60. They assure me it's in good working
order. It looks like it's well over 10 years old. I have the option of
taking it back if I'm not happy. Research tells me it's probably 2hp.
Does this sound like a good deal? I want it to power a 14ft open
canoe. Have never owned an outboard motor before. Can anyone give me
any tips on faults to look out for, or where I can obtain an owner's
manual or any such helpful info? The guy in the shop says "you just
put fuel in (50:1) and off you go; there's nothing much else to worry
about." He says I can lay it flat in the boot of my car when it's not
in use. Is that correct?

Thanks for any info...

Al D

Other than the fact this is rec.boats.PADDLE, I do have a little
experience with putting a small motor on my 17.5 ft. Folbot. I used a
2.5 Mercury on a side gunnel mount. The motor would drive the boat at
about 10 kts. Thrust being offset, caused the boat to steer better one
way than the other, and neither felt very responsive. I found it best
to continue to use the standard rudder, and keep the motor set straight
for thrust only. If your canoe is square back and the motor can be
mounted on the back, then these may not be issues.

The main problem occurred when the boat rolled, and the motor ended up
holding the boat in a sidways position! The boat would not sink,
because of float bags, but being full of water, I could not roll it
upright either with the additional weight of the motor. Luckily a power
boater came along and towed me to shore where I was able to get it
upright and pumped out. After that incident, I retired the motor.

I figured that the only time I would use the motor, was if there was a
strong current that I was trying to go against, and that would be the
time It would flip on me. The best it would do is overcome a 10 knt
current, which I could just as easily paddle against without the hassle
of the motor.

So I am back to paddling, and sailing which is another story! HYY