Last year, I had trouble with my A4 that turned out to be a gas line pinhole after weeks of looking elsewhere. Motorheads who have seen my rebuilt 77 engine tell me I should not let the experience rob me of confidence in my very nicely restored boat. But after being towed three times into Toronto's Bluffer's Park marina, where towing help is not an immediate given (sad, but true), I have played with the idea of getting a backup outboard large enough to push my boat, The Busted Flush, from an aft mount (hoping for a knot or two). The ideal situation would be to also use the outboard on my 8-foot dink. Using the mount to lower and raise the engine to the dink seems like a good plan to me, even if I have to drill my boat. But I figure the best outboard for a mounted backup would probably be a 6-plus hp longshaft, and that's not ideal as the primary power for my dink. Anyone use a stern mounted outboard to push a Catalina 30? Would a low-hp short shaft work in calm water? Would I be able to start it? I've been advised to carry a smaller outboard on my rail for the dink and simply push or pull my boat if stuck. Not sold on that idea. Anyone ever successfully move a Catalina 30 with a dink and a low hp outboard?
