Inboard has been removed, replace with??

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coreyjohnson99

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May 20, 2021
11
Newport 28 Lake Pend Oreille
The PO of my Newport 28 removed the Atomic 4 that had frozen and cracked. The boat now has a 9.9 outboard. Now that the engine compartment is relatively empty and in need of a serious cleaning, should I replace the weight of the engine with some sort of ballast?

As far as I can tell, the atomic 4 weighed around 350lbs. The PO said that the boat does sit higher in the water with the engine removed, so that may affect performance?
 
FastOlson

FastOlson

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Apr 8, 2010
2,087
Ericson Yachts Olson 34 28400 Portland OR
The Newport 28 is a fast and great-sailing design, but that is way more boat and a taller transom than an OB should be mounted on.
Put a Betamarine two cylinder diesel in there. It was designed for an inboard aux.
 
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Tom J

Tom J

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Sep 30, 2008
2,319
Catalina 310 Quincy, MA
You will notice the effect the light stern has when the outboard pops out of the water when you are hitting those annoying little waves. My old O'Day 23 had a 9.9 hp outboard, and, even though the boat was designed for it, the outboard would come out of the water at the most inconvenient times. Ballast in the stern might be a good idea.
 
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dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
12,704
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
As others have said, the outboard is a cheap, but not particularly desirable option. If you all you do is motor in and out of the marina, you will probably be OK. However, if you plan to cruise or try to motor against a fresh breeze you'll be disappointed.

Since you sail on an inland lake, albeit a big one, you may be OK with the OB. Just don't have high expectations for performance except under ideal conditions, no wind and flat calm water.
 
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jon hansen

jon hansen

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May 25, 2012
4,338
john alden caravelle 42 sturgeon bay, wis
you don't need to add any weight, the boat will sail fine without it. prolly faster. take a photo of the waterline with you and your crew in the boat, it will be sitting just fine.

an outboard will be great for getting in and out of the marina. you bought the boat to go sailing. sail the boat. it's a nice sailing boat. sail it.

grew up on a 38'r with a 7 1/2 out board. we sailed that thing all over lake erie.

the outboard will serve your sailboat well. i own 4 sailboats and only one has an engine. 12', 20', 38', 42'.

you don't need to be a 'motorsailor', just be a 'sailor'. it will be a hoot.

jon:cool:
 
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Sailfanatic

Sailfanatic

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Jul 19, 2013
388
Pearson 31-2 Boston
jon hansen said:
....
an outboard will be great for getting in and out of the marina. you bought the boat to go sailing. sail the boat. it's a nice sailing boat. sail it.

grew up on a 38'r with a 7 1/2 out board. we sailed that thing all over lake erie.

the outboard will serve your sailboat well. i own 4 sailboats and only one has an engine. 12', 20', 38', 42'.

you don't need to be a 'motorsailor', just be a 'sailor'. it will be a hoot.

jon:cool:
Click to expand
I suggest the PO buy and install a refurbed AT4, that would be a cost effective way to restore the boat to as built.

Running an OB on a boat this size has numerous shortcomings, what I think is the most severe is the inability to maneuver the boat in /out of tight spaces. Turning the boat as low speed is dependent on turning the OB in synch with the rudder, either one alone doesn't do the job. As an example, docking a Colgate 26 with the OB on the stern is a two person job, the helmsman steers with the rudder and a crew turns/shifts the OB. It is difficult for one person to maneuver a Colgate 26 at low speed under power...although at low speed you can turn the tiller 180 degrees and operate it backwards... On most boats you cannot do that...
 
C

coreyjohnson99

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May 20, 2021
11
Newport 28 Lake Pend Oreille
Thank you all for the input. I'll have to take a picture of the waterline before and after the family is on board. Out lake is large, but the OB is mainly used to get in and out of the protected marina. It has an electric start and power lift. Also, the OB stays stationary and all I do is turn the helm and use the original shifter and throttle which are also on the helm. I believe the swim ladder used to be where the outboard currently is. My main concern was just the absence of the inboard weight and how that could affect sailing. Here are a few pics..
PXL_20210516_015838677.jpg

PXL_20210505_001400841.jpg
 
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jon hansen

jon hansen

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May 25, 2012
4,338
john alden caravelle 42 sturgeon bay, wis
looks like a nice setup. if you wanna spend some money "new sails' is the way to go.

have a great summer!
 
D

dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
12,704
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
Justin_NSA said:
I'm guessing the builders factored in the weight of the engine on its affects to boat trim. I would subtract the weight of the OB from the inboard and compensate with cases of beer! :beer:
Click to expand
@Justin_NSA is on the right track. However, you will need less weight than the weight of the motor because of leverage. The 100# OB is at the far end of the boat, whereas the old A4 was closer to the center, the leverage of the OB's location will offset a good deal of the lost weight in the in the center of the boat. Think of a teeter-totter.

Clean the area up use it for storage of heavy items and perhaps upgrade the DC electrical system with 4 GC batteries. That will add 300# of weight to the boat in the engine space. Now you can add refrigeration to keep all the beer cold. ;):beer::beer:
 
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FastOlson

FastOlson

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Apr 8, 2010
2,087
Ericson Yachts Olson 34 28400 Portland OR
Someone did a lot of glass work to add that cutout. Way (!) better than a bracket-mount.
 
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Tom J

Tom J

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Sep 30, 2008
2,319
Catalina 310 Quincy, MA
FastOlson said:
Someone did a lot of glass work to add that cutout. Way (!) better than a bracket-mount.
Click to expand
The O'Day 23 was designed with just such a cutout. I liked it much better than the bracket my old 6hp was mounted on.
Ouida 012.jpg
 
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