I'm looking around to buy a facer/cruiser 22-28 foot range, I'm running across models which have a well to hide the outboard motor (lazareette? well I think they're called). I guess it looks more aesthetically pleasing this way, but are there other pro's to this set up, cons? What do you guys think? Cape dory I think 22's offer this, as well as Bristol 24 or 25's, and the seafarer 23. Thanks in advance. Doug
lazarrette wells
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Motor well
I had this set-up on a Coronado 25. I prefer the motor hung on the transom with a bracket that allows you to get it completely out of the water. I also like the little afterdeck and lazarette for stowage, though.
I had this set-up on a Coronado 25. I prefer the motor hung on the transom with a bracket that allows you to get it completely out of the water. I also like the little afterdeck and lazarette for stowage, though.
I keep the dinghy motor there between trips,
so it's out of the weather & eyesight of potenyial thieves. First night I pump up the dinghy & motor goes on stern pulpit while sailing the rest of the trip.
so it's out of the weather & eyesight of potenyial thieves. First night I pump up the dinghy & motor goes on stern pulpit while sailing the rest of the trip.
Bristol 24
I had this model for my first sail boat, great crusing and racing vessel, outgrew it real fast as the kids turned into large teenagers. I liked the engine well it held 2 6 gal. gas tanks and all the other stuff we need to stash on each side of the well
I had this model for my first sail boat, great crusing and racing vessel, outgrew it real fast as the kids turned into large teenagers. I liked the engine well it held 2 6 gal. gas tanks and all the other stuff we need to stash on each side of the well
old stuff
When outboards became common auxilliary power on sailboats, its was considered unaesthetic and unsightly, and designers attempted to hide it so it wouldn't disturb their lines. Some like the Columbia even had a well in the cockpit. That was then, this is now. All the models you name date from that era; most of them just made the motor inaccessable in boxy transoms.
When outboards became common auxilliary power on sailboats, its was considered unaesthetic and unsightly, and designers attempted to hide it so it wouldn't disturb their lines. Some like the Columbia even had a well in the cockpit. That was then, this is now. All the models you name date from that era; most of them just made the motor inaccessable in boxy transoms.
Slow you down
Had a 23.5 Kittiwake that was a "knockoff" of the Cape Dory design and it had a well for the outboard. Anytime we raced, we had to pull the engine out because the drag would really slow the boat down. PITA to keep a lid raised to reach the controls and you had to lock the engine down in one position so you couldn't swivel it to help steer.
Had a 23.5 Kittiwake that was a "knockoff" of the Cape Dory design and it had a well for the outboard. Anytime we raced, we had to pull the engine out because the drag would really slow the boat down. PITA to keep a lid raised to reach the controls and you had to lock the engine down in one position so you couldn't swivel it to help steer.
Catalina 27 - O/B
I once owned a Catalina 27 with outboard. It had a lazarette where we kept fuel and propane and the lazarette openned to the stern where the o/B was mounted so you could tip the engine up out of the water. see pic
I once owned a Catalina 27 with outboard. It had a lazarette where we kept fuel and propane and the lazarette openned to the stern where the o/B was mounted so you could tip the engine up out of the water. see pic
Both kinds
Any sailboat looks better without an outboard hanging from the stern, but the price you pay with most well-mounted motors is the inability to raise them out of the water and the lessened accessiblity. If you are going to race the boat, that drag will really hurt your performance. Additionally, when you are away from the boat for long periods, you have the choice of leaving the motor in the water or horsing it up out of the well - not much fun on a boat the size you mention. Finally, with many well-mounted motors, particularly 2-strokes, you can get some nasty fumes in the cockpit, especially when motoring downwind. So with a well, you gain esthetics, but lose in a number of other areas.
Any sailboat looks better without an outboard hanging from the stern, but the price you pay with most well-mounted motors is the inability to raise them out of the water and the lessened accessiblity. If you are going to race the boat, that drag will really hurt your performance. Additionally, when you are away from the boat for long periods, you have the choice of leaving the motor in the water or horsing it up out of the well - not much fun on a boat the size you mention. Finally, with many well-mounted motors, particularly 2-strokes, you can get some nasty fumes in the cockpit, especially when motoring downwind. So with a well, you gain esthetics, but lose in a number of other areas.
engine well
So with the well models ie. Bristol 24, when you're sailing (not motoring) you still can't tip the prop. completely out of the water?, or dock the boat and have the lower unit completely clear of the water? It must still drag the prop. as you heel when sailing/racing>?
So with the well models ie. Bristol 24, when you're sailing (not motoring) you still can't tip the prop. completely out of the water?, or dock the boat and have the lower unit completely clear of the water? It must still drag the prop. as you heel when sailing/racing>?
Depends
On my brother-in-law's Columbia 28 we sailed in the Chesapeake Bay, there was not enough room to tilt the 9.9, though I understand that some owners had cut a 'notch' in the hull/transom for that purpose and glassed it in with no problems. The manual indicated that for any extended sailing, you were sort of expected to pull the motor and store it out of the well, and it had a plug to insert in the well in such conditions. Don't know about the Bristol 24, but I suspect it is a better heavy weather boat than a racer anyway.
On my brother-in-law's Columbia 28 we sailed in the Chesapeake Bay, there was not enough room to tilt the 9.9, though I understand that some owners had cut a 'notch' in the hull/transom for that purpose and glassed it in with no problems. The manual indicated that for any extended sailing, you were sort of expected to pull the motor and store it out of the well, and it had a plug to insert in the well in such conditions. Don't know about the Bristol 24, but I suspect it is a better heavy weather boat than a racer anyway.
If you want it out of the water
look for one where the OB is actually bolted to the transom, rather than into a "well" foward of the transom. I have a Catalina 27 that will allow my Johnson 15 to tilt completely out of the water. I had a Coronado 25 where the motor mount was inside the lazarette, but allowed for the OB to tilt up thru a hole in the transom. That allowed my Evinrude 9.9 to tilt MOST of the way out. Cutting a small notch (about 6" high) in the transom allowed it to tilt all the way out. With the "well" boats (most Columbias, and I believe the Bristol) you're stuck with the lower unit in the water all the time. I really like my C27. It's quiet with the OB inside the lazarette, there's good access, it tilts fully out of the water, and with remote controls you have most of the advantages of an inboard w/o the disadvantages. And you don't have that godawful bracket thing hanging off the transom and srewing up your back every time you need to raise or lower the motor.
look for one where the OB is actually bolted to the transom, rather than into a "well" foward of the transom. I have a Catalina 27 that will allow my Johnson 15 to tilt completely out of the water. I had a Coronado 25 where the motor mount was inside the lazarette, but allowed for the OB to tilt up thru a hole in the transom. That allowed my Evinrude 9.9 to tilt MOST of the way out. Cutting a small notch (about 6" high) in the transom allowed it to tilt all the way out. With the "well" boats (most Columbias, and I believe the Bristol) you're stuck with the lower unit in the water all the time. I really like my C27. It's quiet with the OB inside the lazarette, there's good access, it tilts fully out of the water, and with remote controls you have most of the advantages of an inboard w/o the disadvantages. And you don't have that godawful bracket thing hanging off the transom and srewing up your back every time you need to raise or lower the motor.
24 Bristol
Doug, I remember reading a survey that my PO had cut something to allow the motor to come all the way out of the water, there was also a line from the deck connected to the lower unit that I would jam cleat to pick the motor up an addional 6" out of the water and only about 2" of the motor skeg would be in the water
Doug, I remember reading a survey that my PO had cut something to allow the motor to come all the way out of the water, there was also a line from the deck connected to the lower unit that I would jam cleat to pick the motor up an addional 6" out of the water and only about 2" of the motor skeg would be in the water
thanks
thanks a ton for the info. everyone, good to know experiences with this, just one more thing to consider when buying a used boat. Doug
thanks a ton for the info. everyone, good to know experiences with this, just one more thing to consider when buying a used boat. Doug
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