I am looking to use a 17' oday and wanted to add a 20hp outboard to it. WHat is the best mount and motor. I would like to get a nice four stroke. I want to sail it from Port Clinton to Put in Bay but need a motor as backup. Plus I want to sail in Cincinnati Harbor and need a motor to get psitioned to take advantage of any wind. Happy Sailing, I am just finishing my first "Ditty Bag." maybe I could sail to to Natucket from East Hampton. Anyone done that in a 17' er? Tom
Mounting a 20 hp outboard motor to a 17'
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R
Rag Waver
And you'll waste a lot of fuel, too.
Since a 17-footer's hull speed is probably around 4 or 5 knots, such a large motor would be over-kill as far as power goes (not to mention the weight, as Roger explained). Your boat is only going to move but so fast through the water, and trying to force more speed with a big motor will only cause her to squat and drag her stern -- you'll make a lot of noise and burn a lot of gas, but you won't go much faster. I agree with Roger on this one, Artisthos... bigger is not better in this case. Good luck -- sounds like you have some excellent voyages planned!
Since a 17-footer's hull speed is probably around 4 or 5 knots, such a large motor would be over-kill as far as power goes (not to mention the weight, as Roger explained). Your boat is only going to move but so fast through the water, and trying to force more speed with a big motor will only cause her to squat and drag her stern -- you'll make a lot of noise and burn a lot of gas, but you won't go much faster. I agree with Roger on this one, Artisthos... bigger is not better in this case. Good luck -- sounds like you have some excellent voyages planned!
Thanks sans the big motor
Great advice. The current on the ohio can get to 6 knots. I know we will not be sailing then. 5 knots is fine for me. I wll have to look into a light 8hp. Is there such a motor? Has anyone sailed from Port Clinton to Put in Bay in a 17' er?
Great advice. The current on the ohio can get to 6 knots. I know we will not be sailing then. 5 knots is fine for me. I wll have to look into a light 8hp. Is there such a motor? Has anyone sailed from Port Clinton to Put in Bay in a 17' er?
Hmmm...
We have strong tidal currents here, too (6 or so knots being about average). Like Roger, I prefer an electric motor, and I also use the tidal flow to help get me where I want to go when necessary (or else simply wait for the flow to slacken some -- gives me a reasonable window for making distance over the ground). I don't know about a "light 8 hp", unless you're talking short-shaft as opposed to long-shaft. If you must have a combustion engine, you might consider a smaller one in the 5 to 6 hp range -- that'll give you all the power you need, without the greatly excessive weight of an 8 hp. You'll probably still have to trim 'er by the head a little to compensate for the weight of even the smaller (5 - 6 hp) engine. The key to speed through the water in a sailing hull is to keep the rocker high at the stern, to alleviate excessive friction, ie, drag, which slows you down (which is what I was hinting at in my first response). I don't know about the waters in your area, but I've sailed from Chincoteague Island, VA. to Ocean City, MD. (about 30 miles one way, give or take). I've found that since a Daysailer has such a shoal draft, I can largely sail under the shoreline when I need to avoid currents that are running at full bore in the opposite direction I'm heading. I hope this helps -- and again, good luck to you on your upcoming sailing adventures!
We have strong tidal currents here, too (6 or so knots being about average). Like Roger, I prefer an electric motor, and I also use the tidal flow to help get me where I want to go when necessary (or else simply wait for the flow to slacken some -- gives me a reasonable window for making distance over the ground). I don't know about a "light 8 hp", unless you're talking short-shaft as opposed to long-shaft. If you must have a combustion engine, you might consider a smaller one in the 5 to 6 hp range -- that'll give you all the power you need, without the greatly excessive weight of an 8 hp. You'll probably still have to trim 'er by the head a little to compensate for the weight of even the smaller (5 - 6 hp) engine. The key to speed through the water in a sailing hull is to keep the rocker high at the stern, to alleviate excessive friction, ie, drag, which slows you down (which is what I was hinting at in my first response). I don't know about the waters in your area, but I've sailed from Chincoteague Island, VA. to Ocean City, MD. (about 30 miles one way, give or take). I've found that since a Daysailer has such a shoal draft, I can largely sail under the shoreline when I need to avoid currents that are running at full bore in the opposite direction I'm heading. I hope this helps -- and again, good luck to you on your upcoming sailing adventures!
Out board motors
I have a 19 ft O'Day a 192. It is a Micro Cruiser if you are not familiar with the model. We often weekend on her. I have a 4.5 horse Johson that must be about 20 years old her. The motor is a long shaft motor with an alternator to charge the battery. The mount is a spring assisted pop-up mount to get the motor out of the water when sailing. It works great. For a couple of years I had her in a harbour on a very large inland lake here in Minnesota. Mille Lacs Lake is about 20 miles across in each direction. The prevailing westerlies blew right into my little harbor that fisherman used. I was the only sailboat. I would often motor out of the harbour againt three foot white caps before getting to deep enough water that the waves smoothed out enough to raise the sails. Anything over 5 horse would be over kill in this situation. On days we are becalmed and need to motor miles it is better to have a litle motor that make a little noise than a big heavy motor that burns gas, smells, puts too much weight on the stern and breaks your back when you put it off and on.
I have a 19 ft O'Day a 192. It is a Micro Cruiser if you are not familiar with the model. We often weekend on her. I have a 4.5 horse Johson that must be about 20 years old her. The motor is a long shaft motor with an alternator to charge the battery. The mount is a spring assisted pop-up mount to get the motor out of the water when sailing. It works great. For a couple of years I had her in a harbour on a very large inland lake here in Minnesota. Mille Lacs Lake is about 20 miles across in each direction. The prevailing westerlies blew right into my little harbor that fisherman used. I was the only sailboat. I would often motor out of the harbour againt three foot white caps before getting to deep enough water that the waves smoothed out enough to raise the sails. Anything over 5 horse would be over kill in this situation. On days we are becalmed and need to motor miles it is better to have a litle motor that make a little noise than a big heavy motor that burns gas, smells, puts too much weight on the stern and breaks your back when you put it off and on.
R
Rag Waver
More fantastic journeys
You may already know this, but: If you like fantastic journeys made in a small sailboat in open water, may I suggest that you read the Tristan Jones sagas? Capt. Jones is a Welsh sailor who has undertaken some very entertaining voyages in open waters all over the world, single-handed, and always in small craft -- sort of like a modern-day Joshua Slocum. Personally, I think this is "must read" material for any sailor with an adventurous spirit.
You may already know this, but: If you like fantastic journeys made in a small sailboat in open water, may I suggest that you read the Tristan Jones sagas? Capt. Jones is a Welsh sailor who has undertaken some very entertaining voyages in open waters all over the world, single-handed, and always in small craft -- sort of like a modern-day Joshua Slocum. Personally, I think this is "must read" material for any sailor with an adventurous spirit.
What's the longest journey made in a 17' ?
Thanks for the lead. I will look to read his accounts. I am getting a feeling for the capabilities of the 17' O'Day. I imagine the hull could take hours of pounding in open water. Sailing it from Port Clinton to Put-in-Bay could be very dangerous with the wrong crew.
Thanks for the lead. I will look to read his accounts. I am getting a feeling for the capabilities of the 17' O'Day. I imagine the hull could take hours of pounding in open water. Sailing it from Port Clinton to Put-in-Bay could be very dangerous with the wrong crew.
Be Prepared for anything in a Daysailer
If you hit strong winds you will need another good sailor with you to keep from tipping over. I'd advise taking one crew with you if you're going more than 5-10 miles for safety, company and help. I'd say a 5 hp is the biggest motor a daysailer can carry. I have a 3hp twostroke that almost gets it to the top sailing speed (its an optimum size - only about 28lbs with integral gas tank) I carry about a gallon in a small plastic storage can-with the two gallons total on board I could motor about 15 miles I figure. Once I sailed her in Cape Cod and we had wind. MY buddy and I just had to go about two miles but we were close hauled and there were big waves and it was cool although it was summer. By the time we got to our destination (Great Island) we were happy to get out, dry-off and warm up. So even a short trip in a Daysailer can be trying.....good luck
If you hit strong winds you will need another good sailor with you to keep from tipping over. I'd advise taking one crew with you if you're going more than 5-10 miles for safety, company and help. I'd say a 5 hp is the biggest motor a daysailer can carry. I have a 3hp twostroke that almost gets it to the top sailing speed (its an optimum size - only about 28lbs with integral gas tank) I carry about a gallon in a small plastic storage can-with the two gallons total on board I could motor about 15 miles I figure. Once I sailed her in Cape Cod and we had wind. MY buddy and I just had to go about two miles but we were close hauled and there were big waves and it was cool although it was summer. By the time we got to our destination (Great Island) we were happy to get out, dry-off and warm up. So even a short trip in a Daysailer can be trying.....good luck
What a Trip!
Thanks for the fun details of your trip on Cape Cod Bay. I look forward to such trips this summer. A 3hp motor sounds perfect. I will be looking for one of those engines. Sounds like the hull can take a pounding for long times. I know just what you mean about cool during the summer. Duxbury Bay is where Great Island is? It will be a calm stretch of the Ohio River that runs North South with flat land to the West for me this summer. I'll be putting in the boat at Rabbit Hash Kentucky across from Rising Sun, IN. The link I provide is a watercolor of mine of some boat people making the 90 mile trip to the US from Cuba. Happy Sailing, Tom
Thanks for the fun details of your trip on Cape Cod Bay. I look forward to such trips this summer. A 3hp motor sounds perfect. I will be looking for one of those engines. Sounds like the hull can take a pounding for long times. I know just what you mean about cool during the summer. Duxbury Bay is where Great Island is? It will be a calm stretch of the Ohio River that runs North South with flat land to the West for me this summer. I'll be putting in the boat at Rabbit Hash Kentucky across from Rising Sun, IN. The link I provide is a watercolor of mine of some boat people making the 90 mile trip to the US from Cuba. Happy Sailing, Tom
sailing stories and pics
Thats just one sailing story, got tons of funny ones only one or two where there was any blood.. ahhhhh. "I was once called the worst sailer in Provincetown Harbor" hey the wind was whipping the 19 ft Rhodes rental was falling apart, the rental-owner-guy-in-the-tender was telling me to tack when I should have been hove to or whatever you call it - he was a real bean head, plus I was trying to snag a buoy with a fiance who can't swim - needless to say I haven't rented from him again.... Nice water color, my dad was a painter and his water colors were similar in style but he didn't do many. Mostly acrylic and oils. I got one pretty abstract one of sailboats on a bay. Almost time to check the boat for repairs and upgrades, be sure to carry an extra anchor being on a river and all.....I gotta get a new Jib than I'll be all set except for time....
Thats just one sailing story, got tons of funny ones only one or two where there was any blood.. ahhhhh. "I was once called the worst sailer in Provincetown Harbor" hey the wind was whipping the 19 ft Rhodes rental was falling apart, the rental-owner-guy-in-the-tender was telling me to tack when I should have been hove to or whatever you call it - he was a real bean head, plus I was trying to snag a buoy with a fiance who can't swim - needless to say I haven't rented from him again.... Nice water color, my dad was a painter and his water colors were similar in style but he didn't do many. Mostly acrylic and oils. I got one pretty abstract one of sailboats on a bay. Almost time to check the boat for repairs and upgrades, be sure to carry an extra anchor being on a river and all.....I gotta get a new Jib than I'll be all set except for time....
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