Have a 1981 DaysailerII and love it. I'm looking for some advice re. an outboard motor. 1. DaysailerII manual says an outboard can be mounted directly on the transom. Anybody have experience? 2. I'm wondering if an electric trolling motor might be a better idea, but have no feeling for how much speed it would provide AND how much running time with a battery charge. 3. I hate to spend $600 or more on two-cycle outboard. Any suggestions re. how to find a good used gasoline motor? Thanks Bob Cramer
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Henry Hey
RE: outboard/trolling motor
I would think that your motor needs for you boat may depend largely on the conditions under which you are going to use it. If you need this motor to help you out in some rough weather, a trolling motor is not going to cut it for you. If you sail in relatively docile waters it may be fine, but otherwise go with a gas engine. I found my engine by combing through the internet. Go to google.com and start searching under used outboard. I don't know whether the day sailer needs a long-shaft motor or not. If you can use a standard shaft motor, your chances of finding a cheap outboard are greatly increased. My friend and I found a used long-shaft Suzuki 6 for $375. Although the owner told us that it was running perfectly, we still had to do some minor work on it. If you are handy with some tools and can read a repair manual, you can pretty much do quite a bit of your own work and save a lot of money. Try to find one of the tried-and-true makes : Evinrude or Johnson especially. Our 6 horse is clamped on to the back of our Mariner (19) and I am sure glad that we didn't buy a smaller motor. I would not feel to good about trying to get in and out of the harbor with anything less. - Just my thoughts (of course, I disclaim liability - as does everybody on this site) - Henry Hey '67 Mariner
I would think that your motor needs for you boat may depend largely on the conditions under which you are going to use it. If you need this motor to help you out in some rough weather, a trolling motor is not going to cut it for you. If you sail in relatively docile waters it may be fine, but otherwise go with a gas engine. I found my engine by combing through the internet. Go to google.com and start searching under used outboard. I don't know whether the day sailer needs a long-shaft motor or not. If you can use a standard shaft motor, your chances of finding a cheap outboard are greatly increased. My friend and I found a used long-shaft Suzuki 6 for $375. Although the owner told us that it was running perfectly, we still had to do some minor work on it. If you are handy with some tools and can read a repair manual, you can pretty much do quite a bit of your own work and save a lot of money. Try to find one of the tried-and-true makes : Evinrude or Johnson especially. Our 6 horse is clamped on to the back of our Mariner (19) and I am sure glad that we didn't buy a smaller motor. I would not feel to good about trying to get in and out of the harbor with anything less. - Just my thoughts (of course, I disclaim liability - as does everybody on this site) - Henry Hey '67 Mariner
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Justin - O'day Owners' Web
Go with gas
I tried the trolling motor routine on my 82 DS and found that is just didn't cut it. It got relegated to pushing my dinghy while I bought a 4hp Mariner to push the boat. I found the engine used for $300 in like new condition. There are two problems with the trolling motor that I found: 1. Trolling motors produce torque, not speed. This meant that the trolling motor had no problem pushing the boat through the water, but that I often wound up going backwards because I was only getting 3 knots in a four knot current. To give you a sense, the trolling motor doesn't push my Walker Bay (8 foot dink) any faster than it pushed the DS. 2. The trolling motor had extremely limited range, even with a big battery, and you can't just refuel it. I got tired of lugging my battery out to the boat in the dink, using it, then lugging it home. If you plan to trailer your boat each time you want to use it, it might go better for you, but if you're going to moor it then its a hassel. I found the 4hp to be perfect for the DS. Any bigger and the trim of the boat would have been adversely affects. With the C/B up and just me in the boat, I could get it to just plane with the 4hp, as long as the water was fairly calm. Good luck, Justin - O'day Owners' Web
I tried the trolling motor routine on my 82 DS and found that is just didn't cut it. It got relegated to pushing my dinghy while I bought a 4hp Mariner to push the boat. I found the engine used for $300 in like new condition. There are two problems with the trolling motor that I found: 1. Trolling motors produce torque, not speed. This meant that the trolling motor had no problem pushing the boat through the water, but that I often wound up going backwards because I was only getting 3 knots in a four knot current. To give you a sense, the trolling motor doesn't push my Walker Bay (8 foot dink) any faster than it pushed the DS. 2. The trolling motor had extremely limited range, even with a big battery, and you can't just refuel it. I got tired of lugging my battery out to the boat in the dink, using it, then lugging it home. If you plan to trailer your boat each time you want to use it, it might go better for you, but if you're going to moor it then its a hassel. I found the 4hp to be perfect for the DS. Any bigger and the trim of the boat would have been adversely affects. With the C/B up and just me in the boat, I could get it to just plane with the 4hp, as long as the water was fairly calm. Good luck, Justin - O'day Owners' Web
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Dan Steill
used 2 cycle
I bought an old used Sears 3 horse 2 cycle, air cooled, for my Daysailor 17' for $100. It is very light, less than 30lbs, and is more than adequate for the boat. I too can just about plane the boat with this engine and I have yet to run it wide open. I do use it on lakes and not in currents and I do not know how fast I am going but it does just fine for me. It could be mounted on the transom but the boat came with a bracket so there is where it goes.
I bought an old used Sears 3 horse 2 cycle, air cooled, for my Daysailor 17' for $100. It is very light, less than 30lbs, and is more than adequate for the boat. I too can just about plane the boat with this engine and I have yet to run it wide open. I do use it on lakes and not in currents and I do not know how fast I am going but it does just fine for me. It could be mounted on the transom but the boat came with a bracket so there is where it goes.
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Mark Maier
4hp 2cycle
I have a daysailor I (the type of hull that has a motor pocket molded into the transom) I just picked up a used 4hp johnson 2cycle outboard. it works great and will put that boat up on a plane or very close to it depending on the amount of people in the boat. I also use for a short amount of time a trolling motor...wow what a mess that is... you have to care for the battery, charge it, cart it in and out, deal with the acid getting on everything you put your hands on. (big mess) and after all this you get not much power for not much time. I highly recommend looking around for a used outboard motor. after you get it give it a good going through..(take the botom end apart and inspect the water pump..and replace if necessary) after this is done run the motor in a lake (attached to your boat) and run it for an hour or so. This will tell you if you have a good motor or one that is going to die on you. I have found that if you give these little motors a little care they will serve you well. (keep a spark plug and wrench with you on the boat) it is easier than paddling back....a motor like this will cost you anywhere from $65 to $150 and is worth it. have fun. Mark Maier mmaier100@mbusa.net
I have a daysailor I (the type of hull that has a motor pocket molded into the transom) I just picked up a used 4hp johnson 2cycle outboard. it works great and will put that boat up on a plane or very close to it depending on the amount of people in the boat. I also use for a short amount of time a trolling motor...wow what a mess that is... you have to care for the battery, charge it, cart it in and out, deal with the acid getting on everything you put your hands on. (big mess) and after all this you get not much power for not much time. I highly recommend looking around for a used outboard motor. after you get it give it a good going through..(take the botom end apart and inspect the water pump..and replace if necessary) after this is done run the motor in a lake (attached to your boat) and run it for an hour or so. This will tell you if you have a good motor or one that is going to die on you. I have found that if you give these little motors a little care they will serve you well. (keep a spark plug and wrench with you on the boat) it is easier than paddling back....a motor like this will cost you anywhere from $65 to $150 and is worth it. have fun. Mark Maier mmaier100@mbusa.net
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