I am unable to rig my 146 on land and do so by a dock, which I find difficult due to shifting wind directions on the lake. I am thinking of adding a motor mount and motor to enable me to let the mainsail weathervane better and prevent the sail from driving. Any suggestions on the mount and motor or other rigging aids?
Rigging issue
- Thread starter alfine
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If you go with an engine I would strongly recommend a Honda 2hp long shaft clutch model. We love ours on our Precision 165. It has served us flawlessly for 2 seasons now. Lightweight, low maintanence and simple air cooled design with great fuel economy. We have a simple fixed mount and are able to tilt the engine underway raising the shaft out of the water. We use it when raising the main. Just makes keeping it into the wind easier. We ran it on a precision 15 as well. Nice to have when the wind goes away.
jimmyb
jimmyb
My 15' boat doesn't have a motor either. If I can't sail off the dock because of wind direction, I use oars to get clear and then raise the jib. After coming up on a close reach, I lash the tiller and then go forward to the mast and raise the main. I reverse the process when dropping the main and then use the jib to sail back to the dock. Maybe you could use a paddle to get clear of the dock before raising your sails?
A trolling motor may do the trick if you just want to bring your boat into the wind to raise the main but there is just nowhere to put the battery on a H146. Those German all in one electrics are great but very expensive. Anyway, as you asked before, you will need a mount. Hunter supplies one as an option. It sounds like your boat didn't have one installed at original purchase. If you look at the stern, aft of the transom you should see a slight lump on the starboard side. That is a piece of metal that has been glassed into the hull. The motor mount is attached at this point. You would have to have some holes tapped so that you could bolt the mount on. If you're not comfortable doing this I recommend you have your local boat yard or Hunter dealer do it for you.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Hunter manufactured small motor mounts for this boat specifically and strongly suggest that you go with it. You can purchase this thru HOW store or Sailboat Owners Store.
Honda 2 hp is the way to go for light weight and the power. I suggest the 15 inch shaft for this boat.
My knolwedge comes from experience selling Hunters and I forgot how many years. You may want to research the archives on this but my customers liked my advice for this boat. I am retired living in NC now but will be moving to VA mts in a couple of years.
Crazy Dave Condon
Honda 2 hp is the way to go for light weight and the power. I suggest the 15 inch shaft for this boat.
My knolwedge comes from experience selling Hunters and I forgot how many years. You may want to research the archives on this but my customers liked my advice for this boat. I am retired living in NC now but will be moving to VA mts in a couple of years.
Crazy Dave Condon
I agree with Crazy Dave re the Honda 2hp. I am about to get one for my H15 but can't decide if I need the short or long shaft. What's your advice Crazy Dave?
This is what the undersides of the motor mount area looks like from the inside of my H15. I advise that you check if Hunter used the same material inside the 'lump' in the H146. Mine looks like a metal plate that has been tapped for the bolts you can see in the photo.
PS. This is the same way your mainsheet block is attached under the deck also.
PS. This is the same way your mainsheet block is attached under the deck also.
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Regarding which motor shaft to get will depend on how it sits out of the water. That is the determination. The one from Hunter takes a standard shaft but get the motor aafter you install the motor mount. In fact, take the boat with you when you go to purchase the motor to be sure if using anything else or better yet even with the bracket from Hunter.
Hunter use to build boats using for lack of terms plastic. Wood was encapsulated between the plastic layer and in the foam as aluminum is difficult to adhere to plastic. On the back of the foam was glass which was impregnated with Plexsis, not the standard hardener found on fiberglass boats. (Standard hardener found used on fiberglass, will destroy plastic)
The Hunter 15 is a fiberglass boat which has the aluminum backing plate encapsulated in the glass. If you are not sure, when drilling the hole, drill first with a small bit and see what comes out. If metal shavings, then it is aluminum and if wood, then wood.
crazy dave condon
Hunter use to build boats using for lack of terms plastic. Wood was encapsulated between the plastic layer and in the foam as aluminum is difficult to adhere to plastic. On the back of the foam was glass which was impregnated with Plexsis, not the standard hardener found on fiberglass boats. (Standard hardener found used on fiberglass, will destroy plastic)
The Hunter 15 is a fiberglass boat which has the aluminum backing plate encapsulated in the glass. If you are not sure, when drilling the hole, drill first with a small bit and see what comes out. If metal shavings, then it is aluminum and if wood, then wood.
crazy dave condon
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