short or long shaft outboard?

[pwhitney100]

I want to use a 9hp yamaha as both a auxiliary for my Albin Vega and to drive a 10ft Zodiac.

Does anyone have advice about mounting a short shaft outboard on the sail boat?

Or, should I raise the mounting board on the Zodiac and use a long shaft motor?

Thanks.

Patrick Whitney
2425

 

[pelagicasd]

Patrick, We used a 9.9 Nissan with a long shaft for a while. On occasion it would get dunked by following seas. I think you should go with the long shaft as the short one would spend more time submerged! Do you have to do a lot of motoring? I'd probably go with something around 5 or 6 horse power if I was going to do it again. The stern of the vega wasn't designed with outboards in mind. Use big backing plates for your mount. We used a lift and lower mount and it worked well. Walt

To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.comFrom: pwhitney100@...: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 20:37:10 +0000Subject: [AlbinVega] short or long shaft outboard?
I want to use a 9hp yamaha as both a auxiliary for my Albin Vega and to drive a 10ft Zodiac.Does anyone have advice about mounting a short shaft outboard on the sail boat? Or, should I raise the mounting board on the Zodiac and use a long shaft motor?Thanks.Patrick Whitney2425

 

[pwhitney100]

Thanks Walt.

I will seriously consider your advice about a smaller outboard, particularly because it is
auxiliary for the Vega and primarily for the Zodiac. Also I am putting a new Beta in this
winter. I motor as little as possible but I sail around the Discovery Islands and Desolation
Sound where the currents are strong and the winds can be light.

What is your recommendation for the size of the backing plates? I assume they should be
some sort of hard wood.