tohatsu on a p18

[scottscotty]

finally got to make a sail with everything working! We left the dock going into a head wind so I left the motor running and did not drop the keel or raise any sails. At idle, that lil' 8 hp four stroke pushed our boat between 4.0 - 4.4 mph and it "sipped the fuel" as in after nearly 3 hours of puttering, I could not see a real change in the fuel tank (I mean we know that there had to be, but I could not see a notable difference). The sail back was incredible with a tail wind that was around 7 -10 mph on a river.... the main and the fore sail were filled and the lil' boat was moving very nicely. next item: i am going to make a pole for the fore sail and the spinnaker! the bug has bitten hard for my wife....she's already asking when again?

 

[Project_Mayhem]

I had a 4hp Tohatsu on my Starwind 19 (which is very close to the Precision models). That 8hp is a lot of motor for that little boat!

 

[scottscotty]

yes, it is what i like to call over kill. I use it between the sail boat and a small aluminum fishing boat. I only use it at idle or just above as it pushes very nicely at hose speeds and the noise level is soft and quiet. I found that the extra weight of the motor balances out the boat better because of the heavy duty battery that i installed. my wife and I enjoy the "cushy" aspects of sailing.....( no lets see how fast....) I do need some advice on making a whisker pole to help set the front sail (be it a storm or oversized)? I despise having ropes catching on the forward hatch when the wife is spending time in the cabin......any thoughts?

 

[Project_Mayhem]

I usually close the hatch all or partway to avoid that issue. You could potentially put some stretchy line from the forward corners of the hatch to the deck. This way the jib and jib sheet would slide against the line instead of getting caught on the hatch. I'm not sure how effective it would be since I've never tried it

 

[scottscotty]

I think your first idea may be the best...just tell the wifey' to close the forward hatch! Of course if you don't hear from me and a precision 18 goes up for sale in NC, Then you know what happened after I told my wife to set in the heat of the cabin!!

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Check in Oriental, little Washington and lake Norman. I believe I was the last dealer in NC for Precision. Check at Steele Creek on Kerr lake and the marina on the lake west of Raleigh that US 64 crosses over where the P18’s were sold to

 

[scottscotty]

10/4 CDC......I will check those areas. ty