Ballistic 650 with Aux

[SteveHall]

has anyone fitted an aux engine onto their Ballistic 650?

I am after any photos if possible, and advice - as the transom space seems limited.

[bedajim]

Aux bracket to move it over towards the toobs behind the A frame

[Xk59D]

do you have an aux now?

if not a 3.3 would fit on there easy, not sure how good it would be on a 6.5m boat but it would defo fit.

i'm about to go through the same process with my new ribcraft, always seems to be a pain to mount aux on rib's, amazing really when they will all take dual outboards so you would think space wouldn't be an issue.

I have even ordered a 2 litre outboard tank that will fit in my seats to keep it off deck.

i have a 3.3 and a new 5hp 4 stroke, my RC 6.8 will be getting the 5hp with sail prop on it so i'll keep a keen eye on this thread for ideas. I was looking at ways to mount it to the deck but i think i'll just put it on the transom and ratchet it up to stop bouncing.

cheers

[SteveHall]

Not got anything yet - just a winter idea.

I was thinking something a little bigger than 3.3 - something like a 5

[Xk59D]

steve,

since you don't have anything i'll measure both the 3.3hp and 5hp 4 stroke i have if it helps you decide if you can mount it?

cheers

[bedajim]

I thought rule of thumb was 1 hp per m of rib
Can't see the 3.3 being much use

I run a 15 on the 7.0 & did on the 6.5 m Vipermax
It pushes them along at 6-7 knots and towed another 7.0 at 4 knots

[SteveHall]

Yeah I am trying to stick to the rule of 1 hp per m, but want to keep the weight down

[Xk59D]

if the choice is an outboard bracket or a 3.3 that is a tough one, i'd be trying the 3.3 to save the bracket problem.

the chances are that 4/5/6hp outboards weight the same so you probably would be okay with a 6hp depending on the brand. ofcourse, if it is a 4 stroke then storage becomes an issue if that bothers you.

a 4/5/6hp sail will happily push your rib i would think, you won't break any speed records for sure.

a lot of yachts that weight a lot more and are much bigger use 5hp sail outboards..hence the name sail :-)

if you buy a merc/mariner the prop is 90 quid ish option so keep an eye out for it when buying if new. i just upgraded my prop to suit the 6.8. if i need to change i will probably get a 9.9hp as that is the next logical size up....i'd really rather not though due to lugging that about.

cheers

[diver 1]

i have an 8hp 2 stroke, moves my 5.8m along at around 6 knots, i wouldnt want to go far with it against the tide / wind....!

[kerny]

I think that a minimum of 9.8 would be good enough to push yours Steve any lower would be a waste of time.

[Xk59D]

you do not "need" a 10hp engine to move a 6.5m boat, there is ofcourse move and MOVE.

i don't think you have room to put a 10hp on the transom??, that would mean the dreaded outboard bracket...YIKES!!

if you can store a 10hp 2 stroke on the deck and move it in times of need then that maybe a better option? you can pretty much forget that with a 4 stroke as you would need it up so high it would be cumbersome to avoid oil getting into the head for when you do need it.

failing that, you my need to make do with a 6hp, looking at your pics i think it would fit on the transom, be tight but i think be okay, again, happy to measure mines if it helps.

you will either need to compromise on having a bracket on the transom or fewer ponies i'd think. i'd be inclined to take slightly less HP rather than leave outboard bouncing about out back personally if i had absolutely no other option.

BTW, my 3.3 will push my 5.6 at 4.5mph on GPS. i won't be going far against the tide but it does the job. i bought the 5hp for the job but the damn thing didn't fit so i had the same dilemma as you have now.

cheers

[Chris]

3.3 would be a waste of time, I had a Yam 5hp on my first rib, it was a complete pain, the bracket was not strong enough to take the pounding it gets on a rib and the one time I needed it it had barely enough power to hold the nose into the tide. A good anchor is more effective IMO.

[kerny]

Originally Posted by Chris

3.3 would be a waste of time, I had a Yam 5hp on my first rib, it was a complete pain, the bracket was not strong enough to take the pounding it gets on a rib and the one time I needed it it had barely enough power to hold the nose into the tide. A good anchor is more effective IMO.

[Xk59D]

surely any aux regardless of size is better than no aux? so the OP has 3 options really.

1. get whatever will fit on the transom

2. get a 9.9hp (ish) outboard and shove it on an outboard bracket. only the OP can decide if they would be okay with that. I wouldn't but it isn't my boat :-)

3. run with no AUX (depending on where you boat this may be acceptable, seastart location for example)

ideally i'd be wanting to put a 6hp on the transom with the high thrust prop option. if anything bigger fits then happy days, go that way :-)

whatever way you go please post some pics.

cheers

[Xk59D]

see, we were just not thinking big enough :-)

one either side...BOOM....NEXT!

[spartacus]

Mariner 3.3hp will be a waste of time on a 6.5m. It'll be like putting the froth on a cappuccino, with plenty bubbles but little substance!

I used to run a Tohatsu 3.5hp (2-stroke) on Zodiac Pro (4.2m) as an auxilliary engine next to a Yamaha main lump. That was a good combination in my opinion.

Plenty of reasons to go down the 2-stroke route, weight and engine width being the over-riding reasons.

Explore the possibility of a fixed external bracket, rather than an adjustable bracket. The Plastimo stainless steel bracket which I had used to rattle like a bag of spanners.

I'd look at the possibility of a Tohatsu or Yamaha 5-8hp. Speaking of which, here's a sweet Yamaha 8hp 2-stroke.
http://www.seamarknunn.co.uk/download/usedob/used.pdf

It'll weigh in at 27kg which isn't huge. Also relatively slim so it can sit next to the main engine even at hard lock. I'd look to secure the engine when underway as vibration will be your biggest concern. Ratchet strap to a stainless steel U bolt on the transom knee or deck would work.

Here's the type of brackets I'm referring to.
Fixed Kicker Bracket - 1511 SE - SALTBOSS? MARINE

See what you think. I'm sure you could get something fabricated locally once you've done some measuring. You don't need the depth, but the lip on your transom is your issue. If it was seated close to the tube you should get the clearance you need.

I'd go for it fixed in position. I've seen a few RIBs with the auxilliary located near the rear jockey seat, or in one example in front of the main console. Sounds fine until you have to manhandle 27kg in a rolling sea to the transom without dropping it in the drink!

The other advantage of being in situ on the transom is that you can use it regularly. Trouble with auxilliary engines is they need to be run. I didn't fire up my auxilliary and it was meticulously maintained, but I still found the impeller encrusted in salt at the end of the season. Valuable lesson learnt. It now gets washed down and run in a barrel regardless of whether I used it on the water.

Good luck with your search and keep us posted.

[SteveHall]

Its just a winter dream at the moment to get one, both for the redundancy factor but then maybe at a later date get a little SIB.

I dont know if I could get one that will bolt onto the transom because of the lip - This is why I wanted to know if anyone had done it - I may ask JBT for some advice.

I have plenty of options for storage, as the Ballistic has big ski lockers so I could get a bracket made up and store it in that - but then this limits me to 2 storke.

[bedajim]

Originally Posted by SteveHall

Its just a winter dream at the moment to get one, both for the redundancy factor but then maybe at a later date get a little SIB.

I dont know if I could get one that will bolt onto the transom because of the lip - This is why I wanted to know if anyone had done it - I may ask JBT for some advice.

I have plenty of options for storage, as the Ballistic has big ski lockers so I could get a bracket made up and store it in that - but then this limits me to 2 storke.

Have alook here for pics of mine
The Vipermax has a lip too

http://www.rib.net/forum/f36/aux-move-64194-3.html

[Nos4r2]

Measure the transom thickness-I think you'll find there's no auxiliaries available that will even sit over the transom of a Ballistic even if you removed the lip.
It's certainly true for the 7.8-Hence I put a bracket on mine. 8hp 2 stroke gives me 6 knots.

[SteveHall]

Nos - Do you have any photos?