Newbie here looking for outboard advice

Veedunk · 06 August 2012, 20:12

Hello,

I have recently become the owner of an old Avon Redseal which I will be taking to Lake Garda later this month for a bit of fun on the lake with the family.

I have a couple of questions which I hope someone on here will be able to help out with?

Firstly, I have read that the maximum outboard size is 4hp but I don't know what length shaft to get. The measurement from the top of the bracket to the bottom of the Avon is 18", is that standard length?

Also, does anyone know if 2 stroke engines are allowed on Lake Garda, I don't want to get there and find out I can't use it

Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I am a complete novice and don't want to waste my money on an outboard that I can't use.

Regards,

Duncan

lightning · 06 August 2012, 20:44

Lake Garda is quite large so you are going to be looking at I would say a 5hp minimum, plus safety equipment.

Nos4r2 · 06 August 2012, 20:54

Redseals are max 4hp-they are roundtails. Putting any more HP on will just bend the tubes and shove the powerhead closer to the water.

You need a short shaft outboard for it, which is the standard shaft length for most 4hp outboards, unless it's been used to push a small yacht along.

lightning · 06 August 2012, 20:59

Oh yes my dad had one of those when I was a teenager, he had a 2hp on it.

Not sure if I'd want to cross Lake Garda in one....

Veedunk · 06 August 2012, 21:24

Thanks for the replies guys, I will start looking for a short shaft then. Out of interst what would be the outcome if I fitted a long shaft?
Don't worry, I don't intend to cross the Lake, but just potter about along the edge

If anyone has an outboard for sale I may well be interested.
Thanks again

thornbackflound · 06 August 2012, 21:44

Slow drag in the water,will slow you down SHORT shaft is a defo for what you need.

lightning · 07 August 2012, 07:42

What about a Mercury/Mariner 3.5hp. Same weight as the 2.5hp (only 17kg) but a bit more power.
9kg lighter than the 4hp and nearly as much power, no reverse gear but you can rotate the engine 180 degrees to reverse.
Lovely little engine.

thornbackflound · 07 August 2012, 08:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by lightning

What about a Mercury/Mariner 3.5hp. Same weight as the 2.5hp (only 17kg) but a bit more power.
9kg lighter than the 4hp and nearly as much power, no reverse gear but you can rotate the engine 180 degrees to reverse.
Lovely little engine.

Yes a Mercury/Mariner 3.5hp would be ideal ,i use a 3.3 hp one smashing little engine,only good on real flat calm day's in the estury but would not give her up for the world.

Veedunk · 07 August 2012, 08:22

I was considering a 3.3 or 3.5 as an alternative, is it important to have a neutral gear?

EnglishLes · 07 August 2012, 08:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by thornbackflound

Mercury/Mariner 3.5hp would be ideal.

I have two of these (brought the 2nd one for spares on e-bay as not working - now works a treat).

I have a 3.1 RIB get about 6mph tops on the canal with two adults.

Tried it on the Thames at Windsor fine going upstream.

You are welcome to try one or borrow for your holiday if not sorted by then.

I am two mins from J3 of the M3.

thornbackflound · 07 August 2012, 13:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by EnglishLes

I have two of these (brought the 2nd one for spares on e-bay as not working - now works a treat).

I have a 3.1 RIB get about 6mph tops on the canal with two adults.

Tried it on the Thames at Windsor fine going upstream.

You are welcome to try one or borrow for your holiday if not sorted by then.

I am two mins from J3 of the M3.

I have a 3.3 hp they are great that's a good offer for the chap,very kind of you to offer to lend him one.

lightning · 07 August 2012, 17:22

These do have a neutral gear, well the 3.5hp does anyway. F/N but no reverse

Veedunk · 07 August 2012, 19:30

Many thanks for all the replies, and especially Les for offering me the use of your outboard which is very good of you. I would worry about damaging it to be honest and I have today bought a Mariner 4hp which seemed like a good price?

I can't wait to get out with it and give it a go

I just hope it stops raining

thornbackflound · 08 August 2012, 07:14

Good luck on your maiden voyage.

lightning · 08 August 2012, 08:04

Mariner 4hp will be fine, a fair bit heavier than the 3.5hp at 26kg but it does have reverse gear.

Veedunk · 08 August 2012, 16:22

Well the sun was shining this afternoon so I took the old girl out for its first trip along the Thames at Reading.
I have to say, it didn't feel right for some reason.
I wasn't expecting to go very fast, but every time I opened the throttle more than about half way the motor felt like it was pulling itself under the boat and pulling the boat with it. It probably didn't help that I was sat at the back and I'm about 90kg, plus the weight of the motor, and there was no- one else to help weigh it down at the front. It also felt more difficult/stiff to steer, the more the motor was pulled under the water.
I ended up sitting on the side tube as far along the boat as possible, but not even half way along as i couldnt reach the tiller, and that helped a bit but I felt like I was going diagonally all the time.
I suppose I could extend the tiller handle so I am sat more central, and I guess it would help when the boat is fully loaded with wife and kids, but It definitely didn't feel right.
When I did open it up, the front end lifted, the back end dipped but there wasn't much in the way of speed increase.
Can anyone throw any light on why, or am I to expect this from the set up I have, which is a thirty plus year old Avon Redseal with no solid floor, and a similar aged 4hp Mariner.
Any help would be greatly appreciated

Stoph · 08 August 2012, 16:48

Sounds like the motor is pushing well but not getting much resistance from your tubes, sounds like you need more pressure to me,were the tubes good and hard throughout? although as you have suggested I don't think you will be breaking too many speed limits with a flexifloor..

Veedunk · 08 August 2012, 17:01

Thanks for the reply. I did wonder whether they should have been inflated more as they weren't as hard after a couple of hours as they were when I set off. I presumed they had lost a little bit of air but didn't know if it would make much difference as the boat didnt feel right o begin with. Next time I will inflate them as hard as poss and see if it makes a difference.

thornbackflound · 08 August 2012, 18:19

Better to have a rigid floor and some weight at the front,is your floor inflatable? and is the outboard short shaft and a 2 stroke? because a long shaft will be no good and a 4 stroke dam heavy,if your floor is not an air deck,then it needs slat's.

Veedunk · 08 August 2012, 19:19

It's a 2 stroke, the floor is just Hypalon material, not inflatable, although I used the previous owners three small slats made from grp, although they are quite thin material and didn't seem to be doing anything. I am going to make a floor from plywood, probably in three pieces to cover the entire floor, and will see if that makes it any better.