axillry engine

[fraztiree]

just wondered what you guys views were on having axillary engines on the back . do you think i will need one my boat has the bracket and iv always had one on my other boats .but now im thinking it will add to much wight reduce speed etc what do you think?

[Polwart]

not a lot of help in your part of the world if you get a mechanical problem.

[BruceB]

It just takes time, lots of it!
I have only needed the aux once and that was off Coll not a million miles from you. I ended up coming back to Oban on just the aux then partial power on the main engine. I would have got home on the aux eventually as it was around 30miles.
After a few miles I managed to repair the main motor enough to get 16-17knots and we came home on this but the aux got us into the sound of Mull and would have got us home despite the distance.
Operating out there I would probably be thinking of twins just for the remoteness but at least an aux will get you back to shore instead of floating off to the US, I mean its not as it you can anchor out there

[fraztiree]

coll eh should of come to tiree instead of going back to oban ha. there always some other boat about tht could giv me a tow .dont no cant decide. thanks

[Bigmuz7]

On the West Coast .. Carry one .. use it.. train with it and have a separate fuel supply for it,.. 6 Knots is better than none out here .. finding a lee shore may be all you need it for but thats why you should have it rather than run the risk of the wind and tide removing you from safety. I use the biggest I can store and handle, I have a purpose made stow point on deck, and a substantial bracket to mount it on the transom ,.. also I have a solution to draw fuel from the main tank for extended use if necessary

[BogMonster]

6 knots is better than none round here too - if the prevailing westerly wind stays exactly westerly first landfall is 13000 miles away on the west coast of Chile

[BruceB]

I might even be out your way regularly soon, I am told responsibilty for some premises on the island are coming my way soon and since I can't think of a way to avoid having them added to my portfolio I reckon I will need to start visiting every few months.
My is on the transom mouted ready to go and I don't think I would operate in this area without one as most times we operate with nobody else around. Its comforting to know you won't be totally stuck if something goes pop!

[kwil]

Agree with Bruce, Stephen and Bigmuz, mine is permanently mounted and available for instant use. The weight is no problem, don't even notice it is there. Also make sure it can be fed from a different fuel source to the main engine. As the others have said it maybe slow but what is time compared ending up on the rocks or worse!

Keith

[jambo]

Hi Fraz
agree with the rest of the guys. I carry a 4hp on the transom all the time especially where I cruise ( sound of jura) unfortunately I had to use it on one occassion coming back from Giha and was I glad I had it. Always have a seperate tank for it.
Cheers
J

[alystra]

Originally Posted by jambo

Hi Fraz
agree with the rest of the guys. I carry a 4hp on the transom all the time especially where I cruise ( sound of jura) unfortunately I had to use it on one occassion coming back from Giha and was I glad I had it. Always have a seperate tank for it.
Cheers
J

Me too. Same place. Even three knots is better than nothing. Had to use it once 'in anger' after I tried to run my main engine on water.

As an experiment I motored the four miles back up the loch using the 3.5 Johnson. Averaged 3 knots and, interestingly, used the same amount of fuel as the main engine at 23 knots cruising speed.