On our boat . . .

Posted By: Lee
Date: 12/6/07 6:45p.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: Outboards & the Instantilt (Jim Blessing)

The control handle of the motor, including throttle (8HP Yamaha), stuck out through the hole in the wall (which makes it kinda hard to get a heavy motor into and out of the boat, BTW). We accessed the starter rope and the gearshift from overhead, through the hatch. Another problem we had: when our outboard was kicked up enough to get the prop out of the water, the hatch wouldn't close all the way before it bumped into the motor casing. When it was down, I don't think there was enough room to swing the motor side to side more than a few inches either way. I guess you could influence the steering some that way, but I would guess you'll be steering with the rudder. Frankly, I found the whole thing to be pretty cumbersome (but I don't like motors much anyways). The Kestrel sails like a dream, even in the lightest air, but I found her to be fairly awkward under power. Sailingwise, I don't think she liked the extra weight, and certainly not the drag, right there in her bustle, either. So my motor sits in my shop, lonely and unloved. Sigh.