SHETLAND OWNERS ASSOCIATION

Would a Seagull engine be any use on a Kestrel 570 for a backup motor also to be used as main motor on canals/rivers. What would the best hp rating be? Does it need to be a 4 stroke or is a 2 stroke ok?

Hi,

I think you need 5-8hp as a backup for a 570. I don't think Seagulls were that powerful.

A 2stroke is ideal for saltwater as they usually cope with the lack of use and maintenance that most auxilliary engines suffer from. While I always make sure mine starts before I ever leave the harbour, I have only had to use it once to get me home in 9 years.

However, If you are going to use a 2stroke as a main engine on canals, as someone pointed out in a earlier thread, you won't be going fast enough to escape your own cloud of exhaust fumes and you will go home stinking of 2stroke oil, so here you would be better off with a clean running fuel efficient 4stroke.

Although Seagulls only went up to 5hp, they were designed as strong "pushers" for heavy boats somewhat larger than would be usual for such low horsepower.

The Silver Century Model was 5hp and was fitted with a very large 5 bladed metal propeller, nearly a foot in diameter. They were designed (and geared) to push a heavily built 20ft wooden sailing yacht as the auxiliary power.

Having said that, they're bl**dy awful things to use now, in anything other than an emergency, because of the terrible noise they make.

I had one on a 20ft Hardy Pilot a few years ago, as the backup to a 50hp Suzuki 4 stroke, and it pushed the boat along at 4 or 5 mph with ease.

Hi

If tidal an 8 would be good. 6hp if there are no strong currents

re 2 or 4 stroke.

Great question as 4 strokes are heavy compared to 2 strokes and this is not good for a spare engine unless you put a lock on it as you dont want to be taking it off all the time. Having said that 2-4 mph is perfect for a 4 stroke and a 2 will also eat far more fuel and hate going that slow if it isan 8hp engine.

On ballence I would get a v v good lock and get a good 4 stroke and be safe. I know of a few of these around so if you need help please contact me through the members section.

Dave

Thanks all for advice. Next thing I need is a trailer!

Ok Trailer

single axel not braked bunked is your minimum if it is the right length and by this I mean no more than a foot of the boat over the end of the trailer.

If you will use it more than twice a year i.e. it will not be on a mooring I would go for:

Braked
single axel ( no point for the 570 having 4 wheels)
wheels should be as big as you can find i.e. nasty 10 inch wheels are a pig to drive with as every pot hole will scare you to death. 13's are ok but 15's are great
winches are cheap so don’t let this put you off, as are jockey wheels ( go for solid wheel if you are not launching in the sand or mud)
bunked is ok but lots of rollers with a braked back makes recovery v easy and not a chore

your big checks

1: bearings
2: hit it all with a hammer and see if it is solid
3: bearings
4: bearings

If there is play in the wheels driving will be fun and can get v entertaining as you wheel overtakes you down the road.
Dave

2 or 4 stroke engine? I would go for the same type as the main engine so that you don't have to carry 2 different fuels with the chance of getting them mixed up. If you can get them with the same fuel connectors you may just be able to run the spare from the same tank.

Hi Stan

Would you realy use the same fuel and risk running out or contamination problems? We were towed back last year due to both of these issues last year and would now never risk it.

Dave

Running out of fuel is normally down to bad planning/seamanship and I would have thought that the chance of contamination in a tank that is only used on a reserve engine would be much higher. I carry my spare fuel in a second tank which I use when the main tank is removed for filling and swap back when the spare starts to get low, that way I have clean fresh fuel in both tanks.

Hi Stan

Now I am realy confused sorry. if you take and recomend seperate spare fuel from your main tank why would you not take advantage of the 4 stoke engine for the canals, trawling etc.

last but not least most 2 strokes auto mix so it would be the same fuel so there is no extra work if you are not worried about bad fuel.