A Boat For My potted plants

[Home Cookin']

Re: A Boat For My potted plants

southcog's comment brought to mind another issue, and that's steering. A tiny motor isn't much of a rudder. Is there still a rudder from an inboard? Do "we" think he needs something bigger? For this application would it make sense ot have a longer shaft than usual?

Neil, when buying the OB, you want to have the correct length shaft, to insure that the prop is in the water and lower than the bottom of the hull. They come in many sizes.

Since you are using your free boat for more than a plant stand, I hope you have several bilge pumps and good battery systems for them. There's a reason that boat was free. And that low stern, if you are out (or even moored bow in) says you need extra protection. In fact, I'd cover that hole until you get a motor rigged.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: A Boat For My potted plants

That is what struck me as I was looking at the pictures, I suspected it was a canal boat designed for slow cursing in sheltered rivers and bays and of course the canals and from the style it wasn't a work boat or for cargo and from the style I would think a Pleasure boat but with a motor mounted that low in this day and time would be a specialty motor and I would think it would be better to go to a newer one and why you have been looking around for information and as a suggestion you may find it easer to rebuild the transom to except a newer type of motor and of course one with remote controls.

 

[Philster]

Re: A Boat For My potted plants

This has potential to be an awesome, long-term thread to supplement the great blog.

So far, the most important point that has been made has been about steering. Small power isn't an issue, but darn... the steering control would be, especially in tight areas.

 

[Doral270MC]

Re: A Boat For My potted plants

Neil, I noticed in some of your pics it seems to be an accepted practice to allow the boats sit on the river bottom as the tide goes out. Man, I'd cry if I ever saw my boat like that.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: A Boat For My potted plants

it's not a problem in the South, where we have soft bottoms.

Pun intended

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: A Boat For My potted plants

My thoughts on transom work have nothing at all to do with horsepower..... 15 hp is plenty for displacement speed and steering should not be a problem.... as with any outboard, steering at low speed is to be done under power.

The transom work doesn't need to be bombproof but if you are loaded down with people and a wave washes up the stern just high enough to flood and hydrolock the engine, you will be adrift and at the mercy of the tide.....

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: A Boat For My potted plants

I think a long shaft (sail boat style) 10hp or 15hp outboard would be sweet-- If you could make the splashwell water tight even better.
Provided you stay in calm no-wake zones I think you will be OK!

 

[Neil Watson]

Re: A Boat For My potted plants

Thank you to all who have replied and given me suggestions. This really is an amazing site, and I much appreciate all your comments.
I haven't yet figured out how to post pics on here yet (being a fairly non-computer-literate Limey), so I'm sorry to have to ask that you look at the blog for now.

Regarding the motor, I am going to post my next blog in the next few hours, mostly for the benefit of my readers over here who have been supporting the boat's progress.

What has been incredible is that various companies and individuals have supplied, either for free or at cost price, many of the things needed for the restoration. I am just a humble painter and decorator by trade, so don't have lots of money to splash around - but the fact that the boat was given for free in the first place has somewhat further encouraged people's generosity along the way.

I can't quite believe it myself even, but I've received an amazing offer from Suzuki, which I'll be putting on my blog, and I can't wait cos it's so exciting (for me at least). The only trouble is that my wife (affectionately known as 'Erindoors) is demanding that we g

I hope it's okay here to put the link (www.aboatformypotplants.blogspot.com), and that it's not breaking any rules or forum etiquet.

 

[Neil Watson]

Re: A Boat For My potted plants

Sorry - things didn't quite come out on the post I just wrote, but basically my wife, 'Erindoors, is demanding that we go for a long walk now, since we have woken up to a thicket blanket of snow this morning. I'll suggest that we go in the direction of the Boat For My Potted Plants (i love the new name!).

 

[Neil Watson]

Re: A Boat For My potted plants

I'll be celebrating with a bottle of bubbly at the boat club on Tuesday evening's meeting. A very nice man at Suzuki GB has come up trumps, cross fingers. I still can't quite get over it.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: A Boat For My potted plants

BOY TALK ABOUT CARDIAC ARREST!!! If I walked out and saw my boat sitting on the beach I would go ballistic!! I don't know how you do it Neil!!

Welcome to the site!!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: A Boat For My potted plants

Lipp, it's typical in tidal waters and soft bottoms