#What is a ted williams outboard motor worth portable#

#What is a ted williams outboard motor worth portable#

And the portable nature of these beautiful small boats makes them the perfect platform for an 8- to 15-horsepower outboard. Most of us got infected with the boating bug in a skiff, whether it was an old aluminum jon boat or a beat-up example of the fiberglass or wood variety. Your need for speed will evaporate quickly when it comes time to bend your back and lift a bigger outboard over the rail. Lastly, if you cruise with your dinghy and will have to haul it aboard the mother ship to stow, keep in mind that the lighter the outboard, the better. Check the manufacturerРІР‚в„ўs specifications to find out the maximum horsepower rating for your hard-bottomed or inflatable dinghy before deciding on an engine. There are plenty of smaller dinghies around with outboards of six horsepower and less, but bigger dinghies, especially inflatables over eight feet in length-will utilize outboards rated at eight horsepower and above. In addition to a large propeller, MercuryРІР‚в„ўs ProKicker outboards have improved gear ratios and beefier lower unit components. But factor in tidal currents, remote anchorages, or the urge to explore new harbors, and most folks find that rowingР’В becomes unfeasible in anything but a dedicated РІР‚Сљpulling boat.РІР‚Сњ ThatРІР‚в„ўs why youРІР‚в„ўll see most hard-bottomed and inflatable dinghies fitted with a small outboard. If youРІР‚в„ўve got a hard dinghy with the correct bottom profile you can generally use oars to get around pretty effectively. Outboard engines rated at 15 horsepower and up are generally too heavy for practical sailboat kicker use. Smaller sailboats, or those that only need a push out to the racecourse and back, can generally get by with a smaller outboard, though youРІР‚в„ўll most commonly see 8- and 9.9-horsepower models used as kickers.

Fixed brackets are cheaper, but generally require you to remove the outboard to get it out of the water-not very practical. The idea behind the adjustable bracket is that it can be lowered when in use, and raised up to keep the engine out of the water when sailing, or not in use. While some sailboats have a fixed outboard motor well designed into the stern, others have-or can utilize-a fixed or adjustable outboard motor bracket on the transom. ThatРІР‚в„ўs why itРІР‚в„ўs not uncommon to see racing and cruising sailboats shorter than 30 feet in length fitted with an outboard motor, usually the long-shaft versions. Besides being heavy, they require complicated fuel storage and supply systems, raw-water plumbing for cooling, and a shaft and propeller that create drag. Having a dedicated gasoline or diesel inboard engine on a sailboat can be a distinct disadvantage. Today the company manufactures a wide line of outboard engines that includes this 8-horsepower model. Honda was a pioneer in the four-stroke outboard business. If youРІР‚в„ўre ready now to pull the trigger on new engines, you can browse our huge selection of outboard motors here on Boat Trader. With that in mind, letРІР‚в„ўs have a look at some of the applications for these engines, as well as some of the notable manufacturers that produce them.

Whether itРІР‚в„ўs an auxiliary kicker on a sailboat the primary source of power on an inflatable tender or what makes the family skiff go, small outboards are the superheroes of the boating world. ItРІР‚в„ўs the proverbial sweet spot, serving many different types of watercraft involved in a variety of activities. Photo by Lenny RudowР”В«ut the same РІР‚СљworkhorseРІР‚Сњ status can be attributed to most any outboard in the 8- to 15-horsepower slot. This 15-horse Suzuki outboard is a great powerplant for this youngsterРІР‚в„ўs 14-foot skiff.

Whether it was crabbing the Chesapeake Bay with my father or shooting the Indian River Inlet to go fishing, that engine faithfully pushed our little fiberglass skiff wherever we wanted to go, despite how poorly we treated it. A Ted Williams 9.9-horsepower, two-stroke outboard was the engine that many of my childhood memories areР’В wrapped around.