Auxilliary outboard and Poole Trip (there is a connection!).

[NickT]

I had great hopes that I could fit a bracket to the back of my Fletcher 19 sports cruiser to give me a backup if the main outboard failed.

So..... off I went and bought a 4 hp Mariner 2 stroke sailmate (v long shaft thingy) and a drop down bracket to attach to the stern somewhere.

I have seen a photo of a similar bracket fixed to a Fletcher and though that would be good for me.

Well, with the boat on the drive I offered the bracket up to the place on the stern where I was hoping to fix it and have to conclude that it will actually ruin the look of the boat, plus it will make a nice lever to rip open the fibreglass hull if I hit it when coming along side.

The original purpose of the standby engine was to give me independence when going on longer trips (round IOW for example). I don't want to have to rely on others to get me out of the pooh if I break down.

So I am going to join Seastart which operates in all the areas where I could venture and this will be funded by the sale of the outboard and bracket. ( 2 years to be precise!).

I'm planning a trip down to Poole for a couple of nights in the summer. We'll be staying at the Premier Inn or similar and mooring the boat at Poole Quay overnight. We'll go up to Wareham, have a trip round the harbour, pop into Brownsea Island and maybe go down to Swanage (no mooring alongside there I fear).

June seems a good time to go so I will post some dates up to see if there is any interest.

Ta.

[sprocker]

We have just been going through a similar thoughts process for our boat. Advice from lads on here with more experience than us was 'don't bother'.

So we came to the same conclusion as you, and have decided to join Seastart.

Hopefully we will never need it, but the peace of mind will be there. Especially as we are hoping to do some longer trips and will have grandkids aboard.

[ColinR]

That's what I did. Touch wood I've never needed to call them for my boat yet although we did once on a raggie boat. Very impressed with the service I must say.

[Ianfs]

Yep and same for Joridapilot I think when we went over to Yarmouth when he had his ignition thingy watsit mechanism on his massive V8 go south for the Winter! all sorted for him easily.

[Matt13]

I also thought about adding an aux outboard a few years back on my boat. Was told that It would be virtually pointless as the power needed to push my boat through the water especially against the tide or wind would result in too big and outboard to safely handle.


In the end went with SeaStart just renewed this year not had to use them yet.

[_Ed_]

Another seastart customer here. Although I DO plan to have an aux on my bigger 19ft boat. I signed up floating about on the water and had to pay the premium Still they were efficient and its well worth it if your in their recovery zone.

[NickT]

Hi Ed,

Perhaps we can do a deal on a bracket and outboard!

I can see the similarities with your boat and the fletcher.

What outboard are you going to use long term and when do you think she will be ready?