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NiceAft wrote:I ask because there are some of us who have had a small HP motor for a dinghy, and who are figuring out how to make this work. For example, I have a 6 HP Mercury for my Achilles ( inflatable, not the tendon ), and this thread peaked my curiosity.

Ray

Yeah Ray I got a new 2015 Merc 6HP kicker also so watching whats going on here ,But I,m thinkin of making a folding swim platform with inverted rudders that would raise & slide vertically & attach the o/b to the end of the swim platform on a swivel lockable brkt but that's something that gonna have to wait until I retire & I,ll have the time to work on it , who said life gets easier as u get older I have less time on my hands now than I had 20 yrs ago

J

I'm looking at a 3.5hp. Does not have a gear shift. Will step down in the motor depresion to pull starter. Will use tiller extension to operate throttle, and turn motor around for reverse.

Highlander wrote:

NiceAft wrote:I ask because there are some of us who have had a small HP motor for a dinghy, and who are figuring out how to make this work. For example, I have a 6 HP Mercury for my Achilles ( inflatable, not the tendon ), and this thread peaked my curiosity.

Ray

Yeah Ray I got a new 2015 Merc 6HP kicker also so watching whats going on here ,But I,m thinkin of making a folding swim platform with inverted rudders that would raise & slide vertically & attach the o/b to the end of the swim platform on a swivel lockable brkt but that's something that gonna have to wait until I retire & I,ll have the time to work on it , who said life gets easier as u get older I have less time on my hands now than I had 20 yrs ago

J

The thing is John, my 6HP Merc is not a new one with electronic start, so I would have to be able to access the pull cord, and, it has a tiller. In order to switch from forward, neutral, and reverse, I would have to reach down to flip a lever. To raise or reduce power, I need to twist the throttle on the tiller. Those are my challenges. It's ten years old, but it works beautifully. A sweet little motor.



Ray

Hi Ray
My new kicker is a pull start also, an electric start would be a pita to use as a back-up if u r also gonna use it for ur dinghy u,d need two set of controls or u would need to have the controls mounted on a block of would or plastic board & clamp it onto something on either boat , so u would be moving an eng, . controls & a battery way too much work .

I,ve seen removable tiller extensions on the market or after-market for controlling the throttle ,
for shifting gears I would simply use a boat hook I have a small one I bought for my walker bay its approx 4ft long & most likely perfect for the job just reach down with the hook to change gears

for the most part for steering motor would be locked in the straight ahead position & just use the rudders if docking is going to be on the tight side steer using the motor also or u could connect ur big eng, to ur rudders use the boat steering if u buy one of these trolling steering link connectors which is basically a rod that connects both eng, together thus allowing u to steer the kicker from the helm

if u look around ur marina for a small 16-22ft fishing boat that has a kicker on it see if it has a steering link connector on it

Here,s a tiller extension as a sample allows for steering & throttle control so there,s that problem solved
http://www.amazon.ca/HelmsMate-Tiller-E ... B0000AXZOJ

here,s ur steering link
https://www.google.ca/search?q=outboard ... slPgwtU%3D

OK Ray now that I have done ur leg work for U I,d say a beer & chicken wing,s r in order lol

J
PS notice that steer link has the pull snap quick release system no tools required to connect or disconnects in a snap so easy to move when not required

It's a deal

While everyone was "kicking" around the idea of a back up motor I went ahead and added one. Finished up today

I use the Tohatsu 8hp I already had....is a 2003 model longshaft

I cut a 4 inch acess hole, then a 2nd smaller hole in the inner hull as described in a member mod.

Finished product






It does not interfere with the starboard rudder in the up or down position....up it comes very close to the kicker motor, but does not hit/touch it

Over all am pleased....can either use the tohatsu 8 as a back up or slow cruising motor....or I can put the Tohatsu 2.5 I have if I tow our dinghy

Best of both worlds

Cheers

Dave

At least someone eagerly following this thread in anticipation of doing the mod, actually accomplished it.
Ray

81venture wrote:While everyone was "kicking" around the idea of a back up motor I went ahead and added one. Finished up today

Dave

Dave, Could you show pictures of access holes?
Also please give horz and vert diminsions where you mounted it

What member mod where you refering to? How do we find it?

Looks like a 2 cycle mount. Brand and model?

Thanks--Chuck

NiceAft wrote:At least someone eagerly following this thread in anticipation of doing the mod, actually accomplished it.
Ray

Oh A mutineer now my how fast we jump ship Eh ! Mmmm !!! yer still on the hook for beer,s & wing,s !!

J

Well Numbers are not really my thing....I had this stuff lying around so just winged it like always

the motor is a 2003 Tohatsu 8hp 2 stroke....It was on my venture23 when I owned it...I added the charge coil and rectifier kit from Tohatsu so it also charges batteries. It is a pull start however so regardless of battery condition she will always start...I plan on adding a plug in the stern so if I DO use the 8hp It will also provide some recharging to batteries....I am the kind a guy that whenever the motor is running I want it adding power to the batteries...I run 2 in the 26x, the deep cell for house, and a starting battery...house battery has a dedicated solar panel to it also.


The mount was just a spare I had...I mounted it about 2 inches under the Hull ID plate, and it extends down 11 inches.

I cut a four inch access hole in the starboard side




Then used the roto zip and made the smallest hole inside I could and still fit my hand inside



I didn't have to remove any styrofoam, just broke out one small fist sized piece which I put back in....

I mounted it on the outside rim of the back edge, and this caused it not to be flush on the stern. I did this because the glass felt thickest there...I compensated for the other side by using a piece of scrap Teak wood...




I can hang my body off the bracket and it doesn't flex....when towing I will cinch the outboard up on a cleat to alleviate bounce on the road. I won't always take the 8hp, but when in strange waters exploring a backup that can push the boat in a decent current is nice. I also have a 2.5 short shaft tohatsu if we pull our dinghy behind us I can store the motor there....However the 2.5 is not long or strong enough to push the boat.

The rudder does not hit the tohatsu, but comes it comes real close to it with 1/2 inch to spare. I suppose I could have moved the mount a little closer to the starboard edge, but I felt the glass was strongest where I mounted it....both kickers are 2 stroke...I'll just carry oil if I need to mix up into my Hondas tank....Right now if I do a lot of 2 knot cruising I might put the hours on the gas sipping tohatsu 8, locked forward and steering with the rudders...


I plan to test out the setup next week at falls lake....right now I am in the middle of a 5 day total rewire of the X...I gutted every wire out of her last week and started from scratch...

As far as throttle control and etc the wife is always with me...so I can fire up the tohatsu, set a cruising speed and relax and just steer. I do plan on adding a transom plug for the charging capability, so I will use a 3rd wire and wire in a kill button to the pedestal. So if I am motoring I can "All Stop" quickly with a button. if I am using it as emergency docking I will just stand in the back and steer and operate tiller handle. I removed the captains helm seat to open the back...I don't like the seat and am to short to use it anyway so I always stand up regardless....

So far I am pleased with it....


Hope this helps.

Thanks to our 3 pic minimum I had to save the cover for another post

This is the cover I bought for $13 from west marine....I didn't feel so bad about cutting the hole, as now future wiring mods will be easier to access through this port anyway




Since I got two more pics left here is my pedestal work

Before


After: 2nd VHF, Fishfincer (Depth), GPS, horn and nav lights...one more button to add for tohatsu remote Kill switch



cheers
Dave

If any of you "powersailers" know me from My VN23 thread you know I don't "Anchor Around"

I Git-R-Dun!

81venture wrote:Hope this helps.

Yes it helps a lot.
Thanks for your post. Do you think a 3.5hp long shaft would push your M?

Chuck

without a current yes, but doubt you would get much for reverse....as an emergency it might be better than paddling

I use the 8 and has a 4 blade high thrust...I expect about 2-3 knots out of her without straining it..

the 2.5 I have won't reach the water

4HP 4 knots in calm conditions....my real world experience on Buzzards Bay.