Motor well size help.

[Dale H]

I'm at the point where I have to build the motor well in my Eun Mara, but I haven't bought the motor yet. I'm thinking the 5 hp Honda 4 stroke model looks about right but the local dealer doesn't have one on the showroom floor.

Can anyone tell me what the dimensions of the lower end are? I have a brochure with the usual overall width, height and length listed, but the lower end isn't mentioned.

So, how big does this motor well box need to be to accomodate the modern 4-6 hp, 4 strokers?

Thanks in advance,

Dale

[L.W. Baxter]

Howdy, Dale.

I went through this last fall. I found that 7 1/2" wide by 12" long provides adequate clearance.

I ended up buying the Nissan 4-stroke 5 hp. The principle reason was the compactness of the unit. The power head and tiller are shorter on the Nissan than on the other major brands, totalling 6 to 8" overall length fore and aft. The bonus is, the Nissan (rebranded Tohatsu, actually) is about $350 less than the Honda, Yamaha, Merc, or Johnson.

I could not be happier with my motor selection. It's purrfect.

--Lee

[Jack Heinlen]

A call to a dealer, or to Honda should give you minimum dimensions: front to back and size of the prop plus, say, an inch both ways. Make it a little oversized.

Though no one makes one now, a geared down three horse with a big prop would be nice for a boat like this.

My Drascombe Lugger has a lift up well, with keyhole in the transom, that will take a British Seagull with its big prop, or the five horse Nissan I have on it. Yours is a little different because you want to make the hole in the bottom as small as possible, but don't make it too small.

Two cents, just to get the ball rolling.

[L.W. Baxter]

Just thought I'd add a picture of the Nissan in the well. You can see how clearance was a factor in my case: the thwart just in front of the well is where the pilot sits, so a long tiller handle would make things difficult. Conversely, if you need a long tiller, the Nissan might not be the best. The Johnson, if I recall correctly, has the longest handle.



I'm totally sold on this motor. Don't spend more money unless you have a good reason.

--Lee

Edit to add: You can minimize the size of the hole by making it an oblong oval shape. Rounding off the inside corners, in other words.

[ 07-10-2004, 07:33 PM: Message edited by: L.W. Baxter ]

[Dale H]

Thanks for your replies.

I was thinking of a well of 10 by 11 inches, but from the experience of LWB, I think 9 by 12 should be safe enough.

BTW, very nice boat, which design is she?

Dale

[L.W. Baxter]

Dale, if we're talking interior dimensions, there is no need to make your well 9" wide, unless you plan on using a motor with a 9" prop, which seems highly unlikely. Interior dimensions of 7 1/2 by 12 will be plenty for the lower end of the kind of motor you are planning for.

As for my boat, it's a Dion Swampscott dory, from John Gardner's Dory Book .

Here's a link to some construction pictures.



Now, I've shown you mine...you have to show me yours. Love the Eun Mara, can't get enough looks at 'em.

--Lee

[Dale H]

I really should add this to a signature line. I have the boat construction online at www.alistego.com.

Thanks again,

Dale

[L.W. Baxter]

Ah-so. Guess I've a poor memory for names. I never forget a nice boat, however.

I've admired your progress on several occasions. Just admired it again. That's going to be one special boat.

--Lee

[Gary E]

What happens when you run over a rock or up on the beach with that setup? Does the motor tilt up as it would if mounted on a normal transom?

G

[L.W. Baxter]

What happens when you run over a rock or up on the beach with that setup?

It goes something like this, Gary:

CLUNK!

"AW $#!+!"

Which is why I try to be careful...

--Lee

[Dale H]

Or in the case of the Eun Mara, the keel is deeper than the motor will ever be, so that scenario would be highly likely.