Outboard motor wells

[Eddiebou]

I simply don't understand the advantage of having an outboard motor in a well. OK, in a sailboat with a rudder, I understand. But, why? I don't see why you'd need to haul a gillnet over the stern. If you're fighting a big fish with rod and reel, tilt the motor up, reach around it with the rod....But in a pleasure boat???? Why rob yourself of the space? Asthetics? The runnabout in the current WB mag, OK it hides the outboard, But the Nexus in a current thread? Nice looking boat, but, why the well? It would look just as good if not better off the stern to me.

[wizbang 13]

Re: Outboard motor wells

Would probably go faster, cheaper, safer and quieter too. An inch per foot BEHIND the transom, not on it.

[pipefitter]

Re: Outboard motor wells

Ever had a large Snook or a Tarpon, Tuna etc on rod and reel? There is no lifting the rod over a tilted outboard, especially when it's bent from the handle on out. You'll be doing good to keep from breaking the rod off on the gunwale. Outboards have stolen a few trophies from me over the years.

A lot of outboard motors used to have 15" shafts. Think of where that puts the notch for the motor with regards to the waterline and a splashwell to keep the sea out also uses real estate in the hull. Now add a following sea breaking on bars when you are at the home stretch. Hang the motor off a closed stern on a bracket? Not practical in the days when motors started with a rope, and heaven forbid it foul a plug, shear a pin or stall at the wrong time.

[Oldad]

Re: Outboard motor wells

Not sure I understand the reason for the question. There have been a number of successful designs with a broad following that feature a motor well. The Handy Billy (http://www.transomboatworks.com/Hand...otorLaunch.htm), Ninegret (http://www.atkinboatplans.com/Oar/Ninigret.html) and Nina (http://www.bateau.com/studyplans/LB2....htm?prod=LB22) are three examples and I am sure there are others. People buy the plans, build the boats because they like the look and actually, performance, as well. All of these designs feature low horsepower requirements for an easily driven economical craft.

Oldad some say potato, some say patato

[Robert Wilkinson]

Re: Outboard motor wells

I would add Doug Hylan's Top Hat design to the list Handy Billy, Ninegret and Nina. A very nice 26' boat that performs very well with just 50 H.P.

[jimkeen]

Re: Outboard motor wells

Redwing 18 from CMD, with a 10 horse four stroke. Quiet and leisurely. I have been told by more than a few knowledgeable folks that she is beautiful. Not that I needed any convincing.
g.

[JimD]

Re: Outboard motor wells

On a small boat with a small, tiller controlled motor it can make quite a difference to have the well in regards to the weight distribution of both motor and operator, especially on a sailboat where the motor clamps to a transom bracket and not the transom itself, pushing everything even further aft. Without the well even tiller extensions are often of no use on a sailboat because typically you end up with a situation like this where the tiller (and throttle) cannot fold down over the top of the transom and into the cockpit.

[keyhavenpotterer]

Re: Outboard motor wells

In favour of the well...

1. The prop can be infront of the rudder, so the prop wash can improve turning speed.
2. The prop is closer to the boats centre, so its less likely to lift clear of the water in a following sea as the boat pitches. This loses drive and get very noisy and stressfull.
3. At close quarters, an outboard mounted off the stern is a pig to use. To change gear and go astern, you have to be looking back and leaning back out and over and down your transom on some designs, just at the time when you need to be adjusting the tiller and looking forward under control. An outboard mounted next to the helmsmen (and this is still possible with a small run about off the transom) is much easier to control while looking forward and steering.
4. The weight of an engine is a consideration. 4 strokes weigh more than 2 strokes that weigh more than oars. Some boats aren't designed to have the weight of an outboard hung off the transom in the first place, weighing the transom into the water, causing a drag. Also the transom might not have been built strong enough in the first place to mount such a weight and the connection to the planking might not be strong enough for the thrust.
5.Its easier to lift an engine up and out of the boat when its not hung out over the transom. Its a back injury to lift it up onto the boat from there.
6. The rudder of a sail boat is free to turn without hinderance if there's no outboard causing a partial obstruction.
7. When tilted up at the transom, on some sail boats this can interfere with the mainsheet horse and sheet.
8. Its easier to stand above a small outboard and refill an integral tank when its not off the transom.
9. An engine well with a flap over the bottom doubles as a live bait tank or toilet throne if your so inclined.
10. Its less obvious/ easy to be stolen in a well where its less visible.
11. It looks more classy on boats like Ninigret and Gartsides inboard outboards to have the outboard enclosed within.
12. Inbaord outboards are also protected from the weather and UV more easily.
13. On swinging moorings outboards on transoms can swing into other boats if they are not swinging together as they lift of a drying berth and gouge an other boats topsides with the sharp metal propeller and leg.
14. Changing from an inboard diesel to an outboard in a well on some sail boats is the way some like it. It avoid the weight, servicing, fuel issues, stink and noise/ vibration of a diesel and servicing is easier and cleaner. The outboard can be lifted out and kept indoors over winter clean and tidy unlike the diesel. With saildrive props it can still give enough oompf.
15. Double enders don't have a transom.
16. If its mounted more towards the middle of the boat in a well or side of the boat, you can rotate an outboard to 90 degrees. Now you can move the boat sideways like a bow thruster, for greater manouverability options close in, when getting into a small space between moored boats.

All depends on the size, type of boat and use as to what suits.

Ed

[Oldad]

Re: Outboard motor wells

There is the consideration that it takes up usable space inside the boat but the same must be said for space lost by any inboard (http://www.classicboat.com/id-17chri...-1946-1950.htm) or I/O.

Oldad hopes he's gonna launch his boat (motor in a well) Thursday

[JimD]

Re: Outboard motor wells

There is the consideration that it takes up usable space inside the boat but the same must be said for space lost by any inboard (http://www.classicboat.com/id-17chri...-1946-1950.htm) or I/O.

The well is putting usable space to good use.

[wizbang 13]

Re: Outboard motor wells

I'm talking about power boats.
most, I dunno, maybe all, planing boats will go faster , cheaper, safer and quieter with a bracket.
I do not fish, but some fishing boats like a bracket for fish fighting cuz the boat backs better. Big fish, I recon.
Yup, the engine sticks out, how many of us let our boat bang into stuff to protect the outboard?It's the other way around for me.
I guess we cannot tell on a Ninigret or Redwing without actually doing it.
Beauty is in the eyes........
When I see a well, I see inefficiency.

[dredbob]

Re: Outboard motor wells

There are a couple good reasons to use a well on an outboard skiff. If none of the situations where they provide advantages apply to you, then you are better off without it.

1) working or fishing boats where gear needs to be handled around the stern. The well gets the engine and prop forward so that lines and nets can be pulled up astern without catching on the engine or prop. Some workboats have wells that are closer to the bow than they are to the stern (Florida Mullet Skiffs).

2) a boat that will routinely be handled in very rough, choppy water. Having the engine and prop further forward and under the boat reduces the instances of the prop being out of the water and over-revving the engine.

3) cases where the owner has an aversion to the appearance of the outboard; maybe he has some vintage looking boat or maybe he just can't stand to look at the thing

If none of these describes you, then put the outboard on the transom; as you say, it'll be a bit more efficient and there'll be just that much more planing surface.

Bob

[wizbang 13]

Re: Outboard motor wells

If none of these describes you, then put the outboard on the transom; as you say, it'll be a bit more efficient and there'll be just that much more planing surface.

Bob[/QUOTE]
I'm not meaning the transom, I mean an inch per foot, approximately , beyond the transom.
The Outboard gets lifter higher and wheel gets cleaner water.
The Boat does not need MORE planing area, it needs better planing area.Clean, fair and sharp. A well make a lotta "dirty" water.

[kenjamin]

Re: Outboard motor wells

In some boats using a small outboard in an inset well provides for better leverage for lifting it up or down, manual starting, and simply removing it entirely and laying it lower in the boat for sailing. It all depends on the boat and the condition of the old guy's back that's doing the lifting. John Welsford was reluctant to OK an inset motor well on my SCAMP but after I explained to him my circumstances of already owning a somewhat heavy 47 lb. 4 HP and already owning a Caledonia Yawl for larger crews, he went along with my plan for an inset motor well. All boats are compromises. With my SCAMP, I was willing and able to give up crew size to make things easier on this 62 year old back of mine.

[peabody]

Re: Outboard motor wells

In some boats using a small outboard in an inset well provides for better leverage for lifting it up or down, manual starting, and simply removing it entirely and laying it lower in the boat for sailing. It all depends on the boat and the condition of the old guy's back that's doing the lifting. John Welsford was reluctant to OK an inset motor well on my SCAMP but after I explained to him my circumstances of already owning a somewhat heavy 47 lb. 4 HP and already owning a Caledonia Yawl for larger crews, he went along with my plan for an inset motor well. All boats are compromises. With my SCAMP, I was willing and able to give up crew size to make things easier on this 62 year old back of mine.

Oh my! Thats beautifully done!