Good morning, everyone.....I need to do quite a bit of shoreline exploration in Mexico, & would like to use a Hobie for doing it.

I want to look into the idea of installing a small outboard motor on the boat in case I am caught some place with no wind.

Has anyone done this?

Thanks,

jim

Murrays has engine brackets for an outboard for the H 16 (download the catalogue page: http://www.murrays.com/archive/61.pdf)

Here is another site with a motor mount. For electric motors and don't know if it will work for a gas motor. http://www.sail-s.com/main/cart-s/h16TRAPSEAT/trapse.htm

Hello,

I built a motor mount for my Prindle 18 and it works great. I used a boom from a Hobie 16 for a cross bar that attaches to the hull lips with a single screw. I use a 1.5 hp Cruise-N-Carry motor. I have photos and details on the Beachcats website. http://www.thebeachcats.com.

The article link is here

Jack Hoying

Fort Loramie, Ohio

All the motor mounts I have seen are at the stern of the boat. Is there any reason that a motor mount couldn't be placed at or in front of dolphin striker? All the weight of the motor & mount at rear of boat makes it harder to maintain proper trim when sailing. For most monohulls (sail or motor), the stern is only logical place. But multihull shape has other options. An thoughts?

p.s. your motor mount is beautiful. Congratulations.

Hello,

The outboard that I use only weighs 12 lbs and the bracket is probably another 10 lbs. I don't think there would be a way to mount an outboard on the dolphin striker, since there would be so much hardware to get in the way of the jib lines. Electric units seem to work fine for front use, but I personally wouldn't want 60 or more lbs (battery, motor and mount)hanging on the front of a Hobie 16. It seems like it would be easier to pitchpole with all that weight on the front crossbar.

Jack Hoying

Fort Loramie, Ohio

Granted, Hobie 16 is bad example. I have a NACRA, lots of bow volume. Stern weight slows the boat a lot.

I didn't necessarily mean mount it to the dolphin striker itself, but in that area, i.e. right in front of mast.

Quick thing



Go to your hobie dealer and ask for a hobie magazine and you wll find you can mount the engine on the front beam and it works realy well.



Jules

I'm told we have an outboard bracket designed for beachcats in our on-line store, but it is not listed on the website yet, so you have to e-mail rick@catsailor.com directly to ask about it.

It's cheaper and more fun to figure out how to build one yourself. Rick made one once out of wood to use with a 2 hp motor, but we never actually used it because we couldn't get the motor to work.

It has been my experience that an internal combustion engine (and an electric engine) never works when you really need it. They belong to the same union as bilge pumps.

Paddles are much more reliable when you run out of wind.