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"Best" motor for beach cat ? #273639
07/02/14 08:15 AM
07/02/14 08:15 AM
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 3
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drjay Offline OP
stranger
drjay  Offline OP
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Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 3
Looking for opinions regarding small motor to navigate through canals and from dock to a beach to raise sails.

I am between a small gas outboard like a Honda and a motor called
Torqueedo (all electric).

The Torquedo does not require a large car type battery but does cost about $2,000! The Honda is under $1,000.

I imagine the Cheata mount is what most use for a mount.

Any experienced opinions are welcome.

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Re: "Best" motor for beach cat ? [Re: drjay] #273640
07/02/14 08:21 AM
07/02/14 08:21 AM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 12,310
South Carolina
Jake Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Jake  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 12,310
South Carolina
I thought this sounded like a great idea when I first got into catamarans. I bought a brand new 1.5 hp outboard and made a mount. I think I used it once before I sold it. It's just too much trouble and weight.

You can sail through some pretty narrow stuff with a little patience and skill. Can you not hoist sails at the dock and just go sailing?

The torqueedos are a neat product...I've been looking at them for my monoslug (can't convince myself to leave the weight of the outboard on the stern so I have to heave that thing all over the place). You'll need to really check on the waterproof nature of the Torqueedo, though...we all have the capability of flipping and going turtle and I can only imagine what might happen if the Torqueedo (and it's lithium batteries) aren't up for the submersion challenge. A gas outboard is not going to enjoy that either.

One other consideration might be to find a used dingy with an outboard (or trolling motor) and use that to tow the cat out. Park the dingy on the beach and go sailing. It probably wouldn't cost much more than a new 2 stroke outboard if you shop around a bit. Heck, you can build a nice sized pram out of two sheets of plywood.


Jake Kohl
Re: "Best" motor for beach cat ? [Re: drjay] #273641
07/02/14 08:39 AM
07/02/14 08:39 AM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 774
Greenville SC
bacho Offline
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bacho  Offline
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Greenville SC
If your situation requires a motor, I would go with a honda or other gas 4-stroke. It should last just about forever. You can then buy the dinghy that Jake mentioned with the savings. There might even be enough left over to buy a cooler for the dinghy and fill it with beer!

Re: "Best" motor for beach cat ? [Re: drjay] #273642
07/02/14 08:43 AM
07/02/14 08:43 AM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 402
Punta Gorda, FL
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jkkartz1 Offline
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Posts: 402
Punta Gorda, FL
Paddle or 2

Re: "Best" motor for beach cat ? [Re: drjay] #273643
07/02/14 09:09 AM
07/02/14 09:09 AM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 473
Panama City, Florida
Redtwin Offline
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Redtwin  Offline
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Posts: 473
Panama City, Florida
If the beach is somewhat safe, how about motoring over with a gas engine and leaving it on the beach while you sail. You then return to the beach and remount the motor for the return to dock. I don't know how much of a PITA mounting and un-mounting a motor is though.


Rob V. Nacra 5.2 Panama City
Re: "Best" motor for beach cat ? [Re: drjay] #273644
07/02/14 09:10 AM
07/02/14 09:10 AM

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MN3
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I own a small 3.5hp 2 stroke for my jon boat that was purchased (not by me) to put on a beach cat.

was never used after the first season.

i have seen and been VERY impressed with the Torquedo

towing a cat with a motorized dingy through canals / marina could be a challenge but if it's not an issue, i like the idea...

Re: "Best" motor for beach cat ? [Re: ] #273645
07/02/14 09:41 AM
07/02/14 09:41 AM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 12,310
South Carolina
Jake Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Jake  Offline
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 12,310
South Carolina
You could literally connect the tow dingy somewhat between the hulls to have good control over the boat...or lash the tow boat to the side of the catamaran like they do with the AC and Extreme 40s.


Jake Kohl
Re: "Best" motor for beach cat ? [Re: drjay] #273646
07/02/14 09:55 AM
07/02/14 09:55 AM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,118
Northfield Mn
Karl_Brogger Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Karl_Brogger  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,118
Northfield Mn
I always thought a little jetski pump setup would be cool for recreational use. It'd need a hole going in, and a hole coming out, but it could be pretty light weight since you're not looking to break any speed records.


I'm boatless.
Re: "Best" motor for beach cat ? [Re: Jake] #273647
07/02/14 09:58 AM
07/02/14 09:58 AM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,304
Gulf Coast relocated from Cali...
TeamChums Offline
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TeamChums  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,304
Gulf Coast relocated from Cali...
I had a cheetah bracket on my H21SE and when I did Catalina trips I bought a Honda 2hp. The thing worked fantastic. On more than one occasion, due to no wind and needing to get home, I motored all the way to Marina Del Rey from Avalon (50 plus miles). I carried two 1gallon gas cans. If I remember, I think I could motor about 25 miles on less than one of those. Optimum speed was about 6-7 knots at half throttle. One thing that made that Honda the best was that it was air cooled. No needing to flush it with fresh water really, I never did.


Lee

Keyboard sailors are always faster in all conditions.
Re: "Best" motor for beach cat ? [Re: TeamChums] #273649
07/02/14 11:11 AM
07/02/14 11:11 AM
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 887
Crofton, MD
Chris9 Offline
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Chris9  Offline
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Posts: 887
Crofton, MD
Somebody near us uses a float dock or raft depending on how you look at it. Catamaran sits on Raft, raft either has a motor or they use a small boat to bring raft and catamaran out into the open anchor and rig/ launch/ return from the anchored platform...


Chris Allen
Nacra 20 Gertie
www.wrcra.org
Re: "Best" motor for beach cat ? [Re: Chris9] #273652
07/02/14 05:21 PM
07/02/14 05:21 PM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,906
Clermont, FL, USA
David Ingram Offline
Carpal Tunnel
David Ingram  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,906
Clermont, FL, USA
Originally Posted by Chris9
Somebody near us uses a float dock or raft depending on how you look at it. Catamaran sits on Raft, raft either has a motor or they use a small boat to bring raft and catamaran out into the open anchor and rig/ launch/ return from the anchored platform...


Now that is high end beach cat sailing :-) Does the raft have a beverage station and wait staff?


David Ingram
F18 USA 242
http://www.solarwind.solar

"Do or do not. There is no try." - Yoda
"Excuses are the tools of the weak and incompetent" - Two sista's I overheard in the hall
"You don't have to be a brain surgeon to be a complete idiot, but it helps"
Re: "Best" motor for beach cat ? [Re: drjay] #273653
07/02/14 06:25 PM
07/02/14 06:25 PM
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 713
WA, ID, MT
davefarmer Offline
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davefarmer  Offline
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Posts: 713
WA, ID, MT
I regularly motor 15 minutes to a reliable morning thermal on the main lake, and thus have used small outboards on an H18M, SC20, ARC22, and Flight Risk. The bigger boats carry the weight just fine, I'd move crew fwd some on the 18 to compensate for the extra weight aft. I generally use 2 to 3 hp two strokes because they're lighter than four strokes, but the 2hp Honda was a nice motor, noticeably quieter. I generally construct the motor mounts, and they all have the feature that allows the entire arm to pivot upward to allow the lower unit to be parallel to the water when the motor is up, to clear the chop. Important on the 18 and other cats where the rear beam is not far above the waterline.
Motors are definitely additional hassle, but if they allow you to get to the fun, they can be worth the effort.

Dave

Re: "Best" motor for beach cat ? [Re: davefarmer] #273715
07/04/14 08:32 PM
07/04/14 08:32 PM
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,582
“an island in the Pacifi...
hobie1616 Offline
Carpal Tunnel
hobie1616  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,582
“an island in the Pacifi...
I highly recommend the Honda 2 HP motor. It's air cooled and uses a centrifugal clutch no there's no gears to worry about. If you get flipped over and let the motor sit for a month, they're very easy to rebuild. I did one for a neighbor.

Make sure you shut off the gas and run until dry before storing. Draining the tank is a good idea too.


US Sail Level 2 Instructor
US Sail Level 3 Coach
Re: "Best" motor for beach cat ? [Re: drjay] #273718
07/05/14 07:17 AM
07/05/14 07:17 AM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 774
Greenville SC
bacho Offline
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bacho  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 774
Greenville SC
If the motor goes inverted for a period of more than a few minutes. Slowly turn it over with your hand. Make sure it's at least one full revolution. If the motor seems to stop turning, remove spark plug to relieve oil in cylinder and turn it. Once it makes at least one full turn it will be good to go. It can/may smoke a lot upon starting but it will clear quickly.


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