Rolf wrote:All:
I just purchased "Marisol" (previously "Caliente") without an engine. I notice there seems to be a debate about whether or not one should take the rating hit with the outboard. So, I have several questions . . . what do you all think about the desirability of an outboard? Also, if I choose to go that route, how many horses do you all recommend? 6HP . . . 10HP . . . ? Who makes the lightest long shaft outboard these days? The advantage I see to an outboard are several . . . price, weight savings, more space below when not racing, the ability to stiffen up the keel area with full cross members . . .
Thanks for the thoughts!
Rolf
if you stay OB a 6 hp should be just fine. As Jason mentioned it won't motor all that well...but it's not a powerboat now is it!
My boat was an IB (Remedy) with the motor mounted on top of the keel sump (the original Formula yachts IB location)
This is a good spot for the motor as the prop shaft comes out the back of the sump & is low drag, however it's a bad place in terms of interior volume & sump structure. Boats with the IB setup all have the main frame cut in half to allow the motor to fit. It is possible to rebuild the frames & fix the sump to new or better stiffness but it is quite tricky (we did this on Remedy).
Bob & I debated the IB vs OB issue often in terms of speed vs rating. He belives the OB boats are faster vs rating. We weighed the entire motor package in our boat when it was out, soup-nuts it weighed 350 lbs WAY more than an OB....
With that said, we had what was and may still be the fastest non Turbo E 32 (turbo being Bluto) so I'm not 100% sure.
My advice to you would be to buy a good 6 hp OB & start sailing the boat. Work on getting it structuarally sound with a good bottom, tuning and off course sails!
For that you should give me a call... 860 536 4235
John Fries