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#1 21 Sep 2014 1:37 pm

Derek Blay
Member
Registered: 16 Sep 2014
Posts: 17

Skerry motor mount

Has anyone attempted to fit an outboard motor  to the Skerry?
I have seen boats with a removable spar to which motor  was clamped.

I am thinking  of some kind of well - any ideas?.

Also what size motor would be suitable - just pottering about  and a get-you-home if wind drops

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#2 21 Sep 2014 6:49 pm

Yambo
Member
Registered: 17 Jul 2014
Posts: 35

Re: Skerry motor mount

Hi Derek, I was talking to a friend only today about this. I have an old Yamaha 2 hp outboard and considered using it on the Skerry. I haven't done so yet and one of the options I've now discarded - mounting it in the boat through a box. I'm not prepared to make another hole in the hull now she's finished! The other option was a bracket to fit across the rear of the boat with the motor off to one side and counterbalanced on the other probably.The bracket will need to be an odd shape though as it's not a very long shaft outboard and as yet I haven't taken any measurements , just made some rough drawings.

With this arrangement I could either fit a longer tiller on the outboard so that I can balance the boat better or lock up the outboard so it can't turn and use the Skerry rudder and tiller. At the moment I don't really need it but I'm getting older  . . .

Last edited by Yambo (21 Sep 2014 6:50 pm)

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#3 22 Sep 2014 7:42 am

wilddog
Member
From: Devon
Registered: 22 Dec 2013
Posts: 143

Re: Skerry motor mount

Mounting a motor on the Skerry is a bit tricky as she has no transom.

People have fitted brackets to the boat so that the outboard hangs over the side and one ingenius Skerry builder, Zach Weist in the USA, has actually fitted a trolling motor to his rudder assembly.

Building a motor well box with a mounting thwart through the aft seat/bouyancy chamber, off set to port or starboard sounds like the best permanent solution, but bear in mind that this would seriously reduce seating space aft and drastically affect performance.

These boats are designed to row very well and there are plenty of stories of people rowing long distances with no trouble at all - see Yambo's post here (ok he does admit to getting a tow home...but the row out seems easy enough!).

If a motor is a real issue, then perhaps look at a boat that can accommodate one more easily such as the Skiff ?


Built a Skerry!

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#4 22 Sep 2014 8:52 am

Derek Blay
Member
Registered: 16 Sep 2014
Posts: 17

Re: Skerry motor mount

Thanks to Yambo & Wilddog for their prompt response.

I already have the Skerry kit bought for me as a retirement present by my employers and I am just about to start building.

My own initial thought is like the boat Wilddog has seen - a well constructed under the rear seat on the starboard  side balanced by the crewman on the left at the tiller ( motor clamped )

I guess I need to start with deciding on the motor - maybe a small electric? and then seeing whether the size of well required will fit into this area without to much of a penalty in looks and performance.

When finished the boat will be auctioned and the proceeds donated to charity - last time it was a Wood Duck canoe which raised  money for help the Heroes - this time it will be McMillan Nurses.
I live on Anglesey and the boat will have higher value if it can be motorised to cope with tide and weather conditions here.

I intend to make a CAD drawing of my idea followed by a cardboard mockup before I start cutting up Fyne Boats beautiful panels.

Meantime any further ideas/comments would be welcomed

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#5 22 Sep 2014 10:17 am

wilddog
Member
From: Devon
Registered: 22 Dec 2013
Posts: 143

Re: Skerry motor mount

What a great idea to auction the boat for Charity! Let's hope it raises lots of cash!

The other option may be to modify the central seat and built an outboard well just behind the daggerboard case. It will make a mess of the central rowing position, but if oars are required, the boat can always be rowed from a forward rowing position.

The issue that I see is that what ever you do, you need to select a motor with a very small footprint and a very short drive shaft. Space inside the boat notwithstanding, the Skerry only draws 5 inches, so there is actually not a lot of depth from the plane of the seats to the bottom of the Hull to work with. Any motor will be dangling pretty deep in the water which may compromise the boat's ability to 'creek crawl' and beach, which is what the Skerry is designed to do. In this case, fitting the trolling motor to the drop keep - which can be lifted, makes a lot of sense!


Built a Skerry!

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#6 23 Sep 2014 7:15 pm

Derek Blay
Member
Registered: 16 Sep 2014
Posts: 17

Re: Skerry motor mount

Wild dog

Now had chance to study drawing ( and convert Yankee feet and inches to metric)

As you pointed out there is very little vertical space under the seat and the area available in plan view at seat level rapidly diminishes as you drop down.

If it was absolutely necessary to fit a motor You could raise the seat but I think I will complete this boat as a sailer/rower and hope we get bidders from safer waters. ( First Fyne Boats craft I built was the Eastport Pram and thats sailing on the Thames at Marlow)

Many thanks to yourself & Yambo for your help in coming to this decision.

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#7 24 Sep 2014 7:36 am

wilddog
Member
From: Devon
Registered: 22 Dec 2013
Posts: 143

Re: Skerry motor mount

Very Welcome Derek!

The Skerry has been great fun to build and my thoughts on the process are on the bui ld progress log pages here. It's a warts and all account as I'm afraid I've made a fair few mistakes, but I think this is normal for a first project!

Andy


Built a Skerry!

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#8 19 Nov 2014 2:36 pm

fjeansson
New Member
Registered: 19 Nov 2014
Posts: 1

Re: Skerry motor mount

Hi,

I have not sailed a Skerry but I'm an experienced sailor. I have crossed the atlantic in my double ended 31 footer.

* The engine size to use on a skerry would be the smallest possible, that is usually 2 HP or 2.5 HP depending on brand. That will probably be enough to reach close to the skerrys top speed.

* My Suzuki 4-stroke 2.5 HP uses 0.23 litres / hour on half speed. Double those digits for full throttle/speed. The weight is 13 kg + 1 litre of fuel in the tank. A 2-stroke outboard would weight even less (and be smaller) but the fuel usage is ~25% greater.

* I see two practical places to mount an outboard on a double ended boat like a skerry:

1: Quick fix: Place an engine mount directly onto the rudder. You will do the steering with your normal rudder tiller. The engine changes angle then the rudder does. The outboard engine mounts is usually able to lift out of the water then the engine is not in use. One of the downsides is that your steering while sailing will be heavy with an engine hanging on the rudder. But its always possible to take the engine off and place it in the bilge as it is not that heavy.

2: Better option: Build some kind of construction hanging behind the rudder. I have a welded stainless D-skaped construction on my sailboat, hanging behind my rudder, where my wind wane is mounted. On a skerry I would probably do this in plywood. Something thats removable on days when you imagine the outboard is not needed. If you varnish it it might even look OK.

As I see it, making an inboard engine out of an outboard (in a box) is not practical in a boat like the Skerry that you are suppose to launch by hand, drag onto beaches, etc. There is also a chance of getting smelly exhaust smoke into the boat.

The reason im looking into outboards on a skerry is that I would like to take it on the european inner waterway system, and you need to be a motored craft to be allowed to use the locks.

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#9 3 Sep 2015 8:14 am

Derek Blay
Member
Registered: 16 Sep 2014
Posts: 17

Re: Skerry motor mount

Back again on Skerry motor mount- things have moved on.

After a lot of thought and discussion I fitted a fixed mounting beam on the starboard side.
The beam from " x " solid timber passes right through both sides of the boat under the edge of the rear seat.

Where it penetrates the hull its reinforced with shield shaped 6mm ply doublers.

I added a removable packer to cope with a wide range of motor clamps.'

This mount is fixed but with a little more work it could be made removable or retractable.'

The mount places the outboard tiller convenient for the right hand of the pilot who sits offset to port and thus balancing engine weight.

Main photo shows boat with bracket

Unfortunately won't get chance to try it out for , as with the other Fyne Boat craft I have built this one has been sold and the proceeds donated to charities ( in this case McMillan Nurses)
It is going as a display in a new resturant  - shame but everybody wins - Charity gets its cash, resturant get a cheap bioat and I  have had 18 months entertainment.

If anyone is interested in more detai just email me on dcblay28@gmail.com

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Last edited by Derek Blay (3 Sep 2015 12:25 pm)

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#10 20 May 2016 11:48 am

anmol77
New Member
Registered: 20 May 2016
Posts: 1

Re: Skerry motor mount

Has anyone attempted to fit an outboard motor  to the Skerry?
I have seen boats with a removable spar to which motor  was clamped.
I am thinking  of some kind of well - any ideas??????

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