15ft with and small ourboard

[rock]

Just picked up a 15ft with, it is in very clean condition, but only has a 5hp seagull ( done 15 hrs from new 1980). it has a small cudy and a trailer.
I was thinking of trying it in the sea just close in with all the obvious gear etc. i am just a little worried about the size of the outboard
If i stay close in say no more than two miles will i cope or should i just not go there and find another motor your thought's on this please.

[pityacker]

On a personal note I'd get a bigger engine and keep the seagul for a back up as you never know. I had a 16,6ft coble with a 10hp outboard wasn't the fastest thing but reliable and good in roughish sea when it got up, furthest i went out in that was about a mile-mile and half and that was my limit as you must think of getting back in if anything does happen but a mile is ample really.

[northeast1]

I have a 6m boat (Arvor) and use a 6bhp outboard as a back up, i have tested it out at sea with a head wind, in the Tyne against the tide and choppy sea's...it does the job but only pushes me along between 2.5 and 4knots.

would think you would get abit more out of yours being a smaller boat, mine is fine as its a get me home back up oly but as a main engine...it maybe worth looking at a bigger one.

Storra on the coast road have a good supply but not sure on prices.

[mark]

what model seagull is it?? got a reverse gear??

[Charlie_Thompson]

If it's not a planing hull then a 5hp Seagull may be your best bet. I would also consider a Cormorant or Albatross but they are birds. I only said that last bit to be funny.

[rock]

It is a planing hull and the seagull is a silver century plus with no reverse, just looked on a site says it is 102cc's and is in fact 5 1/2 HP as a large prop for a small motor.
With you lads all the way on the larger motor, but this seagull is as new and they are quite reliable, i had a little one a fourty short shaft as a kid on a mirror dighy it was good reliable motor.
Was told these with's can take to 25hp where do you think i should be power wise?
or do i just suck it and see how this seagull goes on.
I am not going to be brave or stupid with this boat, it will have to be good weather for me to even think of venturing out in such a small boat.

[mark]

silver century motors have a huge amount of torque, you'll get displacement speeds all day with it - 5knots ish on a 15ft boat, with's are good boats too

the down side with seagulls is the exhaust likes to be kept at an even pressure - if the gearbox is too far underwater the exhaust pressurises and they can cut out, check that the motor is mounted correctly so the cavitation plate is flush withe the bottom of the transom and it'll run for ever

good settled days and close inshore I'd be happy enough to use it, only caution though is if you get a short swell, as you bounce up and down in it the seagull exhaust gets put further under water each time so can be get a bit misfirey

[rock]

Thank's for that info mate, i will give her a sea trial will have to be good conditions though.