Engine Well for Outboard ?

[sailingpeanut]

Hi there,
currently my 36' tri has a 9.9 Yamaha outboard which slides up and down on the transom in a bracket. works like a charm if I don't go up against a chop. then of course it ventilates and is pretty useless.

So I'm thinking of either building and engine well or buy a saildrive. My course of thought is that an engine well would be cheaper since I can use the existing outboard and an even rigg it up so that the outboard turns with the rudder.

Never build an engine well before - any thoughts, tips, experiences would be tremedously appreciated.

Olaf
Mrs. Robinson currently in La Paz

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by sailingpeanut

Hi there,
currently my 36' tri has a 9.9 Yamaha outboard which slides up and down on the transom in a bracket. works like a charm if I don't go up against a chop. then of course it ventilates and is pretty useless.

So I'm thinking of either building and engine well or buy a saildrive. My course of thought is that an engine well would be cheaper since I can use the existing outboard and an even rigg it up so that the outboard turns with the rudder.

Never build an engine well before - any thoughts, tips, experiences would be tremedously appreciated.

Olaf
Mrs. Robinson currently in La Paz

I would think right along side would make sense, on the wing. That is similar to some catamarans.

Sail Delmarva: Removing and Replacing the Engines in a PDQ 32

[oscar]

I don't recommend an engine well if you don't already have one. Do you REALLY want to cut a hole in your boat? Are your engineering skills such that you can make it strong enough without adding a lot of weight? Will the waterflow be such that the water doesn't slosh up into the well and swamp the motor? Will it provide another route for water to get IN the boat itself?

You don't mention how long the shaft on your Yamaha is. They come in standard, long and XXL....... Do you have the XXL?

A sail drive or inboard is good, if you can stand to lose the space and don't mind the extra drag. Also $$$ and harder to get to for maintenance.