Dunkin Dummy

I now have a used Chetah motor mount to motor out of our cove to the main channel. Do I go electric with a sealed battery or Honda 2hp? Sooner or later the motor will get dunked on a flip. Onetime last year it flipped backwards which would have dunked motor until righted. I am no dummy and can save a flooded gas motor as I have experience with water flooded SeaDoos. But will an electric motor once dried out live again? Anyone have a clue?
I hate to have any excess weight and the Honda is approx. 28 lbs on the rear. YUK!!
The trolling motor is light but then a heavy battery on front dolphin striker...can you say pitchpole? Yikes!!
I know the veterans on this site have had all the above experiences so throw me a line please....
Thank you very much for your time!!!
John

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MAN... DO I LOVE THIS HOBIE CAT!!!

I would first say, not knowing too much about your sailing site, just learn to sail out of the cove. The motor is a bad idea to have on the boat while sailing, you probably know this though.

If it is not too far may you could paddle out instead?

Sorry to me the Cheetah motor mount on a Cat is tacky.

Glad you are having fun though!

I love the 2hp Honda!!!!! It makes loading, unloading, beaching, leaving the beach, going under the bridges, etc. a quick pull of the rope and motor for 30-60 seconds and go sailing I love to sail, but dealing with wakes and drunken motor boaters at the ramps and beach are way easier with a pull of the rope. I also leave the ramp and motor into the wind and raise the main on the water. This makes for less time for all the above activities, which leaves more time for the sailing I am probably have not been weaned totally from the power of a motor

Man, it is great to hear that you like the Honda so well... Do you have a 16? I am definitely in need as I can paddle out but the wind here in my area is here and there and if I get 2 miles down the lake and it stops, I would rather motor in than be stuck with paddling in. Have you ever dunked the motor? Last year we flipped backwards once from the jib being locked in at tack I think and the motor would have been submerged for a few minutes. No big deal, I figure take off the breather, drain the carb and cylinder and then restart and fog perhaps. I notice the back of my 16 really rides low so no issue with the motor once tilted? I guess the little 2 hp pushes pretty quick thru the water huh? Thanks for your thoughts!!
John

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MAN... DO I LOVE THIS HOBIE CAT!!!

Yes Dan I agree that we should be able to survive w/o the "Cheat-a" motor bracket and smog pot and on really windy days I have no intention of taking it with me since I can certainly sail out of the cove. But on my little lake the wind is dicey and sometimes I have noticed the main channel is quite windy while the cove just kind of swirls around and hard to sail out of. I certainly have a paddle and use it too often but have a little too much American blood in me and looking for the easy way... Since it is a quick connect on or off, on iffy days I like having it as it is like "insurance" to me and after 30 years in the ins. business, it gets in your blood... I am like a new kid with a new toy and anytime the wind blows at all, I want to try to get some hang time in...
John

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MAN... DO I LOVE THIS HOBIE CAT!!!

hi
Bought a used Getaway with wings last fall at the end of the season for this area.
Picked up a Troqueedo travel 801 during the winter ( intending to use on a square end canoe)

February , son says he'd like to sell the Hobie to buy a bass boat.....
( not going to happen,I/we haven't played with it enough)

So I thought about a Cheeta motor mount.
Way too $$$ for occasional use and I don't like the idea of drilling holes into the crossbar.

Pulled out some materials and tape measure for a home built
Dam this is kinda tricky
-Thoughts-
(from a windsurf base plate) screw into the traveller slot
strap around the crossbar way off centre
Can't remember from the limited sailing , if we've ever had the traveller out to Max

Anyway ,for a quick fix, i'm just strapping a ladder to the Hobie and mounting the motor to that to try it out. The immediate use is to get from boat launch ( fickle wind) to the family cottage dock ( once a year visit for me)

[quote]Man, it is great to hear that you like the Honda so well... Do you have a 16? I am definitely in need as I can paddle out but the wind here in my area is here and there and if I get 2 miles down the lake and it stops, I would rather motor in than be stuck with paddling in. Have you ever dunked the motor?[/quote]

I am probably a little more partial to the motor as I have the 21SE. This is 600 pounds empty and with gear (wetsuits, harnesses for 3-4, cooler with lots of drinks and food) and 3-6 people, I have 1000 to 1500 pounds to paddle. I also want to sail more as I have somewhat limited time with the crazy family schedule and want to sail as much as possible. Therefore, if the winds are wacky or sailing out of marinas, the little stink bug works great.

My custom motor mount is about 6"-8" to low and the motor gets splashed quite a bit. I am planning on modifying the mount as soon as I have a day that is not dedicated to sailing. I also dont think unless I go turtle that I will submerge the motor. I installed a mama bob to prevent the turtling. We will see how this goes the first time I flip. I almost flipped last weekend with a swirl winds that backwinded us and almost lost it! Very exciting.