TI outboard mount

I am sitting here, 3 hours after returning to the ramp, on a total high! I took my TI out on the ocean today in yet another unsuccessful search for whales (you would think it is a piece of cake, with over 10,000 passing by each way each year!), into a fairly big swell with waves on top. Wind was only about 15 knots, but I furled about half the mainsail to avoid too much excitement at the top of the swell. Sometimes I was climbing a 12 foot rolling mountain, with the windward ama pawing in the sky 4 feet in the air, before the TI dropped down the back of the wave. I pedaled the whole time to maintain forward progress even in the "hollows" between the big swells.

I was getting absolutely soaked (shoulders included!), and even had one of my sandals washed away from the floor area in front of the rear seat.

After about three hours, I decided to head back home (the outwards tide from the 74km2 lake causes nasty standing waves due to the opposing wind) hoping that the tide runout have slowed down a bit.

Given the big seas, I decided to see how much help my 3.5hp outboard could make,. and it was AWESOME! Running it flat out, the relative speed of the overtaking waves was (obviously) reduced, and the bow wasn't getting submerged (as much), When I reached the channel the wind filling the sail from behind was only enough to remain stationary in the adverse tide, so running the outboard was the only means of making progress, hugging the side where the waves were smaller.

When I got back to the ramp, I felt really great after a solid workout, and was very happy that my waterproof covering had kept my bandaged leg dry, despite the conditions.. I also rang the Marine Rescue tower to reassure them that I was fine. they had received a concerned call from someone who had spotted me out at sea (alone, as none of the powerboats were out there), so they were keeping a watchful eye on me, out on the horizon.

Once more, Hobie's TI delivered the goods, in spades, and my decision to add an outboard came up trumps again.

No photos or video, too busy!

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Tony Stott
2012 Tandem Island "SIC EM" with Hobie spinnaker

Good job, Tony. (but it doesn't convince me to add a small motor, yet) Let's see, I have a sail, pedals, and a paddle. I've managed to get along with this propulsion line up for 9 years (and 4 AIs, 1 TI). Some day, when I get older, I may have to get a motor...someday. I carry a lot of camping gear & supplies. Won't a motor and associated gasoline, etc, add to my weight and limit the gear I carry?

Keith

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2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon

Keith, if you are looking for reasons NOT to put on the outboard, its not just weight.. The placard on the TI says a max of 400 watt motor. A 2.5 hp outboard is 1862 watts... Its not for everyone.. the TI or AI without a motor is definitely a wonderful boat..

I couldn't agree more Walt! I had actually already bought a 24lb Watersnake electric outboard, and was looking on eBay for a suitable AGM 100amp battery, when I spotted the 2 stroke motor priced at less than the battery!

My outboard is intended to be just an extra safety net, not normasl means of propulsion.

Yesterday, downwind conditions would have been really risky without that motor, as the waves were big enough to really accelerate down the face, with a real possibility of broaching through digging the bow under at the bottom of the wave. I am not sure if my TI would have made it through those conditions without the motor.

Funnily enough, my original intention was to be able to use an outboard when there was no wind, but it has also proven to be useful with wind strength at the upper end as well.

But I bought my TI to SAIL, and that is always going to be the reason I have it.

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Tony Stott
2012 Tandem Island "SIC EM" with Hobie spinnaker

A little more detail on one method to re-fil one of these small outboard gas tanks..

I have tried 20 oz bottles for re-filling the tank and these work but you really need a funnel. I have tried a few other things but what ended up working fairly well is shown below.

Its based on a one gallon gas tank with this "auto shut off" or spill proof feature https://www.lowes.com/pd/1-Gallon-Plast ... n/50077793

This tank gets some poor reviews because of all the safety junk built in but when modified.. really works nice. The tank has a valve that opens when the nozzle is pressed into the tank to be filled and the flow automatically stops when the gas level reaches the tube. However, I found that it would come too close to overfilling and sometimes overfill so I modified the nozzle so that it would go deeper into the tank before the valve opened and also automatically stop at a lower level below the top of the gas tank.

I can fill the tank on the water without spilling a drop. Install the nozzle, press the nozzle into the tank opening the valve.. count to ten (it takes about 7 seconds for the tank to fill), then slowly lift the nozzle out of the gas tank. Doesnt spill a drop.. If Im on a long motor run, I just fill the tank once per hour.

FYI, I saw someone using a fuel hand squeeze pump (the pump in the fuel line on most outboards with an external tank) to fill one of these small tanks on the fly but didnt get to see the details.. It seemed to work fine also. I suspect you have to be careful not to over fill and spill.

Very cool Walt! I must find one of those to replace my 2 litre aluminium bottles and small funnel. With the latter, it is very hard to judge the amount going in so as to avoid overfilling...

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Tony Stott
2012 Tandem Island "SIC EM" with Hobie spinnaker

This information is more aimed at Island owners in NSW, my home State, but is worth thinking about anywhere, if you carry a gas outboard.

In NSW, according to the NSW Maritime BSO (Boating Service Officer) I met today, as soon as you carry a petrol outboard on your Island, all regulations now treat it as a "normal" powerboat. This means you must carry:-

Fire extinguisher,
2 red and 2 orange smoke flares (in date)
Bailer or bilge pump
Ground tackle
Charts (chart plotter and/or Navionics phone app)
Floating torch
One PFD per person (inflatables require annual inspection verification)

I already carry 2 drybags on deck behind my seat (one safety, one groundtackle), so will add a third for the extinguisher. No petrol below decks either...

All commonsense really. Ooops, I forgot to ask him if it needs to carry registration now as well...

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Tony Stott
2012 Tandem Island "SIC EM" with Hobie spinnaker

Well that's a worry Tony!
I'm not sure that he is correct though?
Below are the safety regs straight from the RMS handbook.
Note that you actually aren't required to carry a fire extinguisher for an outboard but you are if you have a gas stove.
Interestingly it looks like you may need an extinguisher if you have a Torqeedo! Go figure!!!

You are not wrong stringy! Even he admitted that the regs don't really acknowledge the existence of "oddballs" like Hobie Islands. In fact, if you take the words literally, it would appear that EVERY VESSEL with a battery, even if it is only powering lights or instruments, needs to carry an extinguisher too!

To be honest, I have no qualms about carrying an extinguisher (I have a few kicking round from my motorsport days, where I needed one strapped in within reach of the driver seat), and I certainly will only keep fuel containers outside the hull.

It is also worth mentioning that as of the beginning of 2017, all kayakers must wear a PFD at all times, not just when more than 100 metres from shore. Publicity on that one has bee 100% invisible. Fortunately the people charged with enforcing the regs are m,ore interested in safety than raising revenue, when new regs come in.

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Tony Stott
2012 Tandem Island "SIC EM" with Hobie spinnaker

Hello,
I'm planning on adding a 2.5 hp Suzuki. I am planning to venture into an open sea so I will have to deal with somewhat rough sea. From my little experience, my TI will get splashed and bounce in and out the water. I'm 230 lbs, and with the motor, there would be more weight in the back. With that in mind, what do you fellas recommend, the long or short shaft version?
Thank you for the wealth of information shared!

I didn't know the Suzuki 2.5 was available in either a short/long shaft? Here in Australia there is only one version. Looking at the specs the 15" transom height as in the Suzuki brochure would indicate it's a short shaft.

I don't have suzuki engines, and don't know much about them, so I can't help there.
My Honda 2.3's are short shaft (15") and seem to be just right lengthwise for my TI, (I know nothing about the AI), if thats any help.
The Suzuki was not yet available when I bought my oiginal Honda ( I have exploded a couple Honda's now (oops)), so I have lots of spare parts now, so I stick with the Honda's (lol).
From everything I'm reading from the guys on this forum, the Suzuki appears to be a nice engine however I'm pretty much stuck with the Hondas at this point in time, my custom made props only fit Honda's and I'm not about to re-make 6 new hand made props, it take me about 150 hrs ea to design and build a new prop design, I have no desire to start from scratch re-developing my hybrid systems,( my sole interest, just fyi). My goal is 150 mpg averaging 10-12mph, (I'm still 5yrs off btw).
FE

This is probably pushing the bounds for relevance to the thread, but you CAN see my outboard in operation during the video (which was made as part of my learning curve with new editing software). BTW, that water rushing past near the end is my local channel, where the current can reach as much as 12 knots! When wind is against current, it can be an entertaining place to sail, with 10+ feet standing waves!

(Copyright music approved by copyright holder)

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Tony Stott
2012 Tandem Island "SIC EM" with Hobie spinnaker

The Suzuki 2.5 only comes in short shaft in the US also but that is about perfect for the TI. There is no need to mess with the prop on that outboard, the stock prop is well matched for the TI application. I dont have the Honda 2.3 but suspect the stock prop is also well matched for this application.

The Suzuki 2.5 is water cooled so it has a water pump impeller that needs to be serviced "every few years" and of course never run that outboard out of the water - the impeller burns up in 15 to 30 seconds. The new small Honda's are air cooled so no water pump to ever worry about and Honda's come in both short and long shaft. You dont need the long shaft for this application but.. if you ever decide to sell the outboard, the long shaft is easier to sell because someone with a small sailboat will usually need the long shaft. The Suzuki puts out a little more thrust than the Honda.

FYI, I saw this advice on gas on another forum. You have to worry about gas now with Ethanol and this advice pretty much eliminates any of the issues you might have with modern gas.

-------------------------- (quote from another forum below - from someone who goes by "thinwater"

Hi Walt, I know you have the Suzuki. The long shaft is available now and it's adding only 5" . I know the short shaft would work, but with consideration to a rougher sea, my concern was for the motor to get splashed or momentarily submerge which will turn it into dead weight. I thought longer shaft will put the motor higher and more protected from waves. This will also raise the center of gravity but with the amas it will have no impact. Am I over complicating this? I am buying this new and want to make the right decision... Another idea I had, and before I am getting into even considering it, was to create an aluminum frame, light and strong and position the motor behind the rudder. This will take the noise farther to the back and turn the ride more pleasant. The location will be superior in terms of geometry (I believe), the con is more weight on the back. With that position, it'll be like a leverage on the back and I'm afraid will lower the rear below rudder lines. I am in the process of installing auto electric bilge pump, so I am not overly concerned with water sipping in. What do you think?