tiny motor on sailboat ???

Does anyone need or use a tiny outboard motor on these types of sailboats for rare no or low wind times?

Yes. 1 to 1.5 Horse works well.

Cheata makes a mount: http://cheatabrackets.com/

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

What options exist for 1-1.5 HP outboards? I struggle to find anything under 2, and the 2hp motors i do find a propped to push a smaller boat.

Seems you are right on gas motors... Maybe trolling would be better?

It just doesn't take that much to push a small cat.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

I use a Torqeedo electric 1003. It's about equivalent to 2 or 3 hp, with a built in battery. I had a trolling motor on a Thistle 17 some years back, and it was ok to dock it, but wouldn't push against much wind. The Torqeedo will move the Getaway at 6 knots easily, so if the wind dies in the middle of the lake, it'll get me back.
There have been a number of postings on the subject, and there's a design for a great motor mount on this forum. Better than the Cheeta.

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Yet another Bob!
"Firefly" - 2012 Hobie Getaway with wings and spinnaker
"Sparky" - 1978 Sunfish (OK, it's not a Hobie, but it's a fun little craft)
Too many canoes and kayaks

Tried a torqueedo, too noisy in the gearbox and failed to be able to shift fwd to reverse in quick time for docking. Got rid of it after 2 times use--YMMV. Got a honda 2hp. Short shaft, worked great; heavier than I would have liked, but no one makes a small 2 stroke outboard anymore except the ones that look like weed whackers. You can probably make one yourself out of a weed whacker if you want really light. Ebay has lots of small electric outboards as well as small gas outboards that look similar to weed whackers. Be careful of the electric outboards there, most do not include the battery which can cost another 4-500 bucks most also use about 18 amps so a 18 AH battery would last one hour in operation. Also, they don't convert kw to hp correctly; let alone kw to shaft hp which is what is measured in an outboard normally. The gas outboards typically list cc engine displacement. As a referent, my 2.5 hp outboard is 62 cc.

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R/Thom
SeaRail 19
Triak
BMW C600
Formerly Getaway with Custom Spinnakers
Formerly raced F24 Mk II

The torqeedo 1003 looks to be the best electric option out there, I'm just too cheap. I currently run a 2hp suzuki 2 stroke. The motor is tough and reliable, however the prop is set up to push a smaller boat faster so cavitation is an issue. I also prefer electric when possible, quiter, easier to start and less risk of a gas spill. On my 2 stroke I am always worried that I will forget to close the tank vent before tilting the motor back. If left open it would leak half the gas tank into the lake.

or maybe an oar would be good enough, maybe not, if you are far out

So I am brand new here so if I ask dumb question bear with me. Can you use seperate ropes not part of the 18 foot getaway to right a boat on its side?

How can I be alerted to replys to my posts to my email?

Sorry, one more question for now. since the getaway is heavier is it harder to right once capsized? Is it harder or easier to capsize in higher winds than say the hobbie 18 or the wave?

You have to actually unsubscribe from a topic to stop getting notification emails about replys.

Wouldn't know whether or not it is harder or easier to right. But the Getaway has that big ball on top to keep it from turning completely turtle, so probably similar effort, but heavier weight on Getaway requires more weight to right--just simple physics.

Why would you use separate ropes when the righting rope is installed under the tramp for when you need it? If you bought one without it, get one installed, they are cheap enough.

Oars--boat can be paddled with 2 people, but I wouldn't want to do it very long or very far or against any breeze.

_________________
R/Thom
SeaRail 19
Triak
BMW C600
Formerly Getaway with Custom Spinnakers
Formerly raced F24 Mk II

Maybe you had a defective motor? Mine is very quiet.

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Yet another Bob!
"Firefly" - 2012 Hobie Getaway with wings and spinnaker
"Sparky" - 1978 Sunfish (OK, it's not a Hobie, but it's a fun little craft)
Too many canoes and kayaks

Hah! The main reason I have a motor on my Getaway is that I originally sailed it on Lake Michigan and wanted to be able to get to shore no matter what.

Back in the 90s, I sailed a Hobie 17 on the Chesapeake Bay, and one memorable day, I was about 5 or 6 miles from Annapolis Harbor, where I'd put in, when the wind died. Absolutely nothing. I paddled for 5-1/2 hours, got back in at 1030 pm.

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Yet another Bob!
"Firefly" - 2012 Hobie Getaway with wings and spinnaker
"Sparky" - 1978 Sunfish (OK, it's not a Hobie, but it's a fun little craft)
Too many canoes and kayaks

Thanks, I did not know the getaway ALREADY COMES with a rope to right it, great.