12' Aluminium Skiff Kit

[Jlg]

I would have a look at this I have its bigger brother on my ski boat and there bloody good engineshttps://www.northtynemarine.co.uk/motors/31821-suzuki-dt-30-oil-injection

 

[Jim Davey]

I really don’t want to go for anything too old, plus a local client is also a Tohatsu sales and service agent to looking after that engine should be more convenient and hopefully less costly.

 

[addjunkie]

I really don’t want to go for anything too old, plus a local client is also a Tohatsu sales and service agent to looking after that engine should be more convenient and hopefully less costly.

Having spent many hours in my younger days with outboards, my advice, they are like landrovers, buy the best you can afford, dont scrimp, it will end up, buy cheap buy twice.

 

[eSCHEn]

What you need Jim, is a lovely second-hand Mercury 25HP

 

[Hood]

I would say another thing to consider is, like welders, local service is a big factor in what you should go for.
The local boats up here mostly use Yamaha outboards, good engines but as important is there is an agent 20 miles away, one boat has Honda engines, just as good quality as the Yamaha but the nearest agent is 80 or so miles, he is swapping to Yamahas next year.

 

[addjunkie]

Also while it is in my head...the height of the prop, relative to the water and bottom of the boat can make a huge difference to how it will lift and its eventual position it sits once up on the plane. Also the trim /tilt if remote can make a use difference too. Smaller normally have some kind of manual adjustment to alter the trim. This also is all affected as you found out by the load the prop is driving.

As you increase engine power to the prop, you need to consider prop wash when fitting it. Or it will turn really easily on way and a nightmare the other.

You also need to be careful adding too many horses to the back, if you get a little high on the plane at speed some boats start to "chine roll /chine walk", and become quite unstable. This is basically too little boat in the water it starts slowly to roll from side to side speeding up till you either go swiming or loose your bottle and slow down. Barrel rolling with the wife and kids in might just put the kybosh on your family boating.

 

[Jlg]

Do you know if you need long or short shaft a rough way to tell if you don't know is measure straight down from the top of the transom in the middle to the bottom if it's 20-22" long shaft if it's shorter it's a short shaft you need

 

[Jim Davey]

It’s definitely a short shaft motor it needs.

 

[Jim Davey]

What you need Jim, is a lovely second-hand Mercury 25HP

Two or four stroke?

 

[Jlg]

Would you consider ex rnli outboards as I know where there is a couple of 40hp

 

[Hood]

Would you consider ex rnli outboards as I know where there is a couple of 40hp

It doesn't have wings

 

[Jlg]

It doesn't have wings

I don't follow

 

[Jim Davey]

Would you consider ex rnli outboards as I know where there is a couple of 40hp

I think I’m pushing my luck with a 30. The boat is only rated to a 20, so a 40 is out of the question I think.

 

[Hood]

I think 40Hp would be a bit on the big side for a 12' skiff, also likely a bit heavy although they may be 2 strokes?

 

[Jlg]

I think 40Hp would be a bit on the big side for a 12' skiff, also likely a bit heavy although they may be 2 strokes?

They are 2stroke being ex rnli and weigh less than a 30hp 4stroke
I've got a little 12ft boat that's rated to 20 hp it's the one in my sig but it was made when bigger was better

 

[eSCHEn]

Two or four stroke?

Just teasing mate, same one as back in the thread I showed you

 

[Jim Davey]

I agree, a 2T 30hp Tohatsu weighs about 55kg and that’s probably all you’d want on the back of a little boat without a splash well. I do intend to fit one now I’ve seen how close it comes to swamping the stern if you close off the throttle a bit fast, and that’s with a light outboard.

 

[Jlg]

I think I’m pushing my luck with a 30. The boat is only rated to a 20, so a 40 is out of the question I think.

If it's only rated to 20hp the link I gave you he has a nice yam 25 fourstroke for I think £999

 

[Jim Davey]

I’m staying away from four strokes, too much weight and complexity for me.
I can live with the noise and bad fuel consumption as it’s an occasional use toy.

 

[Jlg]

I’m staying away from four strokes, too much weight and complexity for me.
I can live with the noise and bad fuel consumption as it’s an occasional use toy.

I've stuck with 2stroke because you get fast aceliration and light weight and ease of service but beware most places have band them from pleasure use that's why I recommend that Suzuki there built proof