spare engine auxilary

[baileys]

my wife reckons i dont need one because we didnt useit for emergency last year now its not working she thinks theres no need for one anyway is this wise ?

 

[JB]

Re: spare engine auxilary

No, it is unwise.<br /><br />Would you cancel your insurance because you hadn't had a claim?<br /><br />Fix it and retain your security. <br /><br />Moving to Boat Topics.

 

[Boatist]

Re: spare engine auxilary

If you boat on shelter waters where worst that could happen is spending the night on that water at anchor with no dinner then I guess it not a big deal.<br /><br />On open waters and oceans only a fool would venture our with one power source. Stuff happends.<br /><br />Did you use your life jacket to save your life last year? Did you use your first aid kit to stop you from bleeding to death last year? Maybe there is a lot of stuff you do not need.<br /><br />Again I agree with JB.

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: spare engine auxilary

If you are on any kind of navigable waterway you need some kind of back-up propulsion. If there is any kind of commercial traffic (barges, freighters etc. that goes double).

 

[what66]

Re: spare engine auxilary

fix your back up It if just for peace of mind.<br />Ive been stuck with no spare before and It was the only time my engine failed me .<br />every time before that I had a spare so you see with out it the gremlens got to my main engine. <br />so fix it and keep it on your boat if your wife keeps buging you abouht it ask her is she still wants her spare tire.becuse she didn't need it last year.

 

[rwidman]

Re: spare engine auxilary

Really, How many boats have spare engines? Very few in my experience. If you don't have confidence in your engine, get it fixed and maintain it. Lots of airplanes have only one engine!<br /><br />A working VHF radio, anchor and rode, and towing insurance will cover the risk.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: spare engine auxilary

rwidman -- Airplanes go through a much more rigorous inspection and maintenance schedule than the average watercraft. Those engines are also rebuilt at specific intervals whether they need it or not. I would agree that a single engine is pretty safe if recreational boaters submitted their craft for service at specific intervals, and their mechanics were half the mechanics that aircraft engine mechanics are. Otherwise, open water with one engine carries a pretty high risk.

 

[what66]

Re: spare engine auxilary

If you don't have confidence in your engine, get it fixed and maintain it. Lots of airplanes have only one engine!

you agument doesn't hold water.<br />An air plane is a difert anamal than a boat.<br />a plane would require as much hp as the main.<br />but on a boat a 5hp kicker could keep you from capsizeing you may not beable to wait for help.<br />even the newest well manitained engine can fail<br />and what hapens when you hit a log and break your lower unit <br />do you carry a spare tire in your care if you do why don't you trust your tires just keep theam well maintained and youll never get a flat.<br />not every one needs a spare eninge but I say go for it it's a small price to pay that very well could save your life.

 

[rwidman]

Re: spare engine auxilary

Offshore fishing boats often have dual outboards, it's true. Mostly because of performance, partly because of redundancy. Other than that, go to the websites for Sea Ray, Glastron, Stingray, Bayliner, etc. and look at the different model boats. Count the ones with spare engines, then post the results.

 

[Nos4r2]

Re: spare engine auxilary

Johnny I know Plymouth- I've sailed around there quite a lot and in those tides along a coastline like that you're dicing with death if your main engine fails. I looked at your profile and to be honest I'd have at least a 5hp backup on a Shetland-a 2.5 simply won't get you out of trouble anyway. If that 2.5 of yours is running ok you should be able to sell it for enough for an older 5-6hp.<br />My own backup on my comparable sized Microplus 500 is a 5hp aircooled Volvo Penta. Anything smaller and there's places round there you'll be going backwards at times.<br /><br />Don't forget you only have to pick up a stray bit of that awful floating nylon rope that the fishermen use for lobster pots (or miss the half sunken pot buoy) or a polythene bag over your water inlet and you'll be shouting loudly for the lifeboat. Remember Sod's Law.<br /><br />If she still thinks it's not needed, turn your engine off between Plymouth breakwater and Staddon point as the tide's going out on springs .Get your paddles out and see how fast you get swept out to sea.<br /><br />Fix your backup or even better, get a bigger one. Your lives may depend on it.