An early stage in assembling the hull in a Redwing is building the motor well. To make this right, it needs to be designed to fit the motor that will be installed. To get the measurements right I really need the motor in-hand to really figure this out. Thus the motor is being purchased long before the hull is complete or the boat hits the water.
The first thoughts were to get a Honda 8 h.p. This boat is intended to be a slow cruiser and 8 to 10 hp should do it well. Honda has a stellar reputation for reliability and quietness.
Further research found that the Honda 8hp and the Honda 9.9hp are in fact the exact same motor. The Honda 8hp is just a throttled down version. So I thought I would get a Honda 9.9hp.
The Redwing-18 is best fitted with a 'short' shaft outboard. Also, the Redwing uses a ship's wheel not an outboard's tiller handle, so setting it up for remote control is needed. Honda makes the short shaft versions, but does not offer a remote controlled version in the short shaft length, only on the long and extra long versions. This would mean that a few essential modifications to the Honda would be needed for remote control and some of these parts (Honda OEM parts) are not particularly cheap.
I had my eye on a Honda 9.9hp at OnlineOutboards.com, but before I could pull the trigger they went out-of-stock. After some weeks of waiting for Honda to be back in stock, I went to the local Boat Show. Not a Honda in sight! Nearly all the displays were Suzuki or Tohatsu.
Browsing Online-Outboards, I found not only plenty of Suzuki but lots of Suzuki models in remote versions complete with the Suzuki throttle included. In addition, the Suzuki 9.9hp remote version was on sale as an overstock item, $2,710. This one is also their electric start and power-tilt version. Just what an old man needs. The motor comes standard with a 3-gallon fuel tank and the fuel line. The included throttle handle came with the wiring harness that is plenty long enough for the Redwing.
Manufacturers supply drawings for designers to manage outboard fitment, and most will be publicly available. You are far better off with the bigger capacity engine. What is not often mentioned is that a propellor depends on torque to work, and a smaller engine has to turn faster to develop that torque. You will almost certainly need a lower pitch propeller for this engine to achieve its recommended WOT RPM. Online propeller calculators will get you close, but a tachometer is essential.
ReplyDeleteI agree, but until I can do actual test runs (with what prop came with it), I'd only be guessing at what I need to buy.
DeleteI imagine most small outboards end up on inflatable dinghies or aluminum skiffs and the standard prop that comes with it is appropriate to these.