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My First Launch - Things that went wrong

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knightwind
Navigator

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Canada
114 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/02/2008 : 10:51:38

Well my first C-25 is floating in the water today...mast is still down...but I have bigger problem's questions.
First thing in the morning I;m told that the motor to be supplied with the motor starts....but doesn't shift gears...So we're gonna have to put her in with no motor....sigh...Get on internet...find motor in Burlington...drive to Burlington...look at 1973 Merc 9.8 Long shaft...looks good...but how does it lock into a straight position? I have a sailboat...I need the motor fixed in a straight position...don't I? Should I buy it or not?....$600 later I owned it.
Mount the thing...ok...boats in the water now...but the prop isn't...drop the moving motor mount down as low as it'll go...prop's in water....but steering handle is almost vertical.

Despite all this I managed to drive it to the slip....after getting forward/reverse mixed up a few times...

So. Do outboard motors lock in position? or maybe just some?
Do I have to BTS some kind of contraption to hold the motor straight?

Peter Keddie
Turkey Point, ON
79 Catalina 25 Fixed Keel #1050

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 05/02/2008 : 11:01:24

No, in fact, it's a good thing to have a motor that will help steer in very tight quarters at very slow speeds. There's a lot of discussion about that here if you need more. You should, however, be able to tighten a restraining device of some kind to keep it straight when you want it straight but, not "locked".

Congratulations on the splash. Why no mast?

Edited by - on

knightwind
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Canada
114 Posts

Response Posted - 05/02/2008 : 11:17:35

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by John Russell
 No, in fact, it's a good thing to have a motor that will help steer in very tight quarters at very slow speeds. There's a lot of discussion about that here if you need more. You should, however, be able to tighten a restraining device of some kind to keep it straight when you want it straight but, not "locked".

Congratulations on the splash. Why no mast?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

This is the first year the ministry of labour has told the marina they can't raise masts. Sounds like the MOL is likely reacting to an accident where somebody was crushed by a mast. Of course the MOL fails to see the difference between a hinging aluminum mast and a solid wood one. I expect I'll get it up soon with a little help. Sure enough...just like you guys said...a weather'd ol seaman with a Cat-37 wandered over and helped me. I expect he'll likely show me the ropes too.

Isn't it interesting how sailors are always so helpful and friendly...imagine if highway drivers we're the same way.

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 05/02/2008 : 11:41:36

Looks like its time to build that A-Frame.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3477 Posts

Response Posted - 05/02/2008 : 11:53:06

Peter,

Maybe your motor has a resistance lever that helps hold the motor in the straight position ? That's what I have.

Possibly Mercury has one of their manuals or a sketch/parts breakdown on their website that would give an inkling as to where it would be located and it's location may be common to old and new Mercury models.
If no info, then rcmd go to their website and send Mercury an inquiry.

Edited by - OLarryR on 05/02/2008 11:53:31

Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 05/02/2008 : 13:30:18

It's generally called a "steering damper" and on many motors is a horizontal lever on the front, below the powerhead. You should be able to adjust it so you can turn the motor easily when you want, but it will stay where you leave it. Trimming the motor direction in this way can make your tiller neutral (no pull) when on a straight course under power.

(1973... Was the $600 for its value as an antique?)

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 05/02/2008 13:33:09

knightwind
Navigator

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Canada
114 Posts

Response Posted - 05/02/2008 : 14:10:23

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave Bristle
 It's generally called a "steering damper" and on many motors is a horizontal lever on the front, below the powerhead. You should be able to adjust it so you can turn the motor easily when you want, but it will stay where you leave it. Trimming the motor direction in this way can make your tiller neutral (no pull) when on a straight course under power.

(1973... Was the $600 for its value as an antique?)

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I called Merc. They say there's a screw you can tighten to lock the position. Do you think $600 was too much? Buddy said it has low hours and only used it as a troller or emergency motor.

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 05/02/2008 : 15:15:43

Does it turn on its own while you are underway?
From your pictures it looks like its supposed to.
If it is turning on its own there should be an adjustment screw just under the fuel indicator.
I had a 50HP, manual start Merc of about the same vintage.

While you are underway, centre the OB, then use your rudder-tiller to steer the boat. You may have to use the OB-tiller-handle once in a while, but most of the time, you should be able to just use the rudder-tiller. You will get the handle of it very quickly.

Edited by - on

skrenz
Captain

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USA
351 Posts

Response Posted - 05/02/2008 : 15:35:21

You know Knightwind, I sure am glad you are doing all this before I'm doing this for the first time. I have a question for you and the group. With the outboard tiller up like this, do you adjust the speed using the turnable grip on the tiller like you would if driving an outboard run about? What about shifting? BTW, nice pictures.

Edited by - on

quilombo
Captain

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USA
301 Posts

Response Posted - 05/02/2008 : 17:03:47

Yes the motor should have a steering dampner, which you can tighten to keep your motor in line with your hull,
I have installed a wheel for my outboard , as at low tide at my marina I have to raise my rudder or remove it, so I depend on my outboard to steer me around, mine is a swing keel, so I dont have to what do they call it, moore it out
I paid 1200 for my motor which is a mercury mariner, remote steering, remote start, remote controls with an alternator,
in excellent shape, with the controls as well, so I think you got a good deal from the looks of the pictures

Edited by - on

knightwind
Navigator

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Canada
114 Posts

Response Posted - 05/02/2008 : 21:17:18

These shots are with the motor mount raised.
I had to lower it all the way to get the top of the prop about 6-8" below the water line. I believe the stern drops as you power up so I hope the prop is running deep enough. I certainly would have had trouble if the motor wasn't a long shaft. I also found the raised lowering of the mount to be quite difficult...even so far as worrying about ripping the whole assembly off its mounting. I'm gonna try some grease...and maybe a block and tackle to help lift it.

I talked to Mercury today and they said there might be a small screw you can tighten down on a "puck" to lock it...but as you say...and having only driven the boat once...turning on a dime with the motor and tiller is...dam useful!

With the motor down its difficult but possible to steer the motor with the handle at about 75degrees...even more difficult to reach the kill switch...I'm already envisioning a remote throttle and kill switch modification...anybody know about that? I like the idea of rigging up a steering wheel or even cables to just hold the motor straight when I want.

I can definitely see why some people put the motor mount on the starboard side to give better access to the left handled motor...but the boat is not designed for it on that side I believe.

We're gonna name her "A Boat Time". Can I just do it or are there legal forms, fees and other BS?

Regards,
Peter

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 05/02/2008 : 21:40:26

Where did you buy the boat?

If it came from the states you will have to pay GST/PST on it. You may have to do that anyway. Go to the Unemployment office, and tell them you want to register the boat. It takes 5 minutes, and you come away with a set of papers and a number to stick on the bow.

If you are transferring ownership from another Canuck, I believe the process is the same, only without the number.

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 05/02/2008 : 21:47:37

Wait a minute, you register a boat at the unemployment office?

Edited by - on

knightwind
Navigator

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Canada
114 Posts

Response Posted - 05/02/2008 : 22:03:38

I was happy to see the PO with the proper Canadian License and he signed signifying the ownership transfer.

Edited by - on

knightwind
Navigator

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Canada
114 Posts

Response Posted - 05/02/2008 : 22:04:55

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by knightwind
 I was happy to see the PO with the proper Canadian License and he signed signifying the ownership transfer.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I think the umbers on said license are what I stencil on the boat...right?

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 05/02/2008 : 22:48:33

Look at other boats in your marina to get an idea which numbers to apply to the hull.
Looking at the pictures, I can see that you have one of the older motor mounts that they used on both theC-2 and C-25. These mounts were not meant for the heavier 9-10 HP motors. If it doesn't wobble, however, you should be okay for a while. Try setting up a 4:1 block and tackle from the motor handle to the top of your stern pulpit. That's what was on ours when we bought her. We've since changed to a heavier duty motor mount and eliminated the block and tackle.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 05/03/2008 : 00:29:10

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by John Russell
 Wait a minute, you register a boat at the unemployment office?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

To be proper they renamed it the "Services Canada Kiosk" or something like that, but yes, its at the unemployment office.

Thats OK though since you register your DSC radio with Industry Canada.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 05/03/2008 : 00:30:17

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by knightwind

I think the umbers on said license are what I stencil on the boat...right?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yours should start with 'ON' and then have a series of numbers.

It is really up to you whether to go and document everything. I think that if you have a bill of sale and ownership, the process will basically be the same as registering the sale of a car. I think my insurance (State Farm) wanted to see all the documentation that things were legally transferred. I'm guessing they wanted to be sure that I actually owned the boat I was insuring or something. They never looked at the boat itself, just the ownership papers and the outboard's serial number.

Taxes were calculated based on the purchase price, not a black book value, so you may want to ask the seller "be sure" he has the "right price" on the invoice. And get a second invoice for insurance.

How is the sailing off turkey Point? Do they still have that big party on the island every year? I went to HS in Brantford, and remember everyone raving about how great it was, never actually went myself.

Edited by - Prospector on 05/03/2008 00:40:15

knightwind
Navigator

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Canada
114 Posts

Response Posted - 05/03/2008 : 00:44:08

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dmpilc
 Look at other boats in your marina to get an idea which numbers to apply to the hull.
Looking at the pictures, I can see that you have one of the older motor mounts that they used on both theC-2 and C-25. These mounts were not meant for the heavier 9-10 HP motors. If it doesn't wobble, however, you should be okay for a while. Try setting up a 4:1 block and tackle from the motor handle to the top of your stern pulpit. That's what was on ours when we bought her. We've since changed to a heavier duty motor mount and eliminated the block and tackle.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

When you say stern pulpit...um..what's a pulpit? The guard rail around the back?

Edited by - on

knightwind
Navigator

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Canada
114 Posts

Response Posted - 05/03/2008 : 00:45:37

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by knightwind
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dmpilc
 Look at other boats in your marina to get an idea which numbers to apply to the hull.
Looking at the pictures, I can see that you have one of the older motor mounts that they used on both theC-2 and C-25. These mounts were not meant for the heavier 9-10 HP motors. If it doesn't wobble, however, you should be okay for a while. Try setting up a 4:1 block and tackle from the motor handle to the top of your stern pulpit. That's what was on ours when we bought her. We've since changed to a heavier duty motor mount and eliminated the block and tackle.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Yes. (I googled it)
When you say stern pulpit...um..what's a pulpit? The guard rail around the back?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Edited by - on

dlucier
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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 05/03/2008 : 07:23:14

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dmpilc
 Looking at the pictures, I can see that you have one of the older motor mounts that they used on both the C-22 and C-25. These mounts were not meant for the heavier 9-10 HP motors. If it doesn't wobble, however, you should be okay for a while.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Be okay for awhile? Boat's probably been that way for 29 years!

Edited by - on

dlucier
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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 05/03/2008 : 07:28:01

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by John Russell
 Wait a minute, you register a boat at the unemployment office?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

When I lived in the sticks in Virginia, the DMV was in a carpet store. Sometimes you had to wait for the counter person to finish the sale of a fine berber before waiting on you.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
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USA
3477 Posts

Response Posted - 05/03/2008 : 08:42:32

Don,

When I lived in Huntington, Long Island, New York my wife (who was my girlfriend back then) we went to the town office to get a marriage license. As we walked in, they asked us if we wanted a marriage license ? We then noticed, that right next to the tray that had marriage licenses, they had the tray with application for Dog Licenses. I asked how did they know we did not want a Dog License ? The woman at the front desk just said that she sizes up those that come in and usually is right when she offers them the correct application.

Peter, You mentioned about keeping the motor all the way down:
"I had to lower it all the way to get the top of the prop about 6-8" below the water line."

Something else to check on/observe: If you know about this, then nevermind - The outboard has the water intakes perhaps 4" above the prop. This may differ on some outboards, the water intakes may be higher or lower. There is usually a horizontal fin somewhere above those water intakes. I believe the owner's manual indicates that that the horizontal fin must be below the waterline to ensure the outboard continually intakes water for cooling. Many know if the outboard/prop/intake is low enough by the engine noise...if when going over wavelets or moderate waves, the engine noise increases significantly, then the water intake is probably momentarily coming out of the water. If this happens infrequently, then maybe okay but if it happens more frequently, then it may turn into a future or sooner project regarding the outboard lowering sufficiently into the water to ensure water cooling is satisfactory under all sea conditions.

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 05/03/2008 : 09:09:28

>"Be okay for awhile? Boat's probably been that way for 29 years!"

Salt or fresh water? After I upgraded my motor mount I started taking the 1977 vintage one apart to salvage the aluminum bits. The main pivot bolts snapped off with almost no effort. I found that they had literally corroded to powder where they passed through the mount base.

It was a disaster waiting to happen.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 05/03/2008 : 10:44:50

Fresh--he's on L. Erie, but who knows where the boat's been...

If the prop is 8" under, it's plenty deep. But I agree that your bracket should be on your list for replacement one of these days. Catalina changed from that little Fulton to a much beefier Garhauer stainless steel bracket after a few years. If you decide to spring for a wonderful 4-stroke, you'll definitely need to switch. Catalina Direct sells the Garhauer in various spring configurations for various engines. It can almost lift itself.

In your third photo, I see a metal "tab" with a gray tip between the clamps. I'm thinking that moves side-to-side, and is your steering damper control. Give that a try--it doesn't have to be too tight to keep the engine from "wandering", and you should still be able to steer it without having to change the damper.

One other thing... Do you see the metal tab on the left side (as you look at the engine) with a hole in it? That's for a safety cable or chain that should run through it and around... lets say the stanchion (vertical bar) of your stern rail--just in case the engine loosens on the bracket, or the bracket breaks, or (perhaps less likely in this case) somebody decides to walk off with the motor.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 05/03/2008 10:53:37

Cbucki1
1st Mate

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USA
47 Posts

Response Posted - 05/03/2008 : 21:37:42

Peter,
So glad to hear that you got the boat into the water!
Growing up sailing in Ontario, I know that most things in Canada are more expensive, so I'd say that no, you didn't pay too much.
I had an old '78 merc that was in good shape, started on first or second pull every time and never left me down.
Here's to a happy and safe sailing summer in Turkey Point!
Cheers!

Edited by - on

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