Association Forum - Engine- which side?

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Engine- which side?

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

williamtbecker
Deckhand

Member Avatar

USA
13 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/07/2009 : 23:29:16

Hey all-

Right before winter, my boat had a little mishap and the outboard engine mount got knocked off my boat and torn apart. I have a new mount (and a rebuilt engine) and need to reinstall it on the boat. My question is this - which side should I install it on? The motor was on the port side, which is nice because the gas tank went in there too. However, the boat listed a few degrees to port when it was at rest last year. So to level it out, maybe it would be best to move it to starboard?

If it matters, the boat is a '78 C25 with a fixed 4' keel.

Also, if anyone knows any secret tricks to getting to the nuts holding the top rudder gudgeon on, i'd be appreciative?

Thanks,
-Will

Baltimore, MD, USA

Edited by - on

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

2402 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2009 : 06:21:13

Gudgeon question first: http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=315

Note that they will rent you the hole saw as well.

It seems the location of the OB does not really impact the trim of the boat, early Catalina 25s had a little list according to many comments made here over the years. The starboard side is certainly the easy side to work on but I would probably go back to port if I were you. What mount did you get. The consensus of this forum is that the Catalina Direct mounts are the best for our boats because of their "drop", they take your motor down lower than other brands.

Edited by - on

Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2009 : 10:02:49

Will,
On the 78 C25 the motors were installed on the port side. I think they may have gone to the starboard side when they integrated the enclosed fuel locker, or soon after. There is no reason you cannot move it to the starboard side dependent on what you have on the stern. For instance you may have a boarding ladder there which you would have to relocate. I am right handed and personally like the port side engine mounting because it allows me easy access to the controls with my right hand when facing forward. If it were on the starboard side I would be using my left hand.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2009 : 13:30:10

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Sloop Smitten
 I am right handed and personally like the port side engine mounting because it allows me easy access to the controls with my right hand when facing forward. If it were on the starboard side I would be using my left hand.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I must be ambidextrous.

If you got the Catalina Direct bracket (made by Garhauer), you should be able to use the same holes. Otherwise, either side is fine--like Frank, I don't think 80 lbs. two feet off the centerline will visibly change your list.

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2009 : 13:52:08

I think Joe is on to something though. If it is starboard, and assuming that the engine controls are also on the starboard side, then you have a further reach. I would want to keep the controls as close to midline as possible just to facilitate reaching them from either side of the cockpit. Therefore, a port side installation.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2009 : 14:39:36

My tiller handle was on the port side of the engine. (The shifter was on the front.)

Edited by - on

Deric
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
408 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2009 : 19:13:28

My 78 Cat has the engine on the port side of the boat. The boat does not sit level in the water.
A buddy suggested filling up the water holding tank (20 gallons) under the starboard as a strategy to level the boat in the water.

I prefer having the engine on the port side because the fuel lines feed through a hole that leads into the locker -- everything is right there in the one location.

I would prefer to have the boat sit level though.

Deric

Edited by - on

Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2009 : 09:55:57

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I would prefer to have the boat sit level though.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

My boat often lists to the leeward side when sailing. Anyway to correct that?

Honestly a C25 that is level at dock will be unlevel as soon as someone steps aboard. I would not be too worried about a list of a few degrees which can easily be overcome by a hosts of other possibilities.

Edited by - on

Deric
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
408 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2009 : 20:59:48

Hey Joe,

No wonder I am having trouble sailing. I have been trying to keep the boat perfectly level under any wind condition (mild to gust storm like winds) -- sheesh, all that time I had been playing around with different sitting positions, fussing with the lines, and throwing objects out of the boat, and always catering to sailing in the irons -- all in the name to be perfectly level.

Okay this sailing season will be soooo much better now that I intend to ignore the list, ;-)

Thanks for the laugh.

Best,
Deric

Edited by - on

skrenz
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
351 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2009 : 18:43:38

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by williamtbecker
.... My question is this - which side should I install it on? The motor was on the port side, which is nice because the gas tank went in there too. However, the boat listed a few degrees to port when it was at rest last year. So to level it out, maybe it would be best to move it to starboard?

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

On the 78 the motor was on the port side as was the fuel storage and electrical connection back to the battery. I'm sure you could move it over to starboard but it would be a real pain rerouting the fuel line, electrical, etc.
With the motor on the port side, it does indeed list to port. Especially if you are below sitting at the table

This list can be compensated for by battery placement - originally was under starboard settee - and by keeping the fresh water storage tank full which is also under the starboard settee. These should more than compensate for the weight of the motor on the port side.

Edited by - on

williamtbecker
Deckhand

Members Avatar

USA
13 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2009 : 23:08:03

Thanks for the input- I think i'm going to put the motor back on the port side. It felt comfortable there. I sailed with an empty freshwater tank all last year, so I'm sure that had something to do with it... maybe i'll consider moving the batteries over there too.

The gudgeon tip is awesome... i was actually about to weld myself an extension onto a wrench.

Thanks for the help,
-Will

Edited by - on

Deric
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
408 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2009 : 06:20:08

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> This list can be compensated for by battery placement - originally was under starboard settee - and by keeping the fresh water storage tank full which is also under the starboard settee. These should more than compensate for the weight of the motor on the port side.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

This year, I shall fill the water tank to determine he effect it has on the level of the boat. Good tip.

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.