back up engine

**sammyjo** · 13-02-2006, 09:47

i have a 17 foot micro plus with a 50 hp motor but no back up engine , im guessing that 4hp may not do the job if needed coz im in tidal waters and may not push against a tide flow, if im correct can anyone advise wat size would do for back up.

**Shropfisher** · 13-02-2006, 10:34

8 or 9 hp seems to be the norm, won't getting up to water ski'ing speed but sahould tackle most sensible tides.

**sammyjo** · 13-02-2006, 11:40

thanks mate just thought 4hp was to small when a freind of mine took a dingy out with a 4 hp but seemed to have problems against the tide

**harpo** · 14-02-2006, 08:12

Originally Posted by sammyjo

i have a 17 foot micro plus with a 50 hp motor but no back up engine , im guessing that 4hp may not do the job if needed coz im in tidal waters and may not push against a tide flow, if im correct can anyone advise wat size would do for back up.

mate has micropluss and we fish from penarth,barry,swansea and fishgaurd he has a 55hp main engine and a6hp 4stroke auxilary mostly use the aux which pushes the boat against tide realy well

**sammyjo** · 14-02-2006, 09:48

Originally Posted by harpo

mate has micropluss and we fish from penarth,barry,swansea and fishgaurd he has a 55hp main engine and a6hp 4stroke auxilary mostly use the aux which pushes the boat against tide realy well

thanks harpo

**Naughtydorf18** · 14-02-2006, 14:13

I have a 25 hp 4 stroke Tohatsu on my 16 ft Carolina Skiff www.carolinaskiff.com the J16 model. I use my grandfather's old 3 hp Johnson as my get me out of S*&t device. If all else fails, use MANPOWER and ROW

**blueskip** · 14-02-2006, 18:06

Sammyjoe this debate comes up regularly & there are always 2 distinct camps about it, those who say bigger is better, & those who say smaller is ample. Its down to weight & space really, if you are happy to have an 8-9HP sat on the back then that's your choice, I tend to be a smaller is good enough person, if push comes to shove wait for the tide to turn, you wont push a 17footer much faster with a 9 than you will with a 4!
I have a Suzuki DT4.5 as my back-up, & last week I bought an old Seagull Silver Century 5HP, which is a non-runner but I will do it up as a spare, spare, for a tenner I couldn't turn it down, the 5 bladed prop is worth that! Between them they will last me the rest of my boating life as auxillaries.
blueskip

**Bill Brennan** · 16-02-2006, 20:13

Originally Posted by blueskip

Sammyjoe this debate comes up regularly & there are always 2 distinct camps about it, those who say bigger is better, & those who say smaller is ample. Its down to weight & space really, if you are happy to have an 8-9HP sat on the back then that's your choice, I tend to be a smaller is good enough person, if push comes to shove wait for the tide to turn, you wont push a 17footer much faster with a 9 than you will with a 4!
I have a Suzuki DT4.5 as my back-up, & last week I bought an old Seagull Silver Century 5HP, which is a non-runner but I will do it up as a spare, spare, for a tenner I couldn't turn it down, the 5 bladed prop is worth that! Between them they will last me the rest of my boating life as auxillaries.
blueskip

I have just been given a seagull 5HP engine which I intend to use as a back up engine on my warrior. The engine needs a good looking at. Any advice on giving it a good service. What ratio of petrol/oil do i mix. Any advice please.

**fishy Finger** · 16-02-2006, 20:18

Bill,
here is a good site www.britishseagull.co.uk/history.php plenty of info about the seagull's

Cheers Steve

**back lash** · 16-02-2006, 22:12

hi i run a few differant size seagulls and i think they are great little grafters the feul mix is 10/1 and the points need to be set at .035 thou try this site for all your info on them www.seagullparts.co.uk/