Auxiliary on a 4.1m Brooker

[Elecmuso]

Hi - new to this forum!

I'd like to put an auxiliary on my 4.1m Brooker (with a 30hp 2 stroke Mercury) but I'm not sure it is done often on a boat this size. I've picked up a bracket and it weighs 4kg. A small outboard such as a merc 3.3hp. weighs around 14kg. That's a bit less than 20kg hanging off the back. Will that change the ride much? I'm hoping to find some examples of similar sized rigs and you'd think google would help but I can't find any though I was sure I found some before!

I have thought about the pros and cons of an Auxiliary and I get that if my motor is in good condition (and it is) I could go without one.

So does anyone here have a small boat with an auxiliary?

Here she is...

Edited May 9, 2021 by Elecmuso

[PaddyT]

na-buy a bowmounted electric and all of a sudden you are both safer and have vastly increased the fishing utility of your boat-oh -and a hand held marine radio so you can call for some assistance if you do have problems (which as long as you maintain your boat and batteries these days is highly unlikely)

[noelm]

Save your money, auxillary motor on a small boat is a waste of time, as mentioned, get a bow mount electric.

[Elecmuso]

A bag of sand (it will get wet 😉 ) is a good idea to try.

Is there a lot of battery storage required for the electric? Will it be enough to get me out of trouble in choppy water? How much are we talking approx?

Something like this I gather?

 

[Elecmuso]

It so happens that I have inherited a new 46lb thrust motorguide trolling motor. What about using that along with a transom mount arrangement such as this one? 

https://smallboater.com/trolling-motors-guide/a

A bow mounted, gps controlled and remotely steerable arrangement could be a future project (ie. when I have the funds!).

 

Edited May 9, 2021 by Elecmuso

[frankS]

The I pilot would set you back over $3000 where as the small black transom mount you have inherited will do the job fine.

Not as brilliant as the I pilot but will get you back to safety in a situation. Just remember you need an appropriate battery of  a decent amp hour rating and they are not cheap.

Plenty of info about to cover what you need.

Frank

[Elecmuso]

Thanks Frank. I guess I should have a dedicated deep cycle battery for the trolling motor and that a standard battery charger, charging the battery overnight would be sufficient?

 

That transom mount is not one I have, just one I found on the website I linked to. But it would suit if I could get my hands on one.

[XD351]

16 hours ago, Elecmuso said:

A bag of sand (it will get wet 😉 ) is a good idea to try.

Is there a lot of battery storage required for the electric? Will it be enough to get me out of trouble in choppy water? How much are we talking approx?

Something like this I gather?

 

Depends on what you want the electric to do and whether your merc is electric start or pull start .

If you just want  to use it as an emergency auxiliary only and your merc is electric start the start battery will run the electric but not for as long as a big deep cycle  .

If you want it to double up as a trolling motor you should have a dual battery system unless your merc is pull start only then you would only need one battery and make it deep cycle , it will also run your lights and sounder etc and can be charged from the merc if the rectifier/ regulator unit is fitted - this is what I have on my boat with a pull start 40 Yamaha .

IMHO I would save the money and use it to get the merc serviced by an authorised dealer / repairer  - they know what to look for and usually have the parts in stock . Used to only see auxiliary engines on boats that were heading out offshore and a 4.1m tinnie isn’t really what you want to do this in . Funny thing is many of those auxiliary engines never got started and when it was needed it wouldn’t start anyway !

 

[onearmedfisho]

20 hours ago, PaddyT said:

na-buy a bowmounted electric and all of a sudden you are both safer and have vastly increased the fishing utility of your boat-oh -and a hand held marine radio so you can call for some assistance if you do have problems (which as long as you maintain your boat and batteries these days is highly unlikely)

a little hard to fit a bow mount on that boat

[frankS]

Dave. I recently bought a 54lb electric for the 13 footer down Bermi . Brand new from Dinga ( ex sponsor ) for $200 delivered.

Frank

[Elecmuso]

3 hours ago, XD351 said:

IMHO I would save the money and use it to get the merc serviced by an authorised dealer / repairer  - they know what to look for and usually have the parts in stock .

Yep have done this. I'm happy with the state of the motor but sh*t can always happen. Not really going to take the boat off shore but may be an a more remote location where there are less boats about to help out should it be needed. Recently discovered an issue with my 2nd fuel tank that I reckon was actually an issue rather than the motor.

BTW, just what defines 'off shore' anyway? Often wondered!

[frankS]

Sorry guys. Think it was a 34lb electric I got not 54lb.

Frank

[XD351]

9 hours ago, Elecmuso said:

Yep have done this. I'm happy with the state of the motor but sh*t can always happen. Not really going to take the boat off shore but may be an a more remote location where there are less boats about to help out should it be needed. Recently discovered an issue with my 2nd fuel tank that I reckon was actually an issue rather than the motor.

BTW, just what defines 'off shore' anyway? Often wondered!

Pretty much what Dave said - I was basically meaning outside the heads  but if you ask 3 different people you will probably get some variation on the same theme . 

[zmk1962]

 

4 hours ago, XD351 said:

.....  but if you ask 3 different people you will probably get some variation on the same theme . 

Not Quite.

Offshore is as Dave describes - but because it’s a colloquial term that is not very specific it is not used by Maritime or related services.
Maritime uses the terms “open waters” and “enclosed waters”. 
These are clearly  defined on navigation charts and hence safety gear and such rules can be enforced. 
As an example, in the Hawkesbury estuary east of the line between Juno Pt and Flint and Steel is classified as limited open waters if waves are less than 0.5m and open waters if waves are over 0.5m. 

I’ve posted links to the navigation charts in the above post. 
cheers Zoran 

Edited May 10, 2021 by zmk1962

[Elecmuso]

Thanks fellas.

One thing I think I should reveal is I'm from Adelaide (please hold the jokes!).

We don't have much in the way of bays and estuaries like you and our prize fish are Snapper and whiting!

That is probably one reason bow mounted troll motors have not been on my radar in the past.