New guy, be gentle!!

[seagullbeginner]

Afternoon Chap's & Ladies.

I've recently aquired a small inflatable dinghy.
The uses for this are for motoring around to a small cove from a beach nearby me to put a couple of small pot's down, some spearfishing & possibly fishing & also just purely for pleasure.
The boat did'nt cost me a lot of money & i'm a bit lazy when it comes to rowing.
I've been looking at cost effective ways of affording a small outboard up to but no more than about 4hp & someone recommended me a Seagull.
I've seen them going pretty cheap in comparison to other outboards on the web but i don't really have any understanding of outboards!
I understand though that the Seagull sounds pretty much perfect for the use i need it for as it will generally be light use, maybe once or twice every couple of weeks.
I also like the nostalgia of an old engine & the smell of the 2 strokes!
Is there anything i should look out for / know?
I'm off over to read the "Seagulls for beginners" section on the forum.
But i'm also on the hunt for an engine aswell as i don't like rowing anymore

As always, help is greatly appreciated!

[Buzzook]

eBay.co.uk

Plenty of cheap Seagulls on there. If you're not in a hurry, a Forty Plus would do, or maybe a Century or 102.

You'll soon realise that, unlike 'modern' outboards, the Seagulls usually don't have a gearbox like modern motors do - so they are either a 'direct drive' - so when you pull the start rope, the prop starts turning, so better be hanging onto that tiller and watching where you're headed pretty smartly; OR they have a clutch which enables starting in 'neutral' and engaging gear once you are good and ready. The old hands prefer the direct drives, but for a newbie, a clutched model might be a better bet to 'ease into' Seagull ownership.

So if looking at eBaY ads, see if it has a clutch or email the vendor for the Serial number and look it up for yourself. Less embarassing that way.

As far as getting an old one going is concerned, most information can be found on here or on the FAQs on SOS.

Anyone who says they aren't reliable isn't maintaining them properly. 'Love' your Seagull and it will 'love' you in return.

Query: Is love for a Seagull a 'chrome-ance'???

Oh, stop groaning, I only just made it up.....give me time...!

[seagullbeginner]

I'll post a link to the 2 i'm look at, as both are local (but only if you don't steal them from me!
One is a clutch drive as you can see by the video the chap uploaded to youtube - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWAX:IT

The second is this one:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWAX:IT

Can you give your opinions on the limited information given?

[skyetoyman]

sadly both are long shaft and you need a standard shaft. The 102 looks a really good machine but tooooo powerful for your dinghy.

[Oyster 49]

Welcome to the world of seagulls The century and 102 are way too much for a small inflatable. Too heavy, too long and too much power! A 40 plus with clutch would be fine, but would probably need to be raised on it's mount a bit on a small flubber, so the prop is not dragging in the sand I use a hand tightened jubilee clip to raise mine up on a 16 foot rowing boat on the canal and river. Quick and easy.

Loads for sale on ebay. Engine numbers starting FPC are nice, but watch out for steel petrol tanks rusting from within. Take your time and a nice one will show up. Avoid ones that look too shiny as they may have been tarted up for sale, using silver spray paint. Good luck!

[seagullbeginner]

Ok cheers as I nearly bought one of those earlier! The dinghy says it's rated to 4hp, although it is only for light use it will have myself (15st) plus another the same size on board! I'll be pushing the dinghy out until waist height so there's no danger of it sand dragging! A clutch engine sounds a good idea, could you advise on which one I should be looking at? Nobody my end of the country ever seems to sell anything I want! And I'm inpatient!

[Hugz]

I often use my 8f inflatable early metzeler and run all my seagulls on her including the 102's. The forties push her along ok but I prefer the sound of the bigger motors. The forties are a lighter weight which make them easier to handle. The early 102's are less powerful than the silver centuries. A long shaft will work with a height adjuster.

Sacrilege I know but most times now I use an Anzani Pilot. Lot lighter, has a circumferential handle for ease of handling and 360 degree rotation for manoeuvrability.

The weight factor has come into play at my age.

Ideally an EFNR (forward, neutral, reverse) shortshaft would suit if you are not after traditional looks. I try to match my boats with the same circa motors.

[seagullbeginner]

I see,

Well you guys know a lot more about these things than me so i'll let you advise me!
It's a small dinghy (10ft) it'll have 2 relatively big guys on it, possibly 2 15 st people plus someone about 12st on board.
The clutched one sounds ideal as i'd like to be able to stop before i get somewhere (not have any power) so neutral i'd say is a must.
The furthest i'd really be going would be about a mile & it's all in-shore.
Does a long / short shaft make much difference if i was to be pusing it out to waist height anyway?
If someone could advise me on what's best i'd be much appreciated!

[Hugz]

Basically if you have the prop too low in the water the exhaust has to push against more pressure causing loss of power and more noise plus they can become harder to start. Easy enough to raise a long shaft with a hose clamp on the drive tube or there are seagull clamps available. Some of the more modern gulls have fixed positioning. Try and buy a motor from one of us so you get a good one.

[seagullbeginner]

That's what i'd prefer to do, buy from one of you guys.
I am watching one by a member on here on Ebay, although there is one that is literaly 5minutes walk from my house that i found on Ebay last night.
I have no idead about whether it's Kosher or not, i've emailed the seller asking him a few questions asking him what he thinks, maybe you could give me your opinion?:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWAX:IT

thanks chaps

[Horsley-Anarak]

maybe you could give me your opinion?:

Looks OK, if it is that close go and have a look. See if it runs and pumps, might have rusted up cylinder as it is a sea engine.

This is not an ENFR it is just a clutched engine, forward and neutral.

I would buy it, if it pumps well.

H-A

[Hugz]

For some reason it has EFNR transom bracket but standard shear spring which suggests what HA mentions..... dog clutch. I tend to stay away from ones that have been tampered with. If close by it is worth having a look.

[Horsley-Anarak]

[quote="Hugz"] I tend to stay away from ones that have been tampered with.quote]

I don't see a problem with it Huggy, Transom bracket is correct I have 3 like that.


http://www.saving-old-seagulls.co.uk/i_ ... _large.htm

Looks like a little used 75 to me, as I have said I would buy it if it pumps.

H-A

[Hugz]

I'm wrong! I'll stick to the older models

[Charles uk]

Very few of the later model motors got that far overseas.