Seagull / hull applications.............
Moderators: John@sos, charlesp, Charles uk, RickUK, Petergalileo
Seagull / hull applications.............
Most of us are aware of the good and bad points of our seagulls but as far as i am aware , nobody has mentioned anything about the capabilities of their motors under a variety of conditions with reference to particular hull shapes /weights etc. What does yours do ?
Re: Seagull / hull applications.............
Please see my old topic: salty seagull.
Albert
Albert
There’s no doubt Seagulls have been used on all manner of craft through the years.
Here are some of my experiences. I’ve a 14ft traditional clinker boat and the engine that has had most use on it is a 1958 vintage Forty Plus longshaft. The boat is quite beamy but not heavily built, has a good underwater shape and rows easily. The Forty Plus is a little underpowered on this boat in that it won’t get her up to maximum displacement speed. For this I’d need a Century. But the Forty is much lighter and very economical, and although I have known it struggle in adverse conditions of wind and tide it has never failed to get me home and will push the boat quite happily with 3 adults, 3 kids, dog, anchor, fishing kit etc.
At various times I have had ‘lends’ and done ‘trials’ with a variety of outboards. A Seagull Century pushed the boat at maximum displacement speed and an Anzani Super Single did the same with ease. A Johnson 4hp two stroke twin also got the boat to maximum displacement speed. This Johnson impressed me as it’s quite a light piece of kit so has a good power to weight ratio – but uses twice the fuel of a Forty Plus. I once tried out a Mercury 7.5hp – way over powered, just a waste of fuel. An Anzani Pilot performed similarly to the Forty Plus. Which was ‘best’? Well, for weight, reliability, economy and ease of servicing give me the Forty Plus. Which is why I still have it and still use it.
Other things I have seen: A Forty Minus on a 10ft planked flat bottomed dory, fairly heavy, pushed it along a treat it did. A Forty Minus on a 14ft clinker boat with fine lines and a deep tuck, designed for rowing. The guy who owned it tried a Century but because of the design of the boat it made her ‘squat’ whereas the Forty didn’t. A Silver Century on a 14ft fibreglass boat – fairly heavy and the Century was ok but the owner replaced it with a 6hp twin Evinrude I think which was better suited to the boat. I’ve also seen Centuries used on a variety of hard chine ply boats up to 16ft and they were fine.
My Forty Plus began life on a 12ft clinker boat, replacing a 102. The reduced power was a bit of a shock but more than made up for by the weight reduction.
Conclusions? Well for tenders and small displacement boats up to about 10ft use a Forty Minus. Displacement boats up to about 12ft 6 use a Forty Plus, over 12ft 6 the Century is probably best but the Forty Plus will cope. I suppose the above was what the Seagull guys had in mind when they designed their range of engines. They got it about right I would say.
Now there must be guys out there who have used or seen Seagulls for all sorts of weird applications. Be good to hear.
Here are some of my experiences. I’ve a 14ft traditional clinker boat and the engine that has had most use on it is a 1958 vintage Forty Plus longshaft. The boat is quite beamy but not heavily built, has a good underwater shape and rows easily. The Forty Plus is a little underpowered on this boat in that it won’t get her up to maximum displacement speed. For this I’d need a Century. But the Forty is much lighter and very economical, and although I have known it struggle in adverse conditions of wind and tide it has never failed to get me home and will push the boat quite happily with 3 adults, 3 kids, dog, anchor, fishing kit etc.
At various times I have had ‘lends’ and done ‘trials’ with a variety of outboards. A Seagull Century pushed the boat at maximum displacement speed and an Anzani Super Single did the same with ease. A Johnson 4hp two stroke twin also got the boat to maximum displacement speed. This Johnson impressed me as it’s quite a light piece of kit so has a good power to weight ratio – but uses twice the fuel of a Forty Plus. I once tried out a Mercury 7.5hp – way over powered, just a waste of fuel. An Anzani Pilot performed similarly to the Forty Plus. Which was ‘best’? Well, for weight, reliability, economy and ease of servicing give me the Forty Plus. Which is why I still have it and still use it.
Other things I have seen: A Forty Minus on a 10ft planked flat bottomed dory, fairly heavy, pushed it along a treat it did. A Forty Minus on a 14ft clinker boat with fine lines and a deep tuck, designed for rowing. The guy who owned it tried a Century but because of the design of the boat it made her ‘squat’ whereas the Forty didn’t. A Silver Century on a 14ft fibreglass boat – fairly heavy and the Century was ok but the owner replaced it with a 6hp twin Evinrude I think which was better suited to the boat. I’ve also seen Centuries used on a variety of hard chine ply boats up to 16ft and they were fine.
My Forty Plus began life on a 12ft clinker boat, replacing a 102. The reduced power was a bit of a shock but more than made up for by the weight reduction.
Conclusions? Well for tenders and small displacement boats up to about 10ft use a Forty Minus. Displacement boats up to about 12ft 6 use a Forty Plus, over 12ft 6 the Century is probably best but the Forty Plus will cope. I suppose the above was what the Seagull guys had in mind when they designed their range of engines. They got it about right I would say.
Now there must be guys out there who have used or seen Seagulls for all sorts of weird applications. Be good to hear.