Re: Sliding Rudder and Stealth-O-Matic Technology

MR MICHAEL A CANOVA (XKTS62A@prodigy.com)
Tue, 19 Jan 1999 05:37:11, -0500


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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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-- [ From: Mike Canova * EMC.Ver #2.5.3 ] --

Lars and other Potterers,

You may remember that my when I got my P15, it did not come with a
conventional outboard motor mount. Instead, it had a small (1 1/2 hp)
gas motor mounted on the rudder. The former owner had mounted a 1/4"
thick aluminum plate to the rudder using cabin hinges with removable
hindge pins. The two hinges were mounted on opposite sides of the
rudder, and the mates to the hinges were mounted to the aluminum plate,
one at the top of the aluminum plate and the other at the bottom of the
plate. When attached (using rusty cotter pins), the hinges formed right
angles and were quite sturdy.

The little gas motor could have been attached to the plate with the
normal transom clamp, but the former owner removed it, and used a U-
Clamp round the shaft of the motor and attached it directly to the plate
. The motor tiller had to be shortened to clear the transom. The motor
was fixed in place (unless removed plate and all) but this motor had a
neutral gear, and could stay in the water all of the time.

I was fond of the quietness and reliability of my electric, and tried to
mount it to plate, but found that the prop was larger, and if the rudder
hit bottom and retracted, it would hit the prop. Moving the motor
farther away to clear the prop put too much force on the whole assembly.
I installed a standard Garlick mount on the transom.

The hinge brackets are still on the rudder (helping hold the rudder
together I assume). I like the concept of mounting the motor on the
rudder. Some day if I'm feeling adventurous, I may attach the little
motor to the rudder, fire it up and try it.

Mike Canova
P-15, 1830