Hi, All
I've been restoring my beloved Merry Mac (DS 127) that I literally grew up on.
I hate to even bring up this nasty subject of motor, when of course we are all sailors here.
When my dad was captain, he used a very simple British Seagull 2 hp mower . So simple it does not have an idle or reverse gear!
When the girl came into my hands (with motor), being the purist that I am, I just got very good at sailing into and out of docks.
But now that I am not the young thing I was before, I think I really had better get a motor "just in case" I don't feel like sailing into a dock or launch area crowded with those powerboat people who usually don't get it that I can't stop or turn the lady on a dime.
The British Seagull worked because it has a very long shaft. The mount for it is on the deck above the transom so it sits high. We would clamp it onto the motor mount so that we could raise the propeller out of the water to remove drag once the sails were raised.
I was thinking, say, 4 - 6 horsepower, long shaft, and yes, it would be nice on this round to have an idle and reverse! The simpler the better -- I don't want to spend my time fussing with a motor, I want to be sailing!
What do you folks out there have on your boats? Bear in mind I don't have a lot of money to spend but will do what I need to (including wait) to get the right thing. Any suggestions? Thanks much. (attempting to post photo -- assuming you see it, remember that the Merry Mac is in the process of being repainted but she will look beautiful in a couple of weeks!)
Bonnie in PA