Mariner Sailmate

[Downhilldai]

Originally Posted by kwil

My 2stroke Mariner 4 Sailpower is definately a Twatsoo, but as a Twatsoo it is sold as a 5HP. I believe the difference is a restricter plate somewhere on the carb mounting. I cann't confirm this as when I bought mine secondhand I was told it had been altered to a 5 by Bill Highams for the previous owner.

Keith

4/5/6hp Merc/Mariner/Twatsoo are all basically the same, except for the hood colour/decals.
I understand the throttle opening is restricted to govern the hp and I think I've read/heard somewhere that a throttle stop lever can be reversed to convert either 4hp to 5hp or 5hp to 6hp. I haven't rummaged around under the hood on mine (yet ) to find out if this is true.

[BogMonster]

DHD I guess the extra 2hp is of limited value in the garage

I'd be interested in any DIY modifications to gee up some extra ponies as I do intend to use mine from time to time

[Downhilldai]

Originally Posted by BogMonster

I do intend to use mine from time to time

Is that why you bought an e-tec as the main motor?

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

Is that why you bought an e-tec as the main motor?

Maybe I should also consider a 'Stalemate'.

[BogMonster]

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

Is that why you bought an e-tec as the main motor?

No it is why I bought a SIB so I can exercise the aux from time to time as I don't expect to ever need it

Sadly the longshaft engine plus a few pies stowed near the transom means it adopts the "Eurofighter takeoff angle" when you open it up and I couldn't get it to plane but maybe 4hp on a 3.2m sib was pushing the bounds of reasonableness. Goes well enough though, had a very enjoyable late afternoon puttering about a flat calm harbour and nearly three quarters of an hour's boating on half a litre of fuel made it a pleasantly cheap afternoon as well

[Downhilldai]

Always handy if you use a tender too. Although it's not the correct shaft length, it'll do the job and a lot easier than rowing. Don't go dropping it in the ocean though when you transfer it over from the RIB to the tender

[BogMonster]

Hmm dropping it in ... as I found out yesterday, the handle is on the wrong end ... stupid design.

On the old Johnson aux you could plonk it on the transom with one hand because the carry handle was on the rear of the engine so when you picked it up, it was automatically hanging in the "mount me" position (ooer). On the Merc, the handle is on the front of the engine and makes it much harder as it is hanging the opposite way to the way you want it, and this greatly increases the risk of what you just described (No I didn't drop it in, but it is a fiddle and I wouldn't fancy doing it at sea)

On the plus side a 3.2m sib is a bit big to fit in a 5.8m rib as a tender so I probably won't use it as that anyway

[willk]

Bit of a safety line clippy thing called for there...

I think that a decent "carry harness" could be rigged for motors like that, something in webbing that clips in place with a snap-clip

[BogMonster]

Originally Posted by willk

Bit of a safety line clippy thing called for there...

I think that a decent "carry harness" could be rigged for motors like that, something in webbing that clips in place with a snap-clip

Yeah - or they could have just designed it right in the first place

Obviously the ergonomics folks are Merchatsoo have never used one... it was the second thing I noticed, after the disconnected fuel line which pssd fuel out all over the floor when I first filled it up...

I can see a modification coming on