Seeking Opinions on Seagull Outboard

[Harvey Wilson]

>>Any little spray or moisture would short out the electric system so every time you went through the surf to get ashore it wouldn't start. The owner rowed back to the boat each time, took it apart, dried everything and it was ready for one more trip one way. It's a good thing they're simple and easy to work on because you will be working on it a lot.<<

It's all you said it is, but if the owner could find a Mk II ignition system his troubles should be over. perhaps just replacing the old style hi-voltage lead with the new snug fitting type would help.

Regards,

Harvey/Ga



harveywilson@compuserve.com

[Richard Stephens]

My Dad had seagull for many years, first on a Drascombe Lugger (18') and then for the tender on his bigger boats.

I remember one occasion when we left the motor on the inflatable dingy alongside overnight, and the wind got up and flipped the dinghy. After being inverted in salt water overnight, we simply drained and refilled the tank, emptied the water out of the carburetor, and it started right up!

One great feature is that loose starting cord: any unsuspecting passenger is likely to get whipped as you start the motor! I still flinch whenever I am in a boat and someone is starting an outboard.

Despite all these memories growing up with a Seagull, I wouldn't trade my Johnson for one! Too noisy!

Regards,
Richard (Ty "Blue Diamond")



stephens@lightlink.com

[John R.]

I'm looking for an outboard for my 8' fiberglass dinghy, and a local shop has two Seagulls for sale.

Any experiences with parts availability, service requirements, ease of starting, etc?

Duncan Maio
s/v Remedy
CD27 #37

I've never owned one nor used one but they have been around the cruising world for a very long time and have gone through a lot of changes over the years. Some people swear by them and their ease of maintenance and repair. Here is contact info for the manufacturer and a British distributor and a U.S. parts source:

Manufacturer:
Sheridan Marine
Moulsford, Oxon
Ox 109HU
Tel: 011-411491652755

Distributor:
Chillington Marine
www.chillington-marine.co.uk

Parts:
Tim O'Hara (recently took over Sailorman's inventories)
Ph: 916/691-3007
Fax: 916/691-3011

[Norm Penick]

I'm looking for an outboard for my 8' fiberglass dinghy, and a local shop has two Seagulls for sale.

Any experiences with parts availability, service requirements, ease of starting, etc?

Duncan Maio
s/v Remedy
CD27 #37

I spent a year researching outboards before deciding on a Seagull. During the interim I used a borrowed Evinrude and looked forward to UPGRADING to a Seagull. The Seagull was fairly expensive but seemed to be worth the price and to be ideal for a sailboat kicker. It started easily. But nothing I had read said that the smoke came out ABOVE THE WATERLINE. So much smoke came out that the engine choked itself in the lazarette. We had to fan the damn thing to keep it alive and running. It was so noisy that we had to shout to communicate. It filled the entire boat with smoke so that it looked like the boat was on fire for several minutes after we shut the dreadful thing down. The Evinrude had been so quiet and clean that no one minded the half mile or so motor trip into the bay; the Seagull was so noisy and smokey that we dreaded motoring. There was a little screw cap in the top of the carburator that wouldn't stay screwed in. I continually found it loose and dancing around. I don't know what would have happened if I had lost it but am sure that it would have caused a problem. I tried to sell it. No luck. I finally traded it for an Evinrude to a fellow who owned an ugly English built hog back boat and, presumably, wanted an ugly motor to go with it. I used the hell out of the Evinrude for years and never had any problem that I couldn't fix in a few minutes. Since you can't be immunized against Seagull you must sensibly avoid it as you would any other plague.
Norm Penick
norman@hal-pc.org



norman@hal-pc.org