The Latest News in Outboards
Moderator: Jim Walsh
in the back of the crypt ...
I am ashamed to admit that I have, in the dark recesses of my garage, a British Seagull Engine. It will run forever. Spew oil, yes; a b%^&*^ to start when you really need it, an unqualified yes; did it ever leave me stranded, no. You can repair it with a knife, a screw diver and a pair of pliers, in fact it came with exactly that as a kit. Carry a spark plug, some cork(for a gasket), some oil and gas .... off you go.
Greg Lutzow
Nokomis, FL
CD25
"Beau Soleil"
sailing off a mooring in Sarasota Bay
With nothin' but stillness as far as you please
An' the silly mirage stringin' islands an' seas.
Nokomis, FL
CD25
"Beau Soleil"
sailing off a mooring in Sarasota Bay
With nothin' but stillness as far as you please
An' the silly mirage stringin' islands an' seas.
- bottomscraper
- Posts: 1400
- Joined: Feb 5th, '05, 11:08
- Location: Previous Owner of CD36 Mahalo #163 1990
- Contact:
Re: in the back of the crypt ...
Polish that puppy up and display it in your living room! Or even better modify and race it!GLutzow wrote:I am ashamed to admit that I have, in the dark recesses of my garage, a British Seagull Engine.
![Image](http://www.seagullparts.co.uk/berm6.jpg)
That is just soooooo wrong!
Rich Abato
Nordic Tug 34 Tanuki
Previous Owner Of CD36 Mahalo #163
Southern Maine
http://www.sailmahalo.com
Nordic Tug 34 Tanuki
Previous Owner Of CD36 Mahalo #163
Southern Maine
http://www.sailmahalo.com
- Steve Laume
- Posts: 4127
- Joined: Feb 13th, '05, 20:40
- Location: Raven1984 Cape Dory 30C Hull #309Noank, CT
- Contact:
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- Posts: 74
- Joined: Aug 9th, '07, 22:49
- Location: 1986 Capde Dory 330
Re: Made in the USA
Precisely.tartansailor wrote:....as American as apple pie....
Apple pie certainly isn't American. We had apple pies in England long before you were a colony.
And yes, I'm being deliberately provocative. Sink me!
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- Posts: 380
- Joined: Mar 14th, '05, 09:14
Tooth Fairy A Hoax
Well, friends, it's time to own up. No, there really are no tooth fairies, and unfortunately there really are no Harley Davidson outboard motors (Google is your friend). There are however Harley Davidson decals, and these are what I used on my new Tohatsu 3.5 HP 4 stroke outboard to replace the original tacky Tohatsu decals. I have already congratulated Russell on his keen eyesight.
There is a long story behind this tradition that actually involves bikers but I won't bother you with the details here. Suffice it to say that having an outboard that's just a bit different has probably prevented more than one set of itchy fingers from stealing it. In addition it's always entertaining to see how folks react to such absurdities. Not that I am in a position to draw any conclusions or point fingers.
Tohatsu makes great outboards. Harley makes great decals. Who could resist that combination?
There is a long story behind this tradition that actually involves bikers but I won't bother you with the details here. Suffice it to say that having an outboard that's just a bit different has probably prevented more than one set of itchy fingers from stealing it. In addition it's always entertaining to see how folks react to such absurdities. Not that I am in a position to draw any conclusions or point fingers.
Tohatsu makes great outboards. Harley makes great decals. Who could resist that combination?
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- Posts: 380
- Joined: Mar 14th, '05, 09:14
Re: Made in the USA
You type quite well for someone from that era.Queen Elvis wrote: ... We had apple pies in England long before you were a colony ...
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- Posts: 74
- Joined: Aug 9th, '07, 22:49
- Location: 1986 Capde Dory 330
Apple Pie Outboards
And it turns out that the Harley outboards are indeed as American as.......
-
- Posts: 3535
- Joined: Feb 5th, '05, 20:42
- Location: '66 Typhoon "Grace", Hull # 42, Schooner "Ontario", CD 85D Hull #1
HD OBs
.........apple pie? Hmmm, sounds more like pie in the sky.Queen Elvis wrote:And it turns out that the Harley outboards are indeed as American as.......
This is a good time to mention one of my all time favorite songs, Don McLean's "American Pie" (drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry, and good ol' boys drinkin' whiskey and rye".
Queen Elvis, are you familiar with Nortons, from your side of the pond? I wonder if they have decals for the seagulls?
Good show, guv,
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
O J
"If I rest, I rust"
Voting Member #490
Voting Member #490
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- Posts: 223
- Joined: Dec 6th, '07, 22:05
- Location: 1981 Cape Dory 25 #794, S/V PEARL
- Contact:
Harley Outboard?
For those of you who would scoff at a Harley Davidson outboard, let me remind you that 90% of all Harleys ever built are still on the road....
The other 10% made it home.
The other 10% made it home.
Instant Bubble-head. Just add water.
- tartansailor
- Posts: 1525
- Joined: Aug 30th, '05, 13:55
- Location: CD25, Renaissance, Milton, DE
Re: Harley Outboard?
That's more than one can say about a lot of imported cars that I could, but wont mention.sfreihofer wrote:For those of you who would scoff at a Harley Davidson outboard, let me remind you that 90% of all Harleys ever built are still on the road....
The other 10% made it home.
Dick
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- Posts: 154
- Joined: Aug 11th, '09, 15:24
- Location: CD25 #796 "Izabela"
Sea Cliff, NY
Member #1209
The guys at South Park did a send up on HD riders here:
http://www.southparkstudios.com/episodes/251889/
http://www.southparkstudios.com/episodes/251889/
- Steve Laume
- Posts: 4127
- Joined: Feb 13th, '05, 20:40
- Location: Raven1984 Cape Dory 30C Hull #309Noank, CT
- Contact:
OJ, I had a Norton
Back in the day, I had a Norton Commando and also "NORTON" decals that I had in case the tank ones got damaged. A great ride and had the typical oil leaks of imports back then.
Since I am about to name my Typhoon "SeaGull", I could use some of those decals. Just wondering if the birds would look more kindly on my boat if named as such and poo less on my decks.
Almost time for me to apply bottom paint and schedule launch for early June.
G'day, Ron
PS, Steve, yes the Harley's started but only after many powerful KICKS.....unlike my Norton that had an electric start to supplement the kick. Oh the memories........
"The one part they missed is that all the Harley's always started each time they were ready to ride. "
Since I am about to name my Typhoon "SeaGull", I could use some of those decals. Just wondering if the birds would look more kindly on my boat if named as such and poo less on my decks.
Almost time for me to apply bottom paint and schedule launch for early June.
G'day, Ron
PS, Steve, yes the Harley's started but only after many powerful KICKS.....unlike my Norton that had an electric start to supplement the kick. Oh the memories........
"The one part they missed is that all the Harley's always started each time they were ready to ride. "
Ron Kallenberg
Old Orchard Beach, Maine
Sailing in Saco Bay, Maine
Old Orchard Beach, Maine
Sailing in Saco Bay, Maine
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- Posts: 110
- Joined: Sep 17th, '07, 10:42
- Location: CD40, Hull #8
COMO NO
Funky Outboards
When cruising the Caribbean in 1978 I had a British Seagull. Once I learned its little quirks it started every time and ran well. The thing was loud, greasy and obnoxious, but dependable.
One day, while running full throttle, it decided to go for a swim. Blew a few bubbles on the way to the bottom. I thought that was the end of my old clunker. It was a sad moment. We had such wonderful times together. I decided to dive for it and clean it up in case I got another and could use it for parts. Two dives later, in fifteen feet of that wonderful clear blue Caibbean water I had the beast back aboard my hard dinghy. Rowed back to my Pearson 35, rinsed out the motor with fresh water and then 100 proof Rum Alcohol (Purchased by the gallon for $1.50--made great stove fuel), filled up with fresh gas/oil mixture and tried starting it just for grins. It started, ran like normal and was still running when I sold it with the boat a year later.
In 2004 we dropped our Johnson 15 into 45 feet of water at Savu-Savu, Fiji. Thankfully, it was not running at the time. We recovered the engine two days later, dismantled, flushed with fresh water and sprayed with WD-40, changed lower unit lube and cranked it up. Put it on the back of a 20 foot fishing boat and ran it almost full tilt for an hour--just to dry it out. It is still running today. But, I seriously doubt that it would have survived had it been running when we dropped it. Viva the British Seagull.
Your mileage may vary.
One day, while running full throttle, it decided to go for a swim. Blew a few bubbles on the way to the bottom. I thought that was the end of my old clunker. It was a sad moment. We had such wonderful times together. I decided to dive for it and clean it up in case I got another and could use it for parts. Two dives later, in fifteen feet of that wonderful clear blue Caibbean water I had the beast back aboard my hard dinghy. Rowed back to my Pearson 35, rinsed out the motor with fresh water and then 100 proof Rum Alcohol (Purchased by the gallon for $1.50--made great stove fuel), filled up with fresh gas/oil mixture and tried starting it just for grins. It started, ran like normal and was still running when I sold it with the boat a year later.
In 2004 we dropped our Johnson 15 into 45 feet of water at Savu-Savu, Fiji. Thankfully, it was not running at the time. We recovered the engine two days later, dismantled, flushed with fresh water and sprayed with WD-40, changed lower unit lube and cranked it up. Put it on the back of a 20 foot fishing boat and ran it almost full tilt for an hour--just to dry it out. It is still running today. But, I seriously doubt that it would have survived had it been running when we dropped it. Viva the British Seagull.
Your mileage may vary.