Side-Mount Rotating Arm Engine Bracket

[John Stone]

Since we launched the Far Reach in 2015 I have been asked many times about the side mount rotating arm engine bracket we installed after removing the inboard diesel engine. The removable bracket supports a 9.9 HP High-Thrust outboard engine we sometimes use as an auxiliary engine. It has worked extremely well. For whatever reason I have not written about the bracket before. I’m not sure why that is the case. I guess I just don’t think about it that much and I’d rather write about sailing and not engines anyway. But it’s worked so well it seems like I ought to take the time to describe how it works as I am sure there are other sailors out there like me that are interested in a different solution regarding auxiliary power. It is a very clever design and of course the credit goes to the designer and builder, Yves Gélinas who also designed and builds the remarkable Cape Horn Self-Steering Windvane.

Anyway, I attached a few pictures below. And I wrote a detailed post on our new website with many more pictures and also made a you tube video demonstrating how it works. You can find the video in the post on our website. Here is the link if you are interested in knowing more about it.

https://farreachvoyages.wordpress.com/2 ... #more-1006

[Moonshadow]

Thank you for sharing the link on your website. The engine bracket is brilliant. I would like to see you raise and lower it with the engine in place. I think it would dwarf my 22.5 foot typhoon Sr. Hard to say without seeing it in real life. Have you seen a Typhoon Sr.? Do you think it would look right?

Thanks again.

Rich _ Moon Shadow.

[John Stone]

I would like to see you raise and lower it with the engine in place.

Well, you'll have to wait as my engine is at home for a while. But, I'll shoot a video of it this spring with the engine on the bracket. Much easier to see how it work without the engine blocking the view of the bracket.

I share your concerns. I think the engine might look too big. But, you won't need a 25" shaft and that is what really makes it look big to me. On the other hand, the 9.9 four stroke is a big heavy engine...about 90 lbs I think with a short shaft. As I mentioned before the Yamaha is smaller dimensionally. 'course I would avoid putting a 9.9 on a Ty if could find a way around it. That's a choice you have to make. I know you are set on the 9.9 but I really think you should take a look at the Tohatsu sailpro 6hp. I know it's not as big as you want but it is so much smaller an engine . . . and I think its a high thrust in prop design and reduction gear. It would seem to me you could borrow one from somebody in your area.

Compromises.

[Moonshadow]

compromises... amen brother. I do not need the 9.9 specifically. I just think a 2 cylinder will be smoother running and an 8 or 9.9 are the smallest 2 cylinders that I know of ...

[John Stone]

I understand and I am not suggesting it's a wrong choice. If it does what you want it to do and you are happy with it then it's the right answer for you. While 2 cylinders is smoother it doesn't make the engine more reliable. Arguably the most legendary dual sport motorcycle for toughness, reliability, and durability is the Kawasaki KLR 650. It's a one lunger carbureted engine. Basically unchanged for 30 years. Something to think about as you weigh all the pros and cons.