[C320-list] Securing outboard engine and gasoline

[Scott Thompson]

Allan:  Doesn't a 43 pound generator in your anchor locker make 
anchoring rather difficult?  If you put the generator between the aft 
seats I assume that it doesn't actually fit under the seats.   Is that 
right?

Regarding the outboard engine mount, which one did you purchase at WM?  
Is it the Johnson mount?  Where did you attach it to the rail?

Where do you store your dinghy gas tank while sailing?

Finally, I'd be interested in hearing a report after you visit Swan 
Creek.  That's the closest anchorage to me on the Eastern Shore but I've 
never been in because the charts make it look shallow and I've heard 
it's full of moorings.

Scott


allan.field at comcast.net wrote:
> Scott - I'll weigh in on this one from our experience.  We have a Nissan 5 HP, 4-stroke with an external fuel tank.  I have had 2-strokes in the past with internal tanks but would not go back to them as the fuel left in the tank tends to wax the carb if stored for a time.  Plus the 4-stroke is more environment friendly.
>
> We keep the motor on the aft stern rail on a motor mount we got from WM. The motor weighs about 80 pounds.  We also had Kato Marine in Annapolis make us a lifting crane with a 4:1 purchase.  With the crane, moving the engine from rail to digny transom literally is a one-handed job.  The stern rail is no worse the wear for holding the motor these past 4 years or so.
>
> Our external tank holds 2.5 gallons of gas.  Even after being out for 18 days (as we are now) and all the other times we use the dingy during the season, we will not empty the tank.  We do add Sta-Bil to the tank.  After each trip, we disconnect the hose from the tank to the motor at the tank with the motor running so as to exhaust all fuel both in the hose and in the engine.  We found that leaving fuel in the hose stunk up the boat and leaving fuel in the motor for an extended period gummed up the carb. What is really surprising is that once the hose is disconnected from the tank, it takes a good 15-20 minutes for all the fuel to burn-off. Little wonder we can't use 2.5 gallons of gas in an entire season.
>
> The final lesson learned is to keep the fuel tank vent slightly cracked open even when storing the tank.  Otherwise, pressure builds up in the tank and eventually gas starts to blow past the seals.  The tank directions also recommend doing this but in our case, Field's Law prevailed - If Field has a 50/50 chance of doing something right or wrong the first time, 90% of the time Field will do it wrong the first time...
>
> We also purchased a Honda 2000 generator.  It will not start a 12,000 BTU air conditioner.  However, it will run the microwave, outlets and charger fine.  We store ours in the anchor well and have the factory cover (extra cost) in place.  However, we do not carry spare gas cans on board. If we did, I imagine that I would lash them to a side stanchion somehow but again, these motors use so little fuel that carrying spare just is not necessary.
>
> We did see another Catalina on this trip with the Honda generator. They removed the seat between the 2 aft lockers and store their generator in that space.  The geneator stuck out maybe 6 inches past the seat.  This may be something we do in the future as since installing the NavPod for the chartplotter, that seat has become virtually worthless anyway as we can no longer see forward under the instrument pod.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Allan S. Field
> Sea Shadow - #808
> Columbia, MD
> -------------- Original message -------------- 
> From: Scott Thompson <sthompson at toad.net> 
>
>   
>> I'm in the market for an outboard for a dinghy and possibly for one of 
>> the Honda 2000 generators that Orlando is keen on. Questions: Where do 
>> others secure their outboards when not on the dinghy? Do the Johnson or 
>> Edson mounting brackets work well on the stern rail of a 1999 vintage 
>> 320? What kind of weight limit are we talking about to use these? 
>> Also, where do others store a spare gas can on board? 
>>
>> Scott Thompson 
>> Surprise, 653 
>>
>>
>>