Stowing a small outboard

[hebert01]

For those of you that own a small outboard with an integrated fuel tank, I'm curious to know whether they're safe to stow in a horizontal position without the risk of fuel leakage. I'd like to get a new four-stroke low HP outboard as auxilliary for my Ensign, and for convenience sake I like the ones with the built-in fuel tanks. Only disclaimer is that I don't want it hanging off my transom unless I absolutely need it (which hopefully won't be often). I'd like to keep it tucked away in my cabin otherwise. I worry about fuel leakage.

Anyone tried it? Thanks

[Summersdawn]

I wouldn't store fuel in my cabin, either in a jerry can or a fuel tank. If you would like to store the engine in your cabin (which is a good idea - much less likely to get stolen), I would buy one with an external tank, and keep the tank in the cockpit, or a well ventilated lazerette. Mind you, this is The Plastic Classic forum, so how about an internal fuel tank, tucked away underneath your cockpit, and an outboard you can store in your cabin...

[Hirilondë]

When I raced an Ensign in the early 80s we had a small Johnson with a built in tank. An outboard was required gear. We just closed the vent and tank, ran it dry and stuck it in the cabin. So did everyone else in the fleet and at Nationals. If I recall, we put the motor/tank end in a dish pan just in case it leaked.

The 'cabin' on an Ensign is more of a big lazarette anyway. I would however make sure you have good ventilation and a means to secure it well. I don't know what ABYC or anyone else thinks of this idea any more, but it was common practice.

[Tim]

The huge bilge of an Ensign will nicely hold most small outboards and I think is a common location for storage while sailing (racing).

When I had my Ensign, I stored the motor (external tank) in the cabin; I pretty much only used it for launching and haulout, or the occasional trip to the dock. The tank stayed out in the cockpit.

I would suggest that common sense rules the day here. There probably aren't any spark-producing things on your boat anyway, but obviously you should take a realistic modicum of care when storing anything containing gasoline. Don't let this stop you from stowing a motor with internal tank in the cabin, but a means of collecting any spillage--like a dishpan--is probably prudent just in case.

And don't hang out in the cabin and smoke stogies while reclining on the engine. (As if there was any part of this sentence that made sense in an Ensign...)

I miss my Ensign. I will almost surely have another someday.

[hebert01]

Thanks to all for your suggestions. You all make good sense.

Tim, I'll admit that I'm envious of all you guys that have more "creature comforts" and can get away for that long cruise. I've slept a few nights under the Ensign's boom tent, and it's not a lifestyle I can recommend to the faint of heart. However, 95% of the sailing I do would probably always be daysailing anyway. So from that standpoint, I feel lucky to have such an easy, uncomplicated setup that gets me on the water anytime the wind and weather are right. Still, any time you want to trade Glissando for Allegra, just give me a holler. :-)

[Ancient Race]

I miss my Ensign. I will almost surely have another someday.

When my insurance company offers a fleet discount . . .

We have a large and very active Ensign fleet here - the Nationals were at Edgewater last year. It's a great day sailer and a very stable platform for neophytes. OTOH, they'll stand up to big weather. Some of my greatest sailing memories are in Ensigns.

As Tim said, almost all of the fleet here stows the motor in the bilge - and the external tank as well. Although yanking a larger motor off the stern underway can result in some interesting, and carefully choreographed, dances twixt the afterdeck and the cockpit . . .