Hi I'm David

[DavidA]

I am aged 67, and retired. Have been working as a volunteer with Sailability out of Langstone SC. I normally drive our safety boat , a purpose built landing craft type vessel that accepts wheel chairs. This year however it is out for repairs, so I bought my own sib to provide some sort of cover as well as have some fun.

My Sib is a Honwave T27 which was initially powered by a 4hp mariner 2 stroke but this was replaced by a Yamaha F4 4 stroke as this allowed the use of an auxilliary tank.

With the tank I can go further afield and have visited East Head and Itchenor , 10 mile and 14 mile round trips respectively.

On the Itchenor trip I encountered a strong head wind over the tide I was riding and got drenched so my thoughts are turning to a spray hood.

It will be the usual canvas and tent pole arrangement. My only concern is how to anchor the ends of the tent poles to the sponson. Any suggestions welcome.

Also would a 6hp 4 stroke get this Sib on a plane?

Best regards to All.

David A

[ChrisParish]

Hi David and to the forum.

I used to get my zodiac 310 on the plane with a 5hp 2 stroke, so unless you weigh more than me (unlikely) I would have thought you’d be ok.

I too am looking to make a spray canopy - I have bought the parts and just need to make it. I am thinking of using Webbing straps with pockets sewn into them as the anchor points.

Chris.

[Cliff]

to the forum David

[chris moody]

Hi David and welcome to the forum. I used to have a T32 with a 9.8hp and that went really well, managing 16kts two up.

With the T27 I’d be looking out for a nice condition 8 HP 2 stroke, which will be lightweight and give masses of power when you want it.

[DavidA]

Thanks for the advice guys. The webbing idea looks like a winner.

I'm inclining towards 4 stroke engines because, on my first long foray with the Mariner 4hp 2 stroke, upon reaching East Head in Chichester Harbour some 5 miles from Langstone my engine refused to start despite a plug change.

A passing rib kindly towed me back to Northney Marina, and as soon as he departed I tried the engine again and it started first pull!

Since then I have bought an ultrasonic cleaner and all the tools to dismantle a carburreter. My 4 hp Yamaha got the treatment and starts first pull.

Perhaps if I had done the same to the Yamaha it would also be as good but I sold it. Am I wrong in thinking small 4 strokes more reliable than 2 strokes?

[chris moody]

I don’t think there is any difference reliability wise between 2 or 4 strokes. The issue is that most 2 strokes are now over 12 years old.

[chris moody]

The problem with 8hp 4 strokes is that they all weigh over 40kg, which is a lot of weight on the back end of a 2.7m Sib (and a lot of weight to manhandle on and off the transom). The same hp 2 stroke will be around 27kg.

I generally prefer 4 strokes, but in the 8 to 10 hp range the two strokes win hands down due to weight savings. Hence why out of my four outboards I own three of them are 4 strokes, but the 9.8hp is a 2 stroke.

[The Hobbit]

The issue is that most 2 strokes are now over 12 years old.

Mine is 33 years old Chris and is as sweet as a nut. and very punchy

[chris moody]

I’m rather hoping my 2016 2 stroke will last 30 + years, and I’ve no reason to suspect it will not as it will be meticulously cleaned and serviced throughout that time. In another 20 years I’ll be hanging my sailing boots up for good and that engine can then go to another loving home.

However there are a lot of abused 12 year old engines out there for sale, regardless of if they are 2 or 4 stroke.

The issue is that most 2 strokes are now over 12 years old.

Mine is 33 years old Chris and is as sweet as a nut. and very punchy

[DavidA]

Well I finally bit the bullet and bought a Yamaha 6hp four stroke for my T27 Honwave. Hopefully it will plane now! The motor is a 2015 F6 CMHS, freshwater use only and little used.

My existing engine, a Yamaha 4hp four stroke I overhauled by stripping the carb to component parts and ultrasonically cleaning, using a carburetter solvent. After which it started on its very first pull.

Have assembled the complete kit needed for a spray canopy and this is on the to do list before next season. It will be bright red to improve my visibility to other vessels!