electric motor

Probably not! My 50lbs thrust Minn Kota was only used to get me out of the sheltered dyke where my boat was moored or when the wind failed, rather than blowing in the wrong direction. If there was wind I always sailed, even if it was in the wrong direction!

When Tony said this:

Tony Bennett wrote

Greg's Seahawk is powered by a very adequate electric motor - testing in that wind yesterday showed she would maintain steerage way and even make some ground head to wind with both sails up but the sheets loose. Impressive.

it was an October afternoon fifteen years ago. It was blowing a Force 5 or 6 across a 600-hectare lake. There was no tide and waves no more than 20cm high. I do believe that it was impressive for a small electric motor to fight against against all the wind resistance of a fully rigged SeaHawk.

However, I don't think I'd rely on it on the waters that you'll be on. A 4hp long shaft engine is what the old SeaHawk brochures recommend and I believe that to be good advice. When my father bought his SeaHawk, Reedcraft supplied him with a 3.5HP Yamaha two-stroke engine.

I would have had complete confidence in that to do the job in any waters I'd dare take a SeaHawk. I have seen SeaHawks fitted with larger engines, but they weigh a lot more and dig the stern deeper, especially if hung on a rising engine bracket. As you have to sit nearer the transom to control an outboard, so move even more weight to the back of the boat, you don't go any faster. You just go slower and generate more wash.

---