|
Sail-World.com : One hull, ten outboards - such is our disposable world
One hull, ten outboards - such is our disposable world
|
My father has owned the same 18ft fibreglass trailer sailer for 42 years. It has had two mainsails, one new spinnaker and one new genoa … but is about to get its tenth auxiliary outboard.
The first Seagull outboard was followed by another, which had a user-friendly clutch. Then came an air-cooled Mariner 5, which should’ve come with earplugs. The Chrysler 15 was a dog that didn’t deserve to be fed – it lasted about six months.
 | The 42-year hull has had a lick of paint while nine outboards have come and gone. - Andrew Short Marine |
The Evinrude 6s, by comparison, were great motors that gave quite a few years good service.
We bought the Yamaha 8 to share with another boat, only to have to share it with thieves.
The Johnson 4 was chosen for its light weight when Dad began to advance in years – a grandchild destroyed the gearbox by revving the motor before engaging the gear. It was replaced by another 4 that ran perfectly for six years, only to start proving unreliable last summer.
I’m just about to order a Honda 5 to replace it – we’re going 4-stroke for the first time.
I’m reminded of two things. One is the marvel of fibreglass, the hull remaining as solid as the day it was born. Second, is the fact we live in a truly disposable world.
With small motors – like whitegoods – the cost of parts and servicing soon outweighs the point of keeping it. Unless you’re a tinkerer, often you’re better off just buying a new motor with warranty.
It’s a shame, but what price do you put on reliability?
by Mark Rothfield
Click on the FB Like link to post this story to your FB wall
http://www.powerboat-world.com/index.cfm?nid=89427
11:32 AM Fri 14 Oct 2011 GMT
Click here for printer friendly version
Click here to send us feedback or comments about this story.
Click for further information on
Powerboat-World.com Editorial
Related News Stories:
MORE STORIES ...
|
|
|
Our Advertisers are committed to our sport, please support them!
This site and its contents are © Copyright TetraMedia Pty. Ltd and/or the original author, photographer etc. All Rights Reserved.
Photographs are copyright by law. If you wish to use or buy a photograph you must contact the photographer directly (there is a hyperlink in most cases to their website, or do a Google search.) with your request.
Please do not contact Sail-World.com as we cannot give permission for use of other photographer’s images.
Only if the photographer named on the image is Sail-world.com, Powerboat-world.com or Marinebusiness-world.com
Contact us
.
Ph: +61 2 4977 2116 fax: +61 2 4977 2528
or complete our
feedback form
Contact us
.
View our Privacy Policy.
[ Go Home]
[ Banner Advertising Specification]
[Bot Archive ]
Customised news feeds -Marine Industry companies, Clubs and Associations have their own customised version of our Sail-World news feed on their website.
Look_here_to_see_examples
|
| | |
