Outboard Motors

Can I draw on the collective expertise of the DCA through your columns? I need to know more than I do about outboard motors.

We sail a Leader, mostly off Studland Beach in Dorset. In the past we've sailed it in Poole Harbour, but the launching arrangements that we had there folded, and Studland certainly has compensating attractions. But we'd like to be able to sail back into Poole Harbour for day outings. In terms of distance from Studland is theoretically no problem, but I quail at going through the harbour entrance, with the chain ferry, relying on sail alone. And with two children the fun might go out of it if the wind dropped and the "sail" became a long slog by oar.

I know so little about outboards that such asking as I've done in chandlers has proved unsatisfactory - and conflicting. And they all seem to know so little about the needs of a dinghy. So any help from your readers with any of these questions would be brilliant.

For a 14 foot Leader (composite) what size of outboard do I need? (As far as weight is concerned, our two adults and two children must amount to nearly four adults, so it's a hefty load.)

Are there any makes that readers would particularly recommend - and any to shun?

Is electric a possibility, if I'm sailing on the sea? I've been told that electric is only realistic in freshwater, because of corrosion, and I've also been told it's not a problem.

Would electric be powerful enough for the sea (only intended for fair weather sailing, but you never know)? If it would, what power does one need for this size of boat?

How do I overcome the problem that it's touch and go whether I can start a pull motor on a lawnmower? I don't want the same problems at sea in an emergency!

Does anyone have views on the relative merits of petrol and diesel?

How do electric, petrol and diesel compare for maintenance?

How do I get the thing on holiday, given that we're also taking camping gear? Are they smelly / do they leak fuel if they travel in the boot? Are they too heavy to travel in the boat itself (which would have quite a bit of other stuff) or in else a medium-sized box trailer (we trail both - but not on the same car at the same time!).

What is the best way to go about actually fixing the outboard to the dinghy (fibreglass hull, wooden gunwhales)? It’s 30 years old now, and came with a rather strange looking outboard ‘sleeve’ intended, I think, to sit over the gunwhale, but neither we nor the previous owners have ever used it and the passage of years means it no longer resembles the shape of the boat. I feel it would have been rather precarious anyway, but I suppose gravity would have held everything together?

What questions should I be asking that I haven't even thought about?!

So much of this must be so obvious once you know how, but we'd rather not make all possible mistakes while finding out.

Oh, and finally, does anyone have any particular advice about the entrance to Poole Harbour? I know it can be difficult, quite apart from the ferry. I don't remember the details, but a couple of years ago it was reported in the national press that a dinghy sailor (experienced) was nearly drowned in an accident NE of the entrance which I think involved a freak wind.

Please share your expertise! There are lots of less experienced sailors out here who are really grateful to the more experienced who take the time to put pen to paper in the Bulletin.

Judith Morris