Comments and tips

 

 

-         We found with this boat the steering cable is very tight in the transom. Attention should be given to this area prior to building the motor well.

-         Remember to keep strength in mind, build as the plan details. This boat takes a beating in a big chop at the speeds it travels. I have had the battery break free of its housing.

-         If you have any other suggestions please send them to me.

-         Motors and there size.

 In conversations with Ken Bassett about the recent interest in 4/s motors the following conclusions were made.

Ken recommends that you stay with a 2/s motor. The boat was designed for this motor. The 4/s was not even considered in 1989.

The main reason for this is the weight of the 60hp 4/s its 40lbs heavier then the 2stroke. The boat was designed for the 2/s and the additional weight at the transom will have at least two problems. The first is the strength of the transom. Since the boat was not designed for this weight increase additional reinforcement would be required.

The second problem is the trim of the boat. This boat is very sensitive to trim adjustment. Adding the weight will cause the boat to porpoise at planning speeds.

I was the first to put the 60hp4/s motor on the rascal that Ken knows about, and I have been a good test case. I have spoken to him to try and correct the problems.

 I have the boat working well now with trim tabs, something I tried prior to talking with Ken.  Knowing what I know now, after all the testing and adjusting of the motor I would have gone with the two stoke. The boats top speed with the configuration I have at present is only 45mph with a slight chop on the lake.

In Kens Words.

If a builder installs a 4 stroke motor,which as you have found out pushes the limit of engine weight, they will have to install wedgers between the transom and motor mount so that any porpoising can be trimmed out by tucking the motor until a good running attitude is attained. I question the necessity for installing trim tabs. Since the original had wedges that were 5/8" tapering to 0" at the bottom of the mount, I expect that the heavier motors would require 1" or greater at the top of the wedge, and remain 0" at the bottom. In the end, a motor weighing ~230 is definitely most desireable.