inboards vs outboards. Some sailing 'purists' wouldn't get caught dead with a eggbeater
on their boat. Sailing by it's name indicates that the engine is secondary to the sails (unless
it does not work) and in reality it is boat size that determines which is most practicle. In
boats under 26 ft, except in the most unusual designs, the space required for a inboard
can not be sacrificed. in boats over 30-32 feet, the need for more horsepower makes a
outboard to big to handle. Between these ranges, the typ of power used depends on the
boat itself, and how and were you are going to use it. It may also be found that among
sailers who use outboards, there is a debate between the 'bracketeers' (those who hang
their engine off the transom, and the 'well boys'. Again, boat design is a factor in this
issue. The smallest boats can ill afford to lose valuable space to an engine well.
Small outboard motors are built today to be lighter and easier to handle. Fiberglass
sailboats of today no longer look like their wood counterparts and are designed to
maximize space for living. A small to mid size boat today has far more room to live
in than a similarly sized boat of yesterday. They are designed with aft berths on the
inside and swim platforms on the outside. All these changes have resulted in a
significant reduction in the number of boats designed with engine wells.
the Capri 26, built between 1965 and 1967, and the Capitan 26, built between 1966 and
1967. their third 26 footer, the Pawnee 26, had a outboard cutout at the transom and
provided for a inboard option. Intercompany memos indicate that the Chris Craft Sales
Department requested the outboard well over the objections of Sparkman & Stephens.
There is also indication that Chris Craft architects were heavily involved in this aspect
of the boat designs. Continued revisions by Chris Craft failed to satisfy Sparkman &
Stephens, who prefered brackets. It was not until 20 days after the first Capri 26 hull
was layed up that the final decision was made to proceed.
identify as the lazarette. It has a motor mounting plate at the forward end and the engine
extends into the cockpit thru a opening. The most interesting part of the design was the
device intended to close the hole when the motor was not in use. This assembly included
a fairing plate and strongback which fit into indentions on either side of the well. This
hold down bar forced the gasketed closing plate into position. The engine well was
designed to accomodate engines of up to 10 hp. When racing, the engine would be pulled
up and layed across the width of the well. Unfortunatly, this prevented the storage of
gas tanks in the shelves on either side of the well.
the closing device originally provided for these boats. Some have gone to motors as big
as 15 hp and many, like myself (who uses a 9.9), leave the well open, the engine fixed, and
gas tank(s) stored in the sides of the well (I don't race so drag is not a major concern). I
have heard of no problems related to the engine well design.
