NIH Sailing Association Motor Instructions

Read the instructions:

• 2 1/2 HP Gas Engine
• Electric Motor

Print the PDF's:

• 2 1/2 HP Gas Engine (PDF - 9 KB)
• Electric Motor (PDF - 9 KB)

2 1/2 HP Gas Engine Instructions
(Last updated: April 2007)

(1) Check motor log page in logbook to determine condition of engine.

(2) Fill gas tank from portable red plastic tank marked “Oil and Gas Mixture Only”.

If there is no oil and gas mixture, take large metal red tank and its spout to gas station and buy exactly one gallon of gasoline. Pour half of this into red plastic tank. Using the green measuring cup on the shelf above the motors, measure 1 1/4 to 2 1/2 oz (37 1/2 to 75 ml) of 2-cycle motor oil (do not use other oils!) and add to red plastic tank. Measure 1/4 to 1/2 oz Stab-il (also on shelf over motors) and add. Slosh tank to mix, add remaining gasoline, and close and slosh tank again.

(3) Mount the motor mount on the permanently installed steel mount on the stern of the boat. Then mount the gas engine on the motor mount.

(4) Attach lanyard to ring on transom so as not to lose engine. (If top of engine is submerged in an accident: do not use, enter problem on motor log page in logbook, and notify the boat sponsor.)

(5) Test-start engine at the dock. This engine is not very reliable.

To start: open vent on gas cap on gas tank. Pump rubber fuel bulb a few times. Making sure the multifunction control on the left of the front of the engine is open (turned fully counterclockwise – this should never be closed), pull out and push in the multifunction control three or four times to prime engine. Leave control with red “O” ring fully exposed. If control is pushed in all the way, engine will lean out and stop. Do not fiddle with the valve in the center.

Set the throttle on top of the engine halfway down the narrow part of the wedge. Never try to open the throttle as far as the double athwartship line above the “official” starting position; the engine will not start, or if running will lean out and stop. The small range of the throttle is from almost the point of the wedge (dead slow) to near the bottom of the narrow part of the wedge (just above the double athwartship line).

Pull cord until engine starts. If it does not start after a few pulls, try pumping the multifunction control a couple more times.

Stop engine by shutting the throttle. Do not shut off the gas by turning the multifunction control clockwise! Doing so will make the engine very difficult to start next time.

(6) When you are finished using the motor, reverse the procedure and store the engine and motor mount in the shed. Be sure the gas cap vent is closed. Log usage and any problems on the motor log page in the logbook.

Electric Motor Instructions
(Last updated: April 2007)

Check motor log page in logbook to determine charge state of battery.

Mount the motor mount on the permanently installed steel mount on the stern of the boat. Then mount the motor on the motor mount.

Attach lanyard to ring on transom so as not to lose motor. (If top of motor is submerged in an accident: do not use, enter problem on motor log page in logbook, and notify the boat sponsor.)

Run cord over aft deck so that the tiller will clear it. NEVER PULL ON CORD. Make sure the handle is rotated to its center (off) position; the detent will click.

Remove red plastic cap from battery and slide along charger wire. Run red wire from motor cord alongside charger wire through the plastic cap, remove wing nut, add red wire connector to charger wire connector, and replace wing nut. Do not remove charger connector. Carefully replace red plastic cap. (This is important – a boathook or boom crutch falling across the battery terminals could ruin your day.) Connect the black lead from the motor cord to the black terminal of the battery in the same fashion.

To power forward, rotate handle clockwise; to power aft, counter-clockwise. A fully charged battery should last 4-6 hours at full speed, enough to get you back from Annapolis in a calm. Do not expect the motor to drive you into strong winds; you are on a sailboat.

After you are finished using the motor, reverse the procedure and store the motor in the shed. IMPORTANT: log the motor running time on the motor log page in the logbook. If you were running the motor at less than full speed, estimate the full-speed equivalent from the graph on top of the motor. We need an accurate log of running time to keep the battery charged.

Should you wish to charge the battery yourself, allow three hours charging to one hour running. Just plug in the charger using the extension cord. (You do know better than to risk dropping the live end of an extension cord in the water!)

A red light alone on the charger (after one minute to build up the “surface charge”) means the battery needs substantial charging. Red and green lights together mean the battery is almost charged and is being topped off at low current. Green light alone means the battery is fully charged; the charger can then be unplugged.

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