These are certainly interesting.

[Rick B.]

A pair of small inexpensive diesel outboard engines!

http://www.morganequipment.net/page13.html

[jem]

that is interesting. I wonder why these aren't more popular?

Are they heavy? The weights look heavy.

[Rick B.]

The 10 hp unit is 165 lbs!

I don't know about you Matt, but I'm certainly not going to grab one of these out of the back of my truck and pack it any where !

[jem]

The 10 hp unit is 165 lbs!

I don't know about you Matt, but I'm certainly not going to grab one of these out of the back of my truck and pack it any where !

I'm just not familiar.

I helped a guy with a power boat and he had a 25hp around 200lbs if I remeber correctly.

[Rick B.]

Maybe 165 lbs. isn't so bad, it is a diesel and those almost always weigh more than their gas counter parts.

But still, 165 seems a tad heavy for a 10 horse outboard.

I wish I knew more about the manufacturer. Do they have a good track record, do they hold up?

I think I'll contact their US importer and see what their propaganda is.

By the way Matt, do you know anything about the British Seagull outboards?

[jem]

I don't much about the different brands of outboards. That's why I stick to mostly paddle boats!!

[banoe]

165 lb is very heavy for a 10 hp outboard. Normal is about 50 lb. I dont think my 50 hp Evenrude weighs that much. Those deisels must be for a large displacement hull craft I would think they would sink a small boat.

British Seagulls were made to push displacement hulls at slower speeds just look at there lower unit and wind mill prop. They are not like the modern americian outboards designed to push small light skiffs at plaining speeds I do think they were pretty reliable simply built and easy to repair. All though I dont know where you could find parts for one in the states.
If you are looking for a motor for a displacement hull most of the major manufactures have been building sail boat motors for years they often have a larger prop and a bigger gearcase for pushing sail boats in the 22-28 ft range.

[Rick B.]

See banoe my thinking in regards to the Seagull was that they would do a good job of pushing say a 20' boat up stream on our local rivers while being both inexpensive to buy and operate.

[banoe]

Can you buy a seagull anywhere? do they still make them?

Still think you could use a 9.9 hp motor set up to push sailboats and do just as well.

My dad had a 26' sail boat with a normal 9.9 evenrude and it pushed it quite well i guess it went 7-8 knots flat out. Reverse was the hardest thing with outboard you don't get good bite with the prop it cavates from the exaust. With a good wind it can get Quite interesting some times.

[Rick B.]

First I'll answer your questions..........

Yes, you can easily find preowned Seagulls for sale from companies that specialise in Seagulls to eBay.

No, they are no longer in production, they ceased production in the mid 90's as I understand it.

Now the company still exists but their only producing spare parts to keep the gazillion or so Seagulls going that have been built since the 30's when they first were introduced. I've shared their website below

http://www.britishseagull.co.uk/

My deal is this, I'll have to wait to purchase the engine/drive set up I really want, and a new Mercury 9.9 hp bigfoot cost $2000+

I can get a rebuilt Seagull for around $400.

I think I'll go with the Seagull while I wait on the diesel rig.

Are you with me?