RT-27OB draft with kicker motor only ?

[ixlr8]

Hi,
We are looking at some waterfront property that at low tide barely has enough draft for the 27OB with the main engine down. Not wanting to cut it so close, I was wondering if anybody knew the draft of the 27OB with the main engine up and just the kicker down? Presently we don't have a kicker but would add one if it meant the difference of being able to buy this property or not.
TIA-

 

[dgiles]

Too low of a tide wouldn't be the end of the world. If you are that close and the boat is still floating, the lowest tide is only there for an hour or two. You may just need to plan around it. The bigger concern to me would be if the area went dry and the boat is sitting on the bottom quite often.

 

[Brian98133]

I'm admittedly not at the boat right now... but I would guesstimate the skeg-to-skeg difference at about 12". That's with the long-shaft, which is recommended if using for slow cruising or trolling like I do. You can get shorter shaft 9.9's, so maybe that would help. But it wouldn't be as effective for the cruise/troll aspect.

However, trimmed up, the main engine will give you about the same clearance. That's what I do when in the shallows (trying to avoid those at all costs!)... trim the main and go sloooowwwwww. :mrgreen:

There's a learning curve in maneuvering trimmed up that high, but it's easily learned.

 

[Kimberly Dawn]

Hi Jim,

I have Suzuki motors, so there could be some incremental differences if you have Yamahas...

Here are my drafts:
Keel = -24"
Kicker (long shaft) = -30"
Main = -39 1/2"

Hope this helps...

Bob
The Doghouse 2

 

[ixlr8]

Thanks for the feedback. The water at the house is deep enough to handle the 33" of draft with main engine down. But at the mouth of the creek where it meets the main river, it is very shallow. All I need is to get over that shallow strip and I am good to go. Neighbor there had a boat with 17" draft and during the lowest of tides, he couldn't make it across the strip. The water body is the Chesapeake Bay and there is not much of a tidal change, ~2ft from hi to low tide, unlike the 10ft here in Maine. It looks like with a properly set up kicker motor, it will work.