Outboards, mounted inboard?

Hello everyone,

Around the marina in my river I've seen catamarans with outboards mounted in between the two hulls, not on a transom or anything but just underneath the hull in a well sort of thing to conceal them. They are single outboards and I'm just wondering how the maneuverablility is with them as I may design a small displacement catamaran with a single inboard the is concealed in the area beneath the deck and between the two hulls.

I'm also wondering if anyone has hidden an outboard in a monohull in a well so that the outboard is still steerable?

Has anyone done this before?

Thank you

 

No reason why you cant. Best suited to low power , low speed. Google around.

http://www.dhylanboats.com/tophat_plans.html

 

Years ago we used to mount the outboard in a well through the cockpit sole on a board . was just in front of the strut and main rudder when sailing there was a moulded bucket that would slide in the hole and was the shape of the hull so all was sweet and smooth . steerable with the motor or the main rudder and had reverse with a charging circut !That was 25 plus years ago .

 

What is the setup called when the outboard is mounted like that? Because it isn't really in a well, and I assume it is steerable in there.

 

There are several designs for small powerboats that call for a steerable outboard in a well forward of the transom, these are usually a traditional type design so the lines can remain clean.

These pictures are of a local type called a mullet skiff. The engines are in wells forward to allow the working of nets aft. These boats plane and run very well and unless you see the motors placement you would never know about the unusual configuration.

Steve

 

The term is usually a "well", if you search boatpoint or similar for "Endeavour" yachts particularily 26' & 24' with 6 or 8 hp, there will be pics, usually just as tunnels has described, you could make them steerable if everything has clearance for that.

 

You could also look at the Melgus 32' which uses an outboard in a well for an example on a sailboat.