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Author Topic:   Harpoon 4.6 Auxiliary Engine

PeteB88 posted 11-03-2014 11:40 AM ET (US)
I have a Harpoon 4.6 I picked up last year or maybe longer from a Catholic priest who was original owner. It is in great shape, from what I can tell but I have not had a chance to rig it and sail her. And we ran out of summer here in west Michigan. I intended to get it out mid-September until I found out a month ago the boat storage buried it in the back of the facility so no chance for any Indian Summer sailing. And that's about over too.
I have a chance to pick up what appears to be a sweet Evinrude 2-HP, Belgium tag, for a great price. I am curious if any Harpoon sailors out there use a kicker on 4.6? I also have two Minnkota trolling motors but instinct is not to mess with batteries, but not sure. I'm fishin' for answers.
My practical, safe-side says get a kicker on her because of some of the places I might be sailing or needing to get to. For example, out and back through Grand Haven, Muskegon channels, maybe Mona Lake if I can drop the mast easy to get under the bridge and maybe 10 to 20 mile cruises to Whitehall or Holland. Motor could help maneuvering during busy times too.
I know some of you are experienced 4.6 and 5.2 sailors, I'm rusty, been a lot of years since Laser and Hobie 16 and 18 days. Your thoughts?
adlert posted 11-03-2014 02:15 PM ET (US)
Hello PeteB88. I am an ex-Harpoon 4.6 owner and though I never actually put a kicker on my boat, I did have plans to had I not decided to sell her. For longer trips and/or trickier situations as you describe you might get into, it would give great piece of mind IMO and also encourage some adventures that you might not otherwise attempt. It's a beautiful boat by the way, I really think you're going to enjoy it.
I weighed the power choices just as you are doing. I was leaning towards using my clamp-on trolling motor and securing a sealed, lawnmower-type battery on the flat pad centered directly in front of the transom. I judged it would likely have enough capacity for my needs but of course this was never actually tested.
Since my troller is so light and just uses alligator clips for the battery connection, I figured I would likely also devise a method for securely storing it onboard (likely forward to be more out of the way) until such times I needed to use it.
Note that the 4.6 transom was built to accept a small
trolling motor as is. It needs no additional reinforcement. I can't remember for sure what the HP limit is but I recall it being 4HP.
Jeff posted 11-03-2014 03:02 PM ET (US)
Pete, I would definitely go with a kicker if you plan to out of the Grand River in Grand Haven. I myself would only put a gas powered kicker on the boat. I would look for a 2-HP to 4-HP motor that has a fuel tank built-in.
PeteB88 posted 11-03-2014 10:35 PM ET (US)
Have an Evinrude 2 HP spotted, Belgium made. I think it makes a lot of sense to have a little kicker in conditions we have here - Muskegon or Grand Haven. Good motor?
weekendwarrior posted 11-05-2014 11:53 AM ET (US)
I bought a 2.3hp Honda for my brother, it's a sweet little motor. Air cooled, quieter than I expected and super light weight. The second or third time he used it they flipped the canoe and it spent some time under water. He got it restarted and used it the rest of the day, then brought it home and replaced the fluids and it runs like nothing ever happened. If a motor that small will work, then I definitely recommend the Honda.
PeteB88 posted 11-05-2014 11:19 PM ET (US)
I saw the Evinrude Junior tonight, it's a 1.2 HP confirmed by model number search. Cute for sure but it has nothing to secure it when tilted up. There is a curious cam thing on the shaft that secures the motor 90 degrees but down. I think that's all you get - motor would drag in the water but position makes it less likely to have rudder effect. Strange. Needs work, starts, runs only with choke out.

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Author	Topic: Harpoon 4.6 Auxiliary Engine
PeteB88	posted 11-03-2014 11:40 AM ET (US) I have a Harpoon 4.6 I picked up last year or maybe longer from a Catholic priest who was original owner. It is in great shape, from what I can tell but I have not had a chance to rig it and sail her. And we ran out of summer here in west Michigan. I intended to get it out mid-September until I found out a month ago the boat storage buried it in the back of the facility so no chance for any Indian Summer sailing. And that's about over too. I have a chance to pick up what appears to be a sweet Evinrude 2-HP, Belgium tag, for a great price. I am curious if any Harpoon sailors out there use a kicker on 4.6? I also have two Minnkota trolling motors but instinct is not to mess with batteries, but not sure. I'm fishin' for answers. My practical, safe-side says get a kicker on her because of some of the places I might be sailing or needing to get to. For example, out and back through Grand Haven, Muskegon channels, maybe Mona Lake if I can drop the mast easy to get under the bridge and maybe 10 to 20 mile cruises to Whitehall or Holland. Motor could help maneuvering during busy times too. I know some of you are experienced 4.6 and 5.2 sailors, I'm rusty, been a lot of years since Laser and Hobie 16 and 18 days. Your thoughts?
adlert	posted 11-03-2014 02:15 PM ET (US) Hello PeteB88. I am an ex-Harpoon 4.6 owner and though I never actually put a kicker on my boat, I did have plans to had I not decided to sell her. For longer trips and/or trickier situations as you describe you might get into, it would give great piece of mind IMO and also encourage some adventures that you might not otherwise attempt. It's a beautiful boat by the way, I really think you're going to enjoy it. I weighed the power choices just as you are doing. I was leaning towards using my clamp-on trolling motor and securing a sealed, lawnmower-type battery on the flat pad centered directly in front of the transom. I judged it would likely have enough capacity for my needs but of course this was never actually tested. Since my troller is so light and just uses alligator clips for the battery connection, I figured I would likely also devise a method for securely storing it onboard (likely forward to be more out of the way) until such times I needed to use it. Note that the 4.6 transom was built to accept a small trolling motor as is. It needs no additional reinforcement. I can't remember for sure what the HP limit is but I recall it being 4HP.
Jeff	posted 11-03-2014 03:02 PM ET (US) Pete, I would definitely go with a kicker if you plan to out of the Grand River in Grand Haven. I myself would only put a gas powered kicker on the boat. I would look for a 2-HP to 4-HP motor that has a fuel tank built-in.
PeteB88	posted 11-03-2014 10:35 PM ET (US) Have an Evinrude 2 HP spotted, Belgium made. I think it makes a lot of sense to have a little kicker in conditions we have here - Muskegon or Grand Haven. Good motor?
weekendwarrior	posted 11-05-2014 11:53 AM ET (US) I bought a 2.3hp Honda for my brother, it's a sweet little motor. Air cooled, quieter than I expected and super light weight. The second or third time he used it they flipped the canoe and it spent some time under water. He got it restarted and used it the rest of the day, then brought it home and replaced the fluids and it runs like nothing ever happened. If a motor that small will work, then I definitely recommend the Honda.
PeteB88	posted 11-05-2014 11:19 PM ET (US) I saw the Evinrude Junior tonight, it's a 1.2 HP confirmed by model number search. Cute for sure but it has nothing to secure it when tilted up. There is a curious cam thing on the shaft that secures the motor 90 degrees but down. I think that's all you get - motor would drag in the water but position makes it less likely to have rudder effect. Strange. Needs work, starts, runs only with choke out.