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Message board > Engines > Engine advice appreciated

Message 14 of 14
Posted by member Simon Kidd on Tuesday 16 October 2012

Charles. It's possible, though the main engine and prop cause some drag, so may make the going a bit slow. Also, at low speeds the boat will steer far better using the directional thrust of the auxiliary. I've used the Auxiliary a few times on Navigators and Pilots for practice, and though ok in a straight line "Cruise", i tiller steered the boat in to her mooring using the Aux engine. Simple and easy.

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Message 13 of 14
Posted by member Charles Clarke on Saturday 13 October 2012

Could anyone tell me if a Hardy 20 can be steered by the main engine, a Honda 45 hp, while the auxiliary is in use. I use my boat on the river and broads only.

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Message 12 of 14
Posted by member The Gribbin Tribe on Monday 28 May 2012

Hi Phil. Don't know whether this is of much help but we had our Hardy 20 (Jura Pilot) moored at Southwold, Suffolk for two years and cruised up and down the Suffolk/Norfolk coast from Cromer to Ipswich, always in fair weather. Certainly, as far as the boat itself goes the Hardy 20 is more than capable of dealing with the East Coast rivers and tidal approaches-with the right engine set up. Although we have a big engined Hardy 20(75hp outboard) I am sure given sensible tidal pre-planning a 28hp is possible. However personally, for sheer piece of mind and marjin of safety should you need to run for cover or push into a foul tide, I would want at least a 50hp...from our experience. At over 1 tonne, I believe the HARDY 20 needs that extra power for comfortable and safe coastal cruising. A 28hp diesel is an engine more suitable for shletered inland navigation. Sorry to be a kill joy...just my opinion. Plenty of bigger engined Hardy Pilots out there for sale(inboard or outboard). Can't help on the overheating front I'm afraid. Regards and hope you find what you are looking for Dominic and the Griblets.

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Message 11 of 14
Posted by member Phil Cohen on Thursday 24 May 2012

I am thinking of buying a Hardy 20 Pilot with a 28 hp diesel engine (Volvo 2003). I am planning to use the boat for estuary work and coast hopping and wonder whether it is powerful enough. The broker says it will cruise at 8 knots, but admits he is guessing . That would be fine , but given the strong tides along the East Coast, i need to be sure it can do this. also I have heard that there is an overheting problem on these engines. If anyone has any information or advice on either of these topics , would be very grateful to hear.

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Message 10 of 14
Posted by member The Gribbin Tribe on Wednesday 7 March 2012

Hi Misty Girl We have the US made 'lectrotabs' fitted. Available from ASAP Supplies. They are electrically operated not hydraulic. Have given us faultless serivce for past 8 years and were a straight forward DIY fit. Best wishes Dominic and Nicola

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Message 9 of 14
Posted by member Misty Girl on Wednesday 7 March 2012

Hello Dominic and Nicola Thank you for the info on your trim tabs. Will be next purchase on the list! Misty Girl

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Message 8 of 14
Posted by member Marwin In Norway on Sunday 26 February 2012

Look at: "High thrust Regatta? (11) 06 Jun 11" on this webside. I have the same experience as Kelvin. Hardy Marine always says "NO" when you ask for bigger motor, i think to do with risk of liability... Hardys are very solid build!

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Message 7 of 14
Posted by member The Gribbin Tribe on Wednesday 22 February 2012

Hi Misty Girl Our 1993 Family Pilot comfortably gets on the plane at 12 to 13 knots with all of us aboard (Mummy, Daddy and three boys) with a Honda 75hp. Fear not! She will be a beauty to cruise in with this set up!..but trim tabs are a MUST for a stable vessel at planing speeds-in our opinion! Happy Summer boating to all Hardy types from the Gribbins.....

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Message 6 of 14
Posted by member Misty Girl on Wednesday 22 February 2012

The Gibbon Tribe! Thanks for the info about the trim tabs. That is our very next consideration. What type do you have fitted? Misty Girl

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Message 5 of 14
Posted by member Roger Beese on Sunday 12 February 2012

Hi I have just changed from 50hp to 75 hp Honda on a 1993 pilot on the 50hp only achieved 12to 14 knts no planing Now on 75hp achieved 18 to 20 knts and on the plane at 14knts I am very satisfied with these results as the boat and skeg are more suited to sub 20knts I am told

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Message 4 of 14
Posted by member Roger Beese on Sunday 12 February 2012

Hi Me again mine is a 1994 pilot

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Message 3 of 14
Posted by member Misty Girl on Monday 6 February 2012

Hi Kelvin Many thanks for your response. I appreciate your advice. I really did like the boat and in fact bought her today. Too good an opportunity to miss! I know from reading past posts that the choice of engine size above a 75hp on the Family Pilot is a bit of a hot potato. My main concern was insurance compliance and so I sought clarification from Hardy Marine. Their response was a very definite 'No' stating the Family Pilot is not designed for speeds greater than a 75hp and that more powerful engines may cause stress on the transom and also cause the boat to become unstable. And so that seems pretty straightforward to me as far as insurance is concerned should I ever have to make that call! So a 75 hp it will be and now looking forward to the months ahead. Thanks again, Misty Girl

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Message 2 of 14
Posted by member Kelvin Kellond on Saturday 4 February 2012

Hi Misty Girl, I own a Regatta 19. The keel skeg on this model does taper to more or less nothing starting about 1 meter forward of the transom. You are on the right track here as I noticed with my first Regatta that keeping a constant heading at 5 to 6 knotts was difficult and became a bit if a pain in the "proverbial". Furthermore even with a 70hp Suzuki OB, planning with 3 or 4 on board plus gear was a hit or miss experience depending on wind and sea conditions. On my second Regatta I have fitted an Evinrude ETEC 90 together with a set of Minn Kota Electro-Mechanical Trim Tabs. This combination makes a tremendous difference to the overall performance and handling characteristics and improves directional stability at low speeds. With this arrangement the boat plannes readily and is a joy to use. Now regarding the Family Pilot we have here a somewhat heavier displacement that the Regatta and in my opinion a hull design that is not optimised for planning performance. This does not mean the boat wont plane but in my opinion it will take at least a 90 HP OB to get it comfortably onto the plane. The effect of having the skeg running to the transom may however create a vortex effect immediately aft and thus affect the performance of the propeller. If this happens I would simply cut it off (the skeg not the prop) and fair the keel off towards the transom. Hardys are very robust boats and in my experience can be adapted and modified to suit owners needs. If you love the boat I would say buy it and adapt it to your needs. Best Wishes Kelvin Kellond

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Message 1 of 14
Posted by member Misty Girl on Wednesday 1 February 2012

Hello to everyone. This is my first posting and I'm hoping someone can help. I've found a 1991 Family Pilot I would very much like to buy. Now I've read that the late Pilot 20 model ,the SE and the Bosun have a shorter keel skeg possibly because of problems with cavitation when at planing speeds with the earlier models. The early hulls had a deeper keel for directional stability and increased grip at displacement speeds. And so what I am trying to establish is that it is not a severe issue that would rule out an early model hull (ie a 1991) being fitted with a 75 hp or greater engine? Thank you.

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