while sailing up from port hacking last week in weather I could really see what people meant by not using an outboard for serious cruising. I know people do it and thought "if they can, I can" but in the 2-3 metre confused southerly and winds gusting up to 30kn in my lil Tophat , I could see it as a real challenge to even fold the transom bracket down to start the motor, let alone what the swell might do to the outboard once it was down.

racking my brains on a solution and I'm thinking the most cost effective way would be to make a well in the rear of the cockpit For the outboard. This would still be a big job but wouldn't take up valuable space inside the cabin That an inboard would take up - which is my main concern. I wouldn't be able to turn the boat on a dime like I can now with the transom bracket and may end up with more water in the cockpit with the well, but it should be a bit like an inboard no? Opinions.?