The condition that I'm sailing in is exactly the same as that for a boat with an inboard engine and a fixed prop. That is, the majority of cruising boats. And as long as I don't introduce a variable by taking the outboard in and out, then we can get valid figures before and after  making a change to the rig. This is the major purpose of the testing. In the case of Calisto, to evaluate any gains and losses due to coverting to JR. In the case of Weaverbird, to evaluate any gains and losses due to changing from hinged battens plus a little camber, to wing sail. In a case of a boat upgrading from a flat sail to cambered panels or hinges, what is gained and what is lost? And then we have the case of, say, comparing Weaverbird and Miranda. Two boats the same length, with different rigs. To get a valid comparison, either both boats, or neither boat should be dragging a prop through the water. 

And then of course there's Weaverbird, with the same rig, and with and without the prop drag. A valid comparitive test, to see whether Arne is right about how much speed I'm losing. In all these test procedures, it's important to change only one variable at a time. Then we will get a clear picture of what happens when we make that change. It really doesn't matter to me all that much, most of the time, that I'm sailing a little slower when I'm dragging the prop, for cruising. On the other hand, it would be nice to know how much speed I'm losing, if I were to be considering making a major structural change so as to lift the prop while sailing. 

This testing programme is all about recording data that is in some way useful. 

Too bad, David  -  my sympathy.

As you know, my Ingeborg has a similar engine to yours. Its propeller is on the large side, so I can understand that the original through-hull hole is on the small side. Does it mean that the well itself is so narrow that you cannot widen the hole in the hull without ‘going Titanic’?

In that case, if Weaverbird were mine, I would fit a sliding outboard bracket to the starboard transom, with a 3:1 purchase on it. Dragging an engine in the water is simply no-no in my head. The ob. well still pays for itself as very good cockpit drain.

Arne

David,
I can see your reluctance against lifting  out and storing that heavy Tohatsu each time you go sailing. Still, I struggle with understanding how you can put so much effort in R&D work on the rig and then let 0.5-1 knot go by dragging the engine like that.

There are other ways: I suggest that you make an engine bracket which can be raised vertically. This will leave the engine in almost-hot stby. It will, of course involve a tiller which passes in an arc over the lifted engine, but that is no big deal. Come on, you can make anything you want  -  this is no problem for you to fix!

In my town we are not always that speed-keen sailors. It is quite common to see boats romping along under the roller headsail alone, and even dragging a fender or two is regarded as a forgivable senior moment. However, sail about with the outboard engine still lowered, and you will be regarded as a hopeless, incompetent case, who even disregard the wellbeing of that poor outboard...

Arne

Here is what happened to Gary King's Ashiki when he modified the engine bracket to raise the engine.

Interesting.

When watching Weaverbird sailing, I could not help thinking that it would have been very useful to  compare the speed with the motor in the lowered and in raised position, since many sailors with  an outboard in a well appear to sail with the leg and propeller dragging. 

When remembering Gary King's experience with raising the engine of his Ashiki, I think that dragging the engine leg or not is a bigger speed factor than subtle changes to the rig.

Arne

great thread, while I don't really have any curiosity about how the JR compares to the BR, I'd dearly love to see how the JR compares to the Balanced Lug and how the various JRs compare to each other and which type of JR does what best.

I can relate to what Asmat said about the really important qualities of boats (or pretty much anything else) not being measurable, but numbers seem to impress the heck out of BR sailers.

Bill