Seagull Outboard Motors

[Louis]

When I was a kid, I remember my Father and his mates always raving on about the virtues of the old Seagull Outboard motors.

I remember looking at them on the back of peoples boats as they putted out of Wynnum Creek and thinking how ugly and archaic they looked. #

But I was assured time and time again by my father and his friends that they were the best small outboards that you could buy.

What is everyone else's opinions on this? #What experiences have you had?



Louis

[Noelm]

I seem to remember having one that would take you anywhere you wanted to go, but you had to row back. never would start at days end, I cursed that thing many times, even threatened it with violence, but still would not go when it was time to head home, i wonder how it knew? HHMMM

[Roughasguts]

Yeah they be ugly motors alright. But can't work out why me old mans 5hp seagull has no rust, never had a water pump, and never likely to get one, still goes and it's got to be over 45 years old.

Even had it pushing a 21 footer for trolling, wind was it's enemy.

[Smithy]

Go allright for a kay or so till it overheated. Move around on the electric for a bit while it cooled down then off for another kay or so. Always started and never let me down in that sense.

[daz35]

i had one from when i was 12 til 16 it certainly didnt look pretty but always started and ran like a charm only thing that would stop it was the weed banks if i left me run late coming home

[1975fflh]

I have still got one at the old ladies place shoved under the old workbench, its gotta be over 40 yrs old and still works well.

They are not very fast but its only a 4 1/4 HP but goes well and is never a problem, just gotta make sure the person in the front of the little tinnie ducks when your starting it , its the old wind the rope around the starter trick.

[Smithy]

Think the one I used every week for a while 13 years or so ago on my first tinny was a 1954 model. It was still in the pine packing crate it came in from England and still goes today. Used to push a bondwood boat out of Redcliffe that my grand-father constructed off plans back in the 50s. Boat still floats now, leaks a bit initially but if you fill her full of water and let it swell a bit she seals right up.

[Noelm]

HHMMM seems like everyone had a good seagull but me! i wonder where it is, might still be under warranty! would only be 40 plus years old I guess so MUST still be covered by warranty huh!

[fish2eat]

Here's a piece of history, me in my father's boat with Seagull on Bondwood dinghy. Shot taken on Tuggerah Lake approx 1963......yep, thats me 43 years ago. The seagull was a few years old then too.

[Roughasguts]

Noelm, had the same problem as you not with the seagull. But a just as old 4cly 8 hp prefect motor in a 18 foot glass boat.

When she got hot would just stop figured it was rust build up in the block causing the fuel to vapour lock.

Didn't phase me though thats what petrol syphoned in to a beer bottle was for, pour that in to the carby with your thumb on the end and away you went.

Just needed someone to steer the boat.

[fish2eat]

The Seagull above would get us from Toukley to The Entrance and back no problems (once started).

[Noelm]

yep the old car engine plonked into a boat was always a guessing competition as to if you would motor home or row, that is of couse if it did not burst into flames or something before hand

[ahoj]

http://www.britishseagull.co.uk/history.php