 What do I have (RL24 Mark?) |  I purchased an RL 24 about 18 months ago and I have fallen in love with it Sailing around Rockingham in Western Australia. I am keen to get a new motor and return it to the well. At some stage in its past, the engine well was glassed over and a transom mount fitted. What a pain when you want to get to the motor! I have done a lot of reading on this site but can't work out what model I have. From what a gather, if I have a very early model, I won't be able to lift the motor up if I do return it to the well so I want to know before I start hacking into the hull. Can anybody let me know how to tell what model I have please?
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| Re: What do I have (RL24 Mark?) | From the proportions in the photo, the transom looks to be low, indicating either mk I or mk II. The best way to distinguish the two is to have a look at the width of the cockpit coaming. The mk I was narrow (about 2") while the mk II was widened to about 8" to more comfortably accommodate the buttocks.
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| Re: What do I have (RL24 Mark?) | Matthew
Thanks for the quick reply. I think I know what you are talking about but I have included another photo as I am not sure. I am new at sailing and uncertain of some of the terms.
Thanks
Scott
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| Re: What do I have (RL24 Mark?) | The cockpit coaming is the upright portion that your dog is leaning against, which appears to be the thinner form. Given that and the form of the traveller, I'm fairly certain you have a mark I. Nice boat. Enjoy.
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| Re: What do I have (RL24 Mark?) | Whichever model you have, you do not have a later model that has the outboard mounting bracket mounted forward that allowed fitment and tilting of the newer outboards.
It is still an excellent idea to put the outboard in the well but I believe you will need to remove the old engine mount and fabricate a new mount approximately 50mm further forward.
If you do a search of the site on well or outboard, you should get heaps of information.
I installed a 5hp Mariner short shaft 2 stroke with high thrust propeller and battery charge about 4 years ago and it works fantastically.
If I were doing it again I would look at spending the extra for the Honde and have a really good look at the Yamaha outboard again. The Mariner 5 (2 stroke), Honda 4 and Yamaha 5 (2 stroke) are probably the best motors for the RL well.
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| Re: What do I have (RL24 Mark?) | Greg & Matthew
Thanks for you help so far. I have spent the evening looking around the site and it seems that most people say RL24s are better with the motor in the well. I am not sure exactly what has been changed on my yacht so I have tried to find some photos of what I wil need to do. Do you know if there are any photos of wells showing what I will need to do. It sounds like it will be a big job to shift the position of the engine mounting.
Thanks
Scott
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| Re: What do I have (RL24 Mark?) | Scott.
You have Mk1 RL24, and I think that it was built in WA in the late seventies. The Mk 1 cabin moulds that were built in Queensland had the window shapes etched in on the mould, and clearly the window shapes on your boat are not what was standard at the time.
Please check that you have adequate bouyancy built in to your boat, as I was led to understand that some of those boats may have missed out.
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| Re: What do I have (RL24 Mark?) | If you aren't able to tilt your motor and fit a butt plug, you will lose performance by returning the motor to the well. We did the reverse years ago and I am happy with the motor on a bracket. We went that way because we couldn't tilt up our 5hp Suzuki and the drag created by the open hole made a big difference. Other RL's with butt plugs or with motors on the transom were definitely quicker but if you're in cruising mode it probably doesn't matter. With a lift-up bracket, motor accessability to change spark plugs etc isn't a problem. The downsides to a transom mount are more weight aft and the prop cavitating in a steep chop. If you were uncertain before, I probably haven't helped. You get that. The moral is that if what you have works don't change it unless you have a good reason and are confident of success with the change.
Cheers
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| Re: What do I have (RL24 Mark?) | I will try to attach photos of my outboard bracket in the well of my RL24 MKII. This is the best set up I have come across,but I did copy of another that I had seen. I run an 8hp suzuki in my well and the whole bracket tilts not the motor tilt mech. This alows the leg to clear the inside of the transom and a plug to be fitted, it also throws the weight further forward, however it does take up a bit more room in the cockpit
Have been unable to attach photos, anyone interested may email me and I will forward them on.
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| Re: What do I have (RL24 Mark?) | Scott, you have a nice boat, and sailing it around Rockingham Safty Bay would be a lot of fun. I have an early model RL 24, and like you i do not have a clue what model it is, also like you my well has been glassed over, and the outboard sits on an outboard bracket, and yes sometimes it is hard to handle but you learn to adapt. The bonus is that you end up with a huge after locker, to store all your gear in.To make life a little easier i have fitted a steering arm, so that you can turn the motor with your tiller arm, of course you have to take it off when you tilt the motor up, but nothings perfect, I must admit I live and sail up in Shark bay, and rarely use my motor. reguards Mark.
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