Thanks for that first Samson post pic, Frank. We always thought it would be great to have one, but this really helps visualizing how it can be done. We could have something like that made quite easily by the shop on campus.
Anyway, after much discussion amongst the program's coaches and the Shipyard maintenance guys, we have decided to go with the 90hp Etec. Now I expect some to say this is going to be an underpowered boat, but if I list what this boat's "job" is, you can see why we chose it.
This is a coach boat, a safety boat and support boat for sailboats that almost all the time are able to get themselves around just fine, thank you very much. Towing is the most heavy-duty job this Seacraft has, but it is a very rare job. We had to remind ourselves that before we were fortunate enough to score a free Seacraft we managed to tow the Shields around okay (but not pretty) with a 16' Whaler with a 25hp.
This Seacraft's job:
1. Coach Boat. Follow several Shields - or sometimes our whole huge fleet of Lasers (130lbs each) - out of the Bay into the ocean (average speed, 8 knots) and then provide a stable platform so the coach can yell at, er... I mean coach, the students.
2. Committee Boat. Same as above except the Seacraft might actually have to get up to planing speed for a mile or so while running upwind to reposition a race mark.
3. Safety Boat. If for any reason, students are in the water and need to be fished out, the Seacraft comes to the rescue. We have more often had to rescue members of the general public who were NOT in our classes. But the fact remains that this boat very often has too many people aboard (also when coaching and being race committee boat). This is the main reason we went with the lighter outboard, there have been many times with this 130 when the deck was slightly awash due to water coming in the scuppers.
4. Tow Boat. If a sailboat breaks down (uncommon), the Seacraft will have to tow it home, no more than three or four miles. She also tows if the wind dies completely while a class is out. If the heavier sailboats (like the Shields) get caught out in extreme Santa Ana winds and need to come in, they will need to be side tied one at a time to the Seacraft in order to be eased down on what in those conditions becomes the windward side of the dock - without scratching that expensive shiny new black paint we've put on them. This is also uncommon. On rare occasions we've had to tow the sailboats to race locations due to lack of wind - this can be a fairly good distance down the coast - but usually the sailboats can get themselves there with windpower and the Seacraft is just the escort.
5. Escort Boat. A few times a year, we do sail the Shields to Catalina Island (23+ miles) and the Seacraft is the escort. This is one of the few occasions when that boat is powered on a plane (unless whoever is driving wants to troll while being escort).
6. Multipurpose Boat. Okay, I'll admit we do sometimes use this boat in ways not in accordance with her stated purpose in our program.
We have been known to have covert wakeboarding sessions (loved the nasty looks we got from the ski boat owners showing up with what is obviously a fishing boat). We have actually been known to FISH from this poor boat. She is also an excellent dive boat, but again, too much weight aboard has been a problem for this in the past.
So you see, we need safe and steady rather than fast and powerful - even for towing. We've been advised that if we find the 90hp needs more "guts" for towing, we can always change out the prop for more low-speed power.
Thanks for all your input, guys! I appreciate it!