T&T: Livingston Boats

[Larry N. Brown]

Listees,

A few years back there were two threads which captured my interest because
Cigano was firmly on the hard and I knew I was going to need a new dink and
motor. There was plenty discussion about 2 stroke vs. 4 stroke, RIBs, etc.

I got it in my head that 2 strokes were going the way of the dinosaur, not
understanding the new 2 stroke technology coming down the pike. I purchased a
12' Livingston dinghy and a Yamaha 25 HP 4 stroke. Haven't done much with them
over the last couple years, trying to get the big boat going. Well, needless
to say, the boat squats uncomfortably down by the stern. No amount of fuel
tanks, batteries, etc. forward, changes it. Over the last few months, I had it
out in some small seaways and I didn't like it Doesn't appear that it would
take much of a stern sea to swamp it. Never fear, it has positive floatation.
So they say.

Right. The perfect storm blew into s. Louisiana a month ago and the Livingston
swamped. Well, not completely. Think of an iceberg. It bobbed vertically with
the bow forward of the control console out of the water. I don't like to think
of this as positive flotation in the Bahamas.

I've pickled the engine. It runs. But now I'm scared.

Please tell me, some of you PNW-ers about your Livingston's. It's a beautiful
boat, fast, but I saw it looking a great deal like a crab trap float. What do
you think about a 20 HP 2 stroke? Perhaps I'm missing something here.

Regards,

Larry and Teri
M/V Cigano, 47' Prairie Sundeck Cruiser
Lying: Covington, LA
N 30 26.7
W 90 07.1