true. But don't knok having an aux. even the ability to turn a boat into the waves is a huge advantage. When you consider how much we spend a year on boats fuel etc. forking out 500E for a good 2 stroke rebuild is a small price to pay for having a back up. i know a few odds and ends i have learned from sussy engines over the years but that is all i know. What i do know is that when i have ever wanted an aux and it was there i felt it had already paid for itself. I'm not saying i was in danger but just to know it was there and that it saved me a whole lot of hassle and allowed me to avoid any rescue drama it had already paid for itself.Jim from Cork wrote:We tend to look to our engines after four or five seasons. We take the hours into consideration and debate changing. We did almost five seasons with our last motor and even though it was behaving perfectly we decided that a change would be worthwhile, costly, but worthwhile for peace of mind. I would imagine we will be looking at our current engine in four years time and the debate will start again. At that stage we could be looking to take up sailing!!!
I suppose the biggest dread we have is an electrical problem. Looking under the cowl on a modern engine will do little good other than knowing where the fuses are! We don’t even have a fuel line bulb anymore! There are that many sensors on modern motors that a faulty one can disable an otherwise perfect engine. At limp mode or with an aux you are a long way from home.
what i often consider is that its one thing making decisions about your boat and what you are comfortable with but when someone else is aboard you have to think about what you are inflicting on them. They are trusting you afterall? Being a long way from home with a 5HP is one thing but at least you have something! not to be scoffed at.
Not all situations take place in open water. To have an engine act up in shallow rough water or around rocks and be drifting and use the anchor excuse is just folly. There are also shipping lanes to consider.I admit putting an auxillary on the long finger in favour of other 'more important' things is something i myself have been very guilty of from time to time and like yourself i have a fairly new engine but i still went a bought an aux last year anyway. I have had a couple of incidents with my last boat when i was delighted to have that little Yamaha!
I can see your point and in a way it a very good point. It is also very responsible to take such an attitude to your main engine also but things still tend to happen regardless... You know that as well as me. We have both had egg on our faces as regards being towed... Waiting for the RNLI is all well and good but at the end of the day waiting is exactly what you have to do and a lot can happen in the time it takes to get there... 
being at least mobile and not a uncontrolled moving mess being rolled by the waves is very important as far as i am concerned. I am not having a go at anyone but i think having a reliable auxillary is a really good thing to have. Once bought you can get on with things. three months down the road you can forget about the money you spent but a little start every so often to keep things oiled and to be sure its working you can forget about it. You might never need it but unless you are a engine wizzkid then it is a very reasuring thing to have. My old man is great with engines for example and is very capable of sorting faults when they arise but as for myself, i am a lot happier to have the little engine and save myself embaresment in silly situations!
I think my hearing was damaged that day 
