Mansfield MA Outboard Meet

Mansfield MA dry meet, February 20th 2009

By Staff Correspondent

The Yankee Chapter held a new meet in Mansfield MA that was a welcome getaway from the mid-winter blues. Over 40 members showed up, swapped & talked old outboards and had an all-around great time!

Lots of parts and quite a few motors changed hands including a 1939 Bendix TMD, 1937 Champion 4.4hp twin, 1946 Elgin 1.25 and a beautiful original Firestone 16hp. Ken H. had is excellent "Dollar Bins" that everyone loves to paw through. (It served up the missing needle valve for the author's Johnson A-35 project and a super-duty cast-aluminum trolling motor bracket.)

While outboards were the primary discussion of the day, our host also gave a demonstration of the Mazda Wankel rotary engine history that was tremendously enjoyed by all. A lively Q&A session followed with discussion of the OMC, Sachs and other Wankel motors and the amazing advancements Mazda has made in the past 20 years. Many of us left with renewed interest in this fantastic technology - I know several members who may seriously consider an RX-8 as their next car because of today's talk!

A huge thanks to Ernie Darrow for hosting a great meet. How he got the weather to cooperate is beyond me - sunny and 38 is downright balmy for this winter!

Photos by Wayne B, Harry S and Frank P.


Lot facing north	Lot facing south

Mark 10, Johnson A and Elgin 5hp	Sailing dingy and gear was a bargain!

Ken H's fabulous "Dollar Bins" always offer up treasures!

Misc motors offered for $20-$40	1926 Elto G Ruddertwin

Wayne was out to sell motors today - and did!

Frank P. got this super little Elgin 1.25 (Number 3 in his stable!)	Dan T. was still looking for any reasonable offer on the pre-war HD-15.

Tom Manley had a ton of 20's Evinrude Sportwin, Fleetwin and Speedytwin parts for sale.	Host Ernie D. demonstrating Mazda Wankel with this cutaway to a packed room.

This was a first generation Mazda Wankel from approx 1972. The mechanical parts rotated via an electric motor so you can see exactly how it works.

Close up of the rotors in the cutaway	Modern day Mazda rotary is a compact powerhouse with over 200hp!

Yankee Chapter: Making Waves With Old Outboards