Motoring our Chat 18 up the creek to Forder

My Chat 18 sailing catamaran and Skoota 18 powercat are very similar designs, but not actually identical. The Skoota hulls have more buoyancy aft to take the weight of the engine and of course it doesn't have a king post/mast support or keels. We've been sailing our Chat in the Plymouth area for several years but this year decided to use it as a motorboat. That would allow us to cruise to places inaccessible to most sailing boats. We fitted a 6hp outboard (the biggest the existing bracket can take - and anyway there is a 10 knot speed limit in the river Tamar) which gives a near 8 knot speed. We added a simple rope controlled steering wheel. No remote throttle or gear controls as they would be complicated to invent, and it is simple enough to adjust them from the back of the cockpit. The Tamar river and its estuaries hide many gems inaccessible to large boats. So our first trip was up the creek that runs from the Lynher to the small waterfront village of Forder. I've lived on the banks of the Tamar for over 40 years, yet this was first time I've ventured this far inland. There was just room to do a three point turn at the head of the creek. It dries out completely at low water, one reason why only small shallow draft boats are moored to its banks. The other of course is the railway viaduct! A very successful evenings motor. We plan lots more exploring later this summer, including going up the Tavy, which has a fixed 7m high rail bridge at its mouth. From exploring by land we know there's a great waterside pub at Bere Ferrers, and of course Buckland Abbey (home to Francis Drake) at the head of the navigable river. So definitely worth a trip by water. More on the Skoota 18 here https://www.sailingcatamarans.com/index.php/designs-2/6-powercats/489-skoota-18 (As always with my short videos there is no audio.)