Opinions :
We always remove the engine, 58 lbs, for a serious race.
Several of the 7.9's leave the engine on for the beer can races. I know it's not the best, but how much differance does it really make in performance, if the engine is up so that it never contacts the water.
Getting old and the engine is getting heavier every year!!
Motor left on
Moderators: sderby, Tim Bosma, Tom Elsen
Re: Motor left on
In flat water and steady winds it may not be that big of a deal, but I still wouldn't do it! 
In conditions with big chop and/or waves or lots of tacks (shifty/puffy) it's a whole different ballgame. More weight in the ends means that the boat doesn't want to turn as quickly with rudder input and that once turning it wants to hold that turn longer when straightening out. Both things add up to more use of the rudder which is just a big break. The same thing applies in the waves but the rudder has no effect on the up and down pitching. Having more weight in the ends will make the boat slower on the up and down oscillations which means more bow diving and rig pitching. This is why the crew should always be close together when hiking, especially in waves. With the weight centered the boat goes through the waves and responds to the tiller much quicker with less steering effort, and that means more attached flow for a greater percentage of the time on the sails.
In conditions with big chop and/or waves or lots of tacks (shifty/puffy) it's a whole different ballgame. More weight in the ends means that the boat doesn't want to turn as quickly with rudder input and that once turning it wants to hold that turn longer when straightening out. Both things add up to more use of the rudder which is just a big break. The same thing applies in the waves but the rudder has no effect on the up and down pitching. Having more weight in the ends will make the boat slower on the up and down oscillations which means more bow diving and rig pitching. This is why the crew should always be close together when hiking, especially in waves. With the weight centered the boat goes through the waves and responds to the tiller much quicker with less steering effort, and that means more attached flow for a greater percentage of the time on the sails.
Re: Motor left on
for our Weds night races out of Lake Macatawa (often conducted on Lake Michigan), we have 6 or 7 7.9s showing up each week. we have our own start, and are scored as our own fleet. we all leave our outboards on the stern. mostly because we know that only one race will be run, and since we all race that way we are all equally advantaged.