Is this a bad idea?

[craig]

I would like to know if anyone has mounted their motorcycle on the deck in front of the mast for a trip. I have a 700 lb honda valkyrie and was wondering if i could have an aluminum frame with four legs built to put my bike on board for a trip down the river. Is this too much weight? I know this is rather bizzare but would like to check it out. Thanks. Craig

 

[ted]

will be a good story some day

this would be one of those moments in life, where 30 years from now you and your friends will be sitting around drinking, talking about the time you straped a 700lb motorcycle to the front of your sailboat. the rest of the story would possibly be,1. the boat sank,2. the deck caved in,3. the bike fell off in a full gale storm complete with 30 ft waves(beer consumption may effect wave height)4. you pulled it off after everyone one said you couldnt,the way i see it is your in a no lose situation, either it will work or you will have some really good, i should have known better stories.

 

[Bryan C.]

Other stories.

More great things you could learn or stories you could develop:1. Lifelines are just a little too high to do wheelies over but just a little too low to keep you from falling off the bike and into the bay.2. Anchor rode entangling handle bars results in far more anchoring power than you had anticipated.3. Your buddy figured he could "add a little extra gas" to your auxiliary's tank by siphoning from your motorcycle tank.4. You learned that the positive flotation from the air in the motorcycle tires is a lot less than that provided by dinghy tubes5. You found out it is a lot harder to ride a 700 lb motorcycle across a 12" gangplank that you imagined possible. Good ridin'.

 

[Greg Stebbins]

only one place

I can think of is high off the stern. You'd need to build a bobkin for it and I have no idea how to load and unload.Cheaper I think. to rent something when you get there.

 

[Jim Kolstoe]

Testing...

Consider the following, much cheaper, experiment on placing 700 lbs 2ft above your foredeck. Rig some seats from your halyards and have 800 lbs of friends(you need to account for the weight of the frame holding your bike in place) sit on them about 2 feet off the deck while you sail under main sail. Now, does it feel kind of tender? As the boat heels, does it get worse? Contemplate the forces on your deck attachment points as the bike's center of mass travels laterally and exerts leverage to pull the attachments. Now consider whether your stomach or your bike will sink faster.Good luck. Jim Kolstoe