I have a venture 24 with a 15 hp evinrude, anyone leave there outboard on while trailering. I intend on running controls to the motor(shift,start,throttle) and don't wanna disconnect that stuff every time. I think the motor weighs about 100lbs. My old v-bottom I had I used a motor mount that went down to the trailer to support the weight but don't see anything out there that will work the same for this boat.
leaving outboard on
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I had a v22 that I would leave the motor mounted.... but I only had a 5 hp and I ran a ratchet strap under the motor to support the weight.
I think a 15 hp is really large for your boat. A 9.9 would be large in my estimate. I would look at the Tohatsu 6 hp sailpro if you are ever in the market for a new O.B.
I think a 15 hp is really large for your boat. A 9.9 would be large in my estimate. I would look at the Tohatsu 6 hp sailpro if you are ever in the market for a new O.B.
I agree it's big, but it came with the boat. I was thinking thou incase a storm was rolling in a little xtra hp would be nice
Yeah... you don't want to be under powered but you can't go above hull speed unless you can get the boat to plane. There is a point where extra hp just adds extra weight. On my Mac 22 I could get at hull speed at about 1/2 throttle with a 5 hp... so that left me with a lot of extra in the event of a strong head wind.
No problem, the motor still weighs 100 lbs. when the boat is in the water and the bumps seem to be higher in the water.
I went from a 10 hp 2 cycle to a 9.9 4 cycle. Didn't feel comfortable with the original motor mount so up-sized the mount and reinforced the transom from inside the boat. Also had to move the balance forward to keep proper tongue weight for safe towing. no regrets. Composite fiber board shouldn't rot and provides load distribution for this application.
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Tongue weight I didn't even think about, when I hauled it home a few months back it towed great but everything heavy was in my truck. What xtra support did you add to help, mine has a fiberglassed in piece of plywood that's a little larger than the motor mount
Many trailer sailors advocate a device called a "transom saver" .
Here's a pro/con article that maybe of interest http://www.boatus.com/magazine/trailering/2012/march/transom-saver.asp Personally, I can't imagine taking the motor on and off for trailering but I can see the benefit of the transom saver.
Here's a pro/con article that maybe of interest http://www.boatus.com/magazine/trailering/2012/march/transom-saver.asp Personally, I can't imagine taking the motor on and off for trailering but I can see the benefit of the transom saver.
I have what amounts to as the same setup you have. V224 Evinrude 15. Our couple of first years we always left the motor on the transom with a ratchet strap holding the engine up tight against the hull from above, and one going from around the prop area to the trailer frame cross member. It was plenty solid but, having a hundred pound motor hanging on the end of that relatively light trailer load made pulling at times white knuckle with the hand being pried from the steering wheel upon arrival. The truck was a 1971 Ford F250 with questionable suspension...
Now we pull with a Jeep Cherokee Sport and the motor goes in the cargo area of the Jeep. Its a pain to be sure to have to be attaching and detaching a hundred pound motor but the pulling is much much more pleasurable. I intend to rig some kind of mount on the trailer tongue for the motor to save having to get it in and out of the Jeep horizontally.
As far as power - its far more than you need and in fact can be a hazard to your boat. If the unfortunate occasion arises that the motor is shifted into reverse under higher than recommend revs be prepared to see your transom twist oddly as the prop heads under the boat. A vision I strive to avoid in the future - even under trying circumstances (such as dragging anchor on lee shore at 3am in the rain).
Beating into 6-7 foot waves we get hull speed at around half throttle. Being only a long shaft this engines prop will often be out of the water in waves such as these especially heading downwind/down waves. I would rather the motor were running at a higher RPM to get he same result which means - less motor. Its not good for an engine to run at low revs all the time and wastes gas and makes alot of noise running at higher revs with no gain in boat speed.
There are other disadvantages to having too much motor and to having THIS motor. The engine head will be below the transom top when in running position. If you keep the tiller on it, it sticks up at an odd angle and isn't real conducive to anything. To deploy: Prime bulb. Hang over stern to switch the tilt lever to "run". Get back on board and haul engine up and let it down to run. Turn throttle to start Pull choke full out while hitting start button and as soon as it fires push choke all the way in. Repeat as necessary. Hang off boat to put motor in gear. Get back aboard to steer awkwardly with the odd angle tiller sticking up. I have rigged a rope setup to the engine cover that makes raising and lowering the motor far easier than hanging over the transom and trying to grab the engine handhold and hefting it like that.
Other than that its a great motor. Electric start, Reliable, powerful, has some LIMITED battery charging capability. Parts are around. From what I can tell from Craiglists ad it should be worth around a grand on a good day???
For now we are stuck with the motor we have due to a continuing budget crisis but it runs and we own it. I would rather have a 6-9 horse Xtra long shaft. A guy can dream but for now we make do.
Now we pull with a Jeep Cherokee Sport and the motor goes in the cargo area of the Jeep. Its a pain to be sure to have to be attaching and detaching a hundred pound motor but the pulling is much much more pleasurable. I intend to rig some kind of mount on the trailer tongue for the motor to save having to get it in and out of the Jeep horizontally.
As far as power - its far more than you need and in fact can be a hazard to your boat. If the unfortunate occasion arises that the motor is shifted into reverse under higher than recommend revs be prepared to see your transom twist oddly as the prop heads under the boat. A vision I strive to avoid in the future - even under trying circumstances (such as dragging anchor on lee shore at 3am in the rain).
Beating into 6-7 foot waves we get hull speed at around half throttle. Being only a long shaft this engines prop will often be out of the water in waves such as these especially heading downwind/down waves. I would rather the motor were running at a higher RPM to get he same result which means - less motor. Its not good for an engine to run at low revs all the time and wastes gas and makes alot of noise running at higher revs with no gain in boat speed.
There are other disadvantages to having too much motor and to having THIS motor. The engine head will be below the transom top when in running position. If you keep the tiller on it, it sticks up at an odd angle and isn't real conducive to anything. To deploy: Prime bulb. Hang over stern to switch the tilt lever to "run". Get back on board and haul engine up and let it down to run. Turn throttle to start Pull choke full out while hitting start button and as soon as it fires push choke all the way in. Repeat as necessary. Hang off boat to put motor in gear. Get back aboard to steer awkwardly with the odd angle tiller sticking up. I have rigged a rope setup to the engine cover that makes raising and lowering the motor far easier than hanging over the transom and trying to grab the engine handhold and hefting it like that.
Other than that its a great motor. Electric start, Reliable, powerful, has some LIMITED battery charging capability. Parts are around. From what I can tell from Craiglists ad it should be worth around a grand on a good day???
For now we are stuck with the motor we have due to a continuing budget crisis but it runs and we own it. I would rather have a 6-9 horse Xtra long shaft. A guy can dream but for now we make do.
The two biggest considerations are the motor mount and the tongue weight. If the trailer tongue is too light you'll experience dangerous fishtail issues. Outboard location can make a big difference here.
My V-222 had a rickety motor mount that I replaced with a much more heavy duty mount but I still would never trailer with the outboard on it. I keep my outboard on my 26D all the time but it has a motor well so the outboard rides on the transom itself.
My V-222 had a rickety motor mount that I replaced with a much more heavy duty mount but I still would never trailer with the outboard on it. I keep my outboard on my 26D all the time but it has a motor well so the outboard rides on the transom itself.
Ive used transom savers before and it seems like a great help, however I can't find one that will reach the trailer, my boat overhangs the trailer by 4'+-. And yes to someone that said the controls are tough to reach. Thats why I intend to add controls, and is another reason why I don't wanna have to remove it.
If you can take the weight off of the transome as you bounce down the road you would save a lot of time at the launch site by leaving it on but if not you will likely damage your transome
I had good luck running a ratchet strap around both winches and then to the outboard
Ratchet that tight and the weight is transferred to the winches
I had good luck running a ratchet strap around both winches and then to the outboard
Ratchet that tight and the weight is transferred to the winches
I plan to give it a try and watch for cracks, once I add the controls to it the motor isn't coming off unless it falls off.
I think you should put the motor on Ebay, and then try to replace it. Having that much extra weight hanging off the back of your boat while sailing is not going to make for good speed, especially since it is not centered on the transom. The boat will be lopsided and heel really bad one direction. Your stern is narrow, so you don't have a lot of buoyancy in the rear of the boat, which is going to make it squat. You might be OK sailing down wind, but all other points of sail are going to be slower, unless you counterbalance with some weight up front.
It looks like you are sailing on all small inland lakes, and the Ohio river. That being the case, the motor is waaaay overkill. My 24 foot boat weighs 400 lbs less than yours. I use a 86 lb thrust trolling motor. It works fine, even in 20mph winds. Sell your motor on Ebay and buy yourself a 4hp, or switch to a trolling motor for about 400 bucks.
It looks like you are sailing on all small inland lakes, and the Ohio river. That being the case, the motor is waaaay overkill. My 24 foot boat weighs 400 lbs less than yours. I use a 86 lb thrust trolling motor. It works fine, even in 20mph winds. Sell your motor on Ebay and buy yourself a 4hp, or switch to a trolling motor for about 400 bucks.
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Dave might be onto something. I should have thought of that.... I used to have a Coronado 23 (2300lb displacement) that I pushed around with a trolling motor with no problems. If you are mostly lake sailing, you could sell yours, buy two more deep cycle batteries, a small solar panel and a 500 lb thrust trolling motor and still have some cash left over. Separate your battery banks and keep two just for your trolling motor. The other bank for your nav. lights etc. The thing I really liked about the trolling motor was the silence. And not having to lug fuel around. AND IT WEIGHS ALMOST NOTHING. There is not tank at your feet, no gas smells.... and it starts instantly when you turn the handle. They are nice.
I only sailed on the weekends back then so my trickle charger would have my two batteries topped of when I returned the next weekend. I guess it depends upon how much motoring you actually do. If you are only using the motor to get in and out of the marina or launch site.... a trolling motor is all you need. And even if the wind dies and you need to motor for an hour or two, you still have plenty of range to spare...The prop on a trolling motor is specifically designed for thrust since you never go fast enough to plane while trolling... and since sailboats (almost) never plane the trolling motor pushes a sailboat a lot better than you would expect. I've heard it said that a 500 lb trolling motor is equivalent to a 3 hp O.B. but at modest speeds, I think that is understated. I was happy with my set up and only went to gas when I started sailing in the Albemarle and Pamlico sounds on longer trips. I would not have time to recharge my batteries and I wanted the O.B.'s charger to top off my batteries so I could run fans at night.
Something to think about.
I guess it depends on how you plan on sailing. If you are mostly weekend-ing it, a trolling motor has a lot of positives.
I only sailed on the weekends back then so my trickle charger would have my two batteries topped of when I returned the next weekend. I guess it depends upon how much motoring you actually do. If you are only using the motor to get in and out of the marina or launch site.... a trolling motor is all you need. And even if the wind dies and you need to motor for an hour or two, you still have plenty of range to spare...The prop on a trolling motor is specifically designed for thrust since you never go fast enough to plane while trolling... and since sailboats (almost) never plane the trolling motor pushes a sailboat a lot better than you would expect. I've heard it said that a 500 lb trolling motor is equivalent to a 3 hp O.B. but at modest speeds, I think that is understated. I was happy with my set up and only went to gas when I started sailing in the Albemarle and Pamlico sounds on longer trips. I would not have time to recharge my batteries and I wanted the O.B.'s charger to top off my batteries so I could run fans at night.
Something to think about.
I guess it depends on how you plan on sailing. If you are mostly weekend-ing it, a trolling motor has a lot of positives.
I corrected my post to state 86 lbs, I paid $175 for it. Rgranger, I think you have an extra 0 on your thrust statement. Looks like it is now up to 209 bucks, but still a good deal over all. You can get 100 lbs thrust for 400 bucks, which might even be better, as the motor is brushless. I would compare my 86 lbs thrust to about a 3.5 HP gas engine. I had a 4HP previously. I cruised all over a 26K acre lake, when I had no wind. It was wonderful to be able to move with no noise - almost the same feeling as being under sail. Docking is tons easier. Transitioning from motor to sail is simpler. And the motor always "starts".