Outboard on whiel trailering?

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Jay Williams

We are taking delivery of a new 260 in May. Does anyone keep their outboard attached while trailering? We are getting a Honda 9.9 four stroke which weighs about 93 pounds. It also has the controls lead up to the wheel pedestal. I remember someone writing that they had problems with the motor mount bending while it was being trailered. Is this true on the 260? If so, I had better start going to the gym to handle that motor! And does anyone know how easy and how long it takes to disconnect the controls? Thanks in advance, Jay
 
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Why take a chance?

Jay: Why take a chance? The motor weighs in at 93# but when you are motoring down the road and the trailer in hitting all those bumps and pot holes that motor is going to be whaling on that little motor bracket. If it were me, I just remove it to remove any chance. $2000 is a lot to risk for something that easy to take care of in advance.
 
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Tom Myers

Remove it

Jay, I have a 9.9 Honda and have lugged it quite a few times. I'd remove it as well. The 93 lbs aren't too bad; it's more that the weight is not evenly distributed so handling the motor is more awkward than heavy. Use two people for balance, be on the ground not in the boat, back up your tow vehicle to be near the motor/ minimize distance to carry it and get a motor caddy for longer distances and on which you'll like to use to store the motor in the winter. Enjoy the boat! Tom Myers s/v ANOVA
 
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Ray Bowles

Trailer balance.

Jay, We have a H26 with the Honda 9.9 and I have found the trailer balance much better to tow with the Honda ob and its gas tank both removed from the boat and put in the truck. The weight of these two items is about 130#. The trailer tongue weight was much better without them on. How about we trade boats for a year or two and I'll tell you how it tows? Enjoy, Ray
 
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CORKY

MOTOR ON

I have have always left my motors on while trailering for over 10 years. They have not been as heavy as the Honda but have weighted in at aleast 50 #. I would trailer it with the motor down, not tilted up as that increases the torque. If you do not trailer often igues taking it off and on once a year is no big deal but sure could add to the hssle of set if you trailer often, especially with the controls to reattach. the boat is a great boat. You will enjoy the boat and motor. If I were you I would look at back issues of how you can hook the motor to the rudder to have the motor steer from the wheel. It works great. I put pictures on the photo forum of my low cost system last summer. there were several others that were more professional than mine. Have fun sailing. I am itching toget our boat out. Corky, MeriCay
 
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Jay Williams

Thnak you everyone.

Thank you everyone. I will plan on removing the outboard before trailering. I've got plenty of room in the Durango for it. I needed an excuse to go back to the gym anyway! ;-)
 
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Guest

Experienced owner comments...

My 1999 H260 has the 9.9 HP 4 stroke motor permanently mounted. It is through bolted on, and the motor control cables are certainly not quick connect. There are also charging cables fed through the transom to the battery. Not a quick operation to remove. I wouldn't add the extra time and effort of removing the motor for trailering. And, 4 strokes are temperamental about how you lay them down. Make a mistake and you will be sopping up oil from your truck bed. Also make sure you run the carb dry to prevent fuel leaks. The boat and rig are built to trailer with the motor in place. Trailer with the motor locked in the down position. I have trailered over 600 miles with my rig, and I have friends with a H26 and 15HP Honda that have trailered probably 10 times that with the motor in place without any problems. I would not have purchased my boat if the motor had to be removed for trailering. If you are still apprehensive, call Hunter for advice. They are very helpful. Fair winds (and roads)... Tom
 
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Tom M.

Always trailer with motor mounted.

I agree with "experienced owner" I never remove the motor (260 w/pedestal controls) it would be a MAJOR pain with the controls. I looked at it once to remove the motor for the winter and said forget it. I just cover it. ALWAYS trailer with the motor down! No problem. Tom M.
 
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David Jenson

Keep motor trimmed down

Jay, I transported my 260 from Minneapolis, MN to International Falls, MN (about 300 miles) last spring. I did not experience any problems leaving the motor on. I did, however, keep it in the “down” down position. I have a 4 stroke Yamaha. I did take my motor off for the winter storage; it will get as low as 40 – 50 below in the “Falls”. As far as disconnecting all controls, it is relatively painless but does require about 30 minutes to remove everything and stow properly. Good Luck Jay,
 
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Tom Hultberg

Leave it on

I've had three trailer sail boats and have had 8hp motors hanging off the back of them all while I went down the road. Have gone up to 400 miles. never a problem. Always keep in the down position like others have said and also a good idea to tie the bottom of the motor to the trailer to keep it from bouncing. I just use a black bungie. Good luck.
 
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Jim Hopper

Leave it on

I hauled my 26 with the same Honda 9.9 from Denver to Corpus Christi and back a year ago and didn't have any problems. Just keep it in the down postion and bungie it so it doesn't rock up. I also hauled a 5 horse Nissan on my Mac 26 on the same trip for 6 years and never had a problem
 
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Jay Williams

Thanks Again

Thanks again everyone! I think I may swing my thinking again. I will also talk to Hunter about leaving it on.
 
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