outboard storage when traveling
- Thread starter peterbud
- Start date
It depends on how much it weighs. If under 60 lbs I would lay it on a movers blanket in the center of the cabin sole. If over 60lbs I would leave it on the motor mount and sue a cable lock.
I put mine in the truck bed for now. I would love to fabricate an outboard bracket on the trailer near the winch. I could lock it to the trailer and it would be in great shape.
I had to build up a motor mount on the trailer. I borrowed the idea from someone on either the Compac or West Wright Potter forums. Since I took this photo I've added a bow V block at the bottom with a strap to make it a little more secure. This was for a 5 hp Honda.
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PE;
I would assume that Honda 9.9 is a four stroke and that can be heavy. What the issue is the motor will bounce up and down going down the road during transport thus damaging the transom as the transoms on sailboats are not designed like power boats. I have told my customers in the past if you secured the motor in the up position with a line secured tightly to alleviate the bouncing, that would solve the problem. However, it sounds you are making a long trip. I would suggest that you do two things if laying it down. First remove all the fuel out of the engines and that includes the carb bowl. Also make sure that when laying on its side, the oil will not come out in most engines. The manual if you have it or go on line will tell you which side to lay it on so the oil will not come out. As for the rest, you have to make sure it cannot move and cushion it. Suggest if a truck put it in the bed so your better half will not smell the gas fumes.
What part of North Carolina are you taking the boat to. Send me a private email. My dealership use to cover the Carolinas as I was located in Zebulon outside of Raleigh now retired
I would assume that Honda 9.9 is a four stroke and that can be heavy. What the issue is the motor will bounce up and down going down the road during transport thus damaging the transom as the transoms on sailboats are not designed like power boats. I have told my customers in the past if you secured the motor in the up position with a line secured tightly to alleviate the bouncing, that would solve the problem. However, it sounds you are making a long trip. I would suggest that you do two things if laying it down. First remove all the fuel out of the engines and that includes the carb bowl. Also make sure that when laying on its side, the oil will not come out in most engines. The manual if you have it or go on line will tell you which side to lay it on so the oil will not come out. As for the rest, you have to make sure it cannot move and cushion it. Suggest if a truck put it in the bed so your better half will not smell the gas fumes.
What part of North Carolina are you taking the boat to. Send me a private email. My dealership use to cover the Carolinas as I was located in Zebulon outside of Raleigh now retired
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Tom,
I made a mount for the Honda BF8 on the MacGregor trailer that sat beside the ladder and was very similar to yours. Besides adding a wee bit of welcome tongue weight, it did give the motor a place to ride that was out of the way and less bouncy. As long as the bottom of the fin is high enough to prevent it contacting the ground if the trailer gets off the ball, the mount should be as low as possible, these engines can be a bear to lift.
I have a 1992 Johnson Sailmaster 8. Weighs in at about 80 lbs, ( I'm guessing). We trailer about 35 minutes way over a fairly well maintained highway. I leave the motor on the mount but strap it below the engine, under the pulpit and over the mast. This redirects much of the load and takes the shock out of any bumps we might find along the way.
I've traveled from Utah to Canada and to Florida (4400 miles round trip) twice with the outboard on the transom. Going to Canada it was an 80+ lb Honda on the transom...
...and trips after that (Florida) were with the 90+ lb. Tohatsu shown above. It was on the mount I later made. No problems so far...
.... I run a heavy bungee from the bottom of the shaft to the back of the trailer (hard ot see it above). I have worried about theft at motels but it is just too heavy at 90 lbs. for me to get on and off easily. I've had 3 hernia operations and don't want a fourth. Since you don't have the same boat your results might not be the same. If it was lighter or I was younger I'd probably stick it in the Suburban laying on the proper side. I do carry the 3 1/2 HP dinghy outboard in the Suburban most of the time.
Sumner
====================================================
1300 miles to The Bahamas and Back in the Mac...
Endeavour 37 Mods...
MacGregor 26-S Mods...
Mac Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida, Bahamas
...and trips after that (Florida) were with the 90+ lb. Tohatsu shown above. It was on the mount I later made. No problems so far...
.... I run a heavy bungee from the bottom of the shaft to the back of the trailer (hard ot see it above). I have worried about theft at motels but it is just too heavy at 90 lbs. for me to get on and off easily. I've had 3 hernia operations and don't want a fourth. Since you don't have the same boat your results might not be the same. If it was lighter or I was younger I'd probably stick it in the Suburban laying on the proper side. I do carry the 3 1/2 HP dinghy outboard in the Suburban most of the time.
Sumner
====================================================
1300 miles to The Bahamas and Back in the Mac...
Endeavour 37 Mods...
MacGregor 26-S Mods...
Mac Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida, Bahamas
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If you have a topping lift and a block and tackle type boom vang, you're 90% there.
I mount mine on the winch bracket on the tongue. Takes the weight from the way back and puts it on the ball.
With a 1800 road mile summer coming up I too was wanting a better way to carry our motor. With the Garlock adjustable mount the leverage the motor could create against the stern was just too much with the rough roads so leaving it on the mount was not an option. We usually carried it in the tow vehicle loosing cargo room. A tongue mount of some sort was want I wanted.
Well since we our launch got delayed a week thanks to storms I had some time to work on this. I scrounged around the shop and found some square tubing the same size as the trailer tongue. After a quick stop by the metal shop for a piece of 1/4" plate to use as the motor mount base it was time to start making some sparks.
I welded the 1/4" plate to a 2x2x1/8" vertical riser that I then welded to the front of the trailer as far forward as could so the winch handle would clear yet still leave room for the motor between the tow vehicle. I added a brace from the winch stand to keep it vertical. I added a pressure treated piece of 2x8 cut to size and it was ready to try out.
Cindy was concerned about it being strong enough. Well the plate I bought turned out being a little warped from the shear. After I got it all welded together I could see the right side was bent back a bit. I got out my 24 oz ball been hammer and tried to straighten it. Ever try to straighten 1/4" plate? It took more than a ball peen hammer. After a few "taps" with a 4 lb sledge hammer it was back in line and the mount never moved. The boat trailer slid on the wood block it is resting on but the mount held tight.
It went much smoother than I had expected it to and I was done in 45 minutes. I did not think I would have time to get it painted so I did not pick up paint on the way home. I will have to do that today. But the motor fit nicely and there is still room for my hand on the winch. I added a welded loop to attach a safety chain/padlock to securing the motor to the trailer.
I plan on running a 1/4" wide metal tabbed zip tie through the mount clamp handles that will keep them from backing off. I actually run .040 safety wire through them when we are the lake to secure them and to make it a bit harder for someone to steal our motor. Between the wire and the padlocked steel cable ran through the motor and the mount bracket I feel like our chances of loosing the motor off the back are pretty thin and if someone really wants to steal it they are going to need several tools and few minutes to get it off.
Sam
Well since we our launch got delayed a week thanks to storms I had some time to work on this. I scrounged around the shop and found some square tubing the same size as the trailer tongue. After a quick stop by the metal shop for a piece of 1/4" plate to use as the motor mount base it was time to start making some sparks.
I welded the 1/4" plate to a 2x2x1/8" vertical riser that I then welded to the front of the trailer as far forward as could so the winch handle would clear yet still leave room for the motor between the tow vehicle. I added a brace from the winch stand to keep it vertical. I added a pressure treated piece of 2x8 cut to size and it was ready to try out.
Cindy was concerned about it being strong enough. Well the plate I bought turned out being a little warped from the shear. After I got it all welded together I could see the right side was bent back a bit. I got out my 24 oz ball been hammer and tried to straighten it. Ever try to straighten 1/4" plate? It took more than a ball peen hammer. After a few "taps" with a 4 lb sledge hammer it was back in line and the mount never moved. The boat trailer slid on the wood block it is resting on but the mount held tight.
It went much smoother than I had expected it to and I was done in 45 minutes. I did not think I would have time to get it painted so I did not pick up paint on the way home. I will have to do that today. But the motor fit nicely and there is still room for my hand on the winch. I added a welded loop to attach a safety chain/padlock to securing the motor to the trailer.
I plan on running a 1/4" wide metal tabbed zip tie through the mount clamp handles that will keep them from backing off. I actually run .040 safety wire through them when we are the lake to secure them and to make it a bit harder for someone to steal our motor. Between the wire and the padlocked steel cable ran through the motor and the mount bracket I feel like our chances of loosing the motor off the back are pretty thin and if someone really wants to steal it they are going to need several tools and few minutes to get it off.
Sam