Ok, what do you H260 owners do with your outboards when you are trailering your boat from home to the water? Leave them mounted on the boat or remove and lay in back of your truck?
Trailering with outboard on H260 transom???
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Stress reduction
I agree with Clark. I remove the outboard for trailering because I don't want the weight of the outboard bouncing around on its mount. While the water is generally not as smooth as the road, the ups and downs (bumps and potholes) are far more abrupt and you hit them at a much greater speed, producing a lot more force on the mount and transome. I presume that the transome and mount were designed for the forces reasonably expected on the water. But I don't care to test that question on the road if I don't have to.Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo
I agree with Clark. I remove the outboard for trailering because I don't want the weight of the outboard bouncing around on its mount. While the water is generally not as smooth as the road, the ups and downs (bumps and potholes) are far more abrupt and you hit them at a much greater speed, producing a lot more force on the mount and transome. I presume that the transome and mount were designed for the forces reasonably expected on the water. But I don't care to test that question on the road if I don't have to.Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo
What to Do ??
:dance: I think there's no one answer. I've trailered my H260 over 3000 miles in the past year, with my 9.9 hp attached, and have not seen any stress marks etc. I have an SUV sooo I'm not planning and taking the engine off to put inside my carpeted and usually full rear cabin. Plus I'm not crazy about the strong smell of oil on long trips. :Liar:
I figure since I keep my trailer with leaf springs in good shape and don't drive like a mad man, and assume (rightly or wrongly) that my transom and bracket was originally made to transport the PROPER SIZED engine, that I should arrive at my destination with an engine attached. I still do a complete safety walk around prior to starting a trip. (old pilot days).
BUT then again after all that I could loose a wheel, skid into a deep ditch and loose my boat, motor and trailer, and curse myself for not having the motor in my cab! :cussing:
:dance: I think there's no one answer. I've trailered my H260 over 3000 miles in the past year, with my 9.9 hp attached, and have not seen any stress marks etc. I have an SUV sooo I'm not planning and taking the engine off to put inside my carpeted and usually full rear cabin. Plus I'm not crazy about the strong smell of oil on long trips. :Liar:
I figure since I keep my trailer with leaf springs in good shape and don't drive like a mad man, and assume (rightly or wrongly) that my transom and bracket was originally made to transport the PROPER SIZED engine, that I should arrive at my destination with an engine attached. I still do a complete safety walk around prior to starting a trip. (old pilot days).
BUT then again after all that I could loose a wheel, skid into a deep ditch and loose my boat, motor and trailer, and curse myself for not having the motor in my cab! :cussing:
Hey WallyQ2,
I tend to agree with you. We trailered a lot with my last boat, a Catalina 25. I would secure the motor with a piece of line from a cleat on the back of the boat around the motor then back to the boat and pulled tight. The motor would hardly move. I never had any problems although others from our club would say the transom was going to fall off and all sorts of bad things would happen.
I appreciate all the input I can get about the Hunter though, just to make sure I'll be ok, especially if I secure it somehow.
By the way, looking at your picture, you may be overdue for a haircut and a shave.
Ken
I tend to agree with you. We trailered a lot with my last boat, a Catalina 25. I would secure the motor with a piece of line from a cleat on the back of the boat around the motor then back to the boat and pulled tight. The motor would hardly move. I never had any problems although others from our club would say the transom was going to fall off and all sorts of bad things would happen.
I appreciate all the input I can get about the Hunter though, just to make sure I'll be ok, especially if I secure it somehow.
By the way, looking at your picture, you may be overdue for a haircut and a shave.
Ken
Outboard engines do not float. You will submit your engine mount to more stress and forces in the water that you will ever do on a paved road.
My Evinrude 9.9 weighs almost 90 lbs and is bolted to the transom to prevent theft. I've never even considered removing it except to take it in for servicing. I've trailered my boat about 8,000 miles and have not had a problem.
I do secure it to make sure it does not bounce when trailering.
I do secure it to make sure it does not bounce when trailering.
Ken,
That's my 6 year old girl giving me that stern look after I pull some dumb move while sailing.
George,
I just want to say "thank you" for your invaluable web site on the H260. I refer to it numerous times. I'll be heading home shortly from a winter in Calfornia and a stop at West Marine. I'll be converting my rudder set up to what you have done, plus other ideas.
That's my 6 year old girl giving me that stern look after I pull some dumb move while sailing.
George,
I just want to say "thank you" for your invaluable web site on the H260. I refer to it numerous times. I'll be heading home shortly from a winter in Calfornia and a stop at West Marine. I'll be converting my rudder set up to what you have done, plus other ideas.
The advice that I got was to leave the engine in the vertical position, not raised and that has worked since 2004 and about 2000 miles.
Another small point of interest. The first time I hauled my engine to the dealer for service, I just threw it in back of my van on it's side. My Evinrude tech told me to never lay the engine on it's side. According to him there is only one approved way to lay the engine down. There are two rubber buttons on the back of the cowling used to position the engine on it's back. Lay it on it's side and bad stuff can happen but I failed to ask what the "bad stuff" was.
Do you think he was pulling my leg or is he correct?
Do you think he was pulling my leg or is he correct?
My 4 stroke Honda 9.9 has special "legs" on the correct side which the manual calls "case protectors". There is a notice that "any other horizontal storage position may cause damage or oil leakage". It is my understanding that only 4-stroke outboards have this limitation and that 2-stroke outboards can be laid on either side (please speak up if I'm mistaken). BrianW
I have been trailering my H-26 for nine years. At first, I left my 113 lb. 9.9 hp. outboard attached to the stern while on the trailer. I experienced serious cracking in the gelcoat and damage to the underlying fiberglass layup. I had to have the damage repaired. There are potholes and unforseen jolts that greatly magnify the weight of the motor. The motor now rides in the back of my pickup!
Don
S/V Anodyne
Don
S/V Anodyne
I have trailered by H260 with 85lb 9.9 since 2005 about a 1000 miles total. No issues.
je
I can only give my experience. I bought my used 1998 H260 in Long Island in 2003 and trailered it to Toledo (600 miles) with the 9.9 Yamaha mounted on the boat. I take the motor off in the winter and store it in my basement where I do its annual service, but other than that I leave it on throughout the season and when trailering. I have a few small stress cracks, but nothing serious and nothing noticeable on the inside of the hull either. I'll check again when I put the boat in the water, but I don't have any concerns so far.
Also, when I remove the engine for winter there ARE instructions on its side to either keep it upright, or lay it on a particular side to avoid fluid leakage. Hope that helps.
Also, when I remove the engine for winter there ARE instructions on its side to either keep it upright, or lay it on a particular side to avoid fluid leakage. Hope that helps.
Trailering My H260
I looked at the mount recently and no cracks are apparent either in the gel coat or metal mounting bracket.
I've towed it from Vegas to Southern California several times and back and forth to Lake Mead a number of times.
I have a 2005 H260 and have always trailered it with the motor attached. I have a Honda 9.9 with remote controls and electric tilt. It's bolted to the mount. Taking it off for trailering is not an option.
I looked at the mount recently and no cracks are apparent either in the gel coat or metal mounting bracket.
I've towed it from Vegas to Southern California several times and back and forth to Lake Mead a number of times.
vertical
I trailer mine in the vertical position on the motor mounts. I do not have any stress cracks.
I trailer mine in the vertical position on the motor mounts. I do not have any stress cracks.
Re: vertical
I have trailered an H26 since 1998 over mountains in Colorado and between Granby Colorado, Kemah Texas and Pentwater Michigan many times with no problem. Always leave a 1998 Mercury 8 H long shaft on the boat - usually vertical but sometmes up.
I have trailered an H26 since 1998 over mountains in Colorado and between Granby Colorado, Kemah Texas and Pentwater Michigan many times with no problem. Always leave a 1998 Mercury 8 H long shaft on the boat - usually vertical but sometmes up.
I have been instructed to leave it on. However, I was also instructed to never transport with the outboard raised, as the torque applied to the mount during sudden jolts can cause failure at several points
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