I have a 2.5 HP Tahatsu outbord that weighs 24 lbs. I have to trailer my boat about 40 miles one way to the lake. Should I remove it when towing the boat? If so, what is an acceptable way for stowing it in the back of my van?
Thanks
IMHO, I don't think 24 lbs is going to hurt it. Tilt the motor down before leaving though. Obviously if you are driving down a bad road with things bouncing all over the place, you might reconsider. If you didn't want to leave it on the mount or put it in the van, there are some owners who have attached a mount to the trailer tongue which seems to work well. I believe there are a few pics in the gallery.
From all I have read and experienced, normal practice is not to tow with the outboard on. I have a 27 lb Tohatsu 3.5 and remove it. The bouncing would stress the mount and, perhaps, the transome. Probably things would hold, but why take the chance?
If you do take your Tohatsu off carry and transport it with the specified side up. My thoughts . . . .
PS/ My avatar image shows my CP16 with a Tohatsu 4 HP 4 stroke. Too much weight and motor . . . I replaced it with the 3.5 which works great.
I have a 2hp evenrude (don't know the weight, but it is very light) and I allways remove it to trailer. I just don't like the idea of it bouncing arround on the boat.
I have the 2hp Honda (28lbs) and tow 15miles each way on highway...
Before leaving, I wrap a line around the motor to the rear cleats as tight as it will go... it seems to take some of the strain off the motor mount and transom... anyway, I've not yet seen any stress cracks. At some point, I plan to use my old aluminum rudder plate as a giant backing plate inside the transom on the motor side... but that's another project.