Where do most carry their outboard when trailering? On the motor mount? On the cockpit floor? In the cabin? In the trunk of the tow vehicle? I have a Honda 2 hp air cooled, 25#s if that helps.
I trailer sail a Suncat and always carry my motor in my SUV. I would be afraid of the stress on the motor mount or if the motor got loose inside the Suncat.
I trailered all my motors on the mount. I did wrap a ratchet line around the motor up to the stern cleat and draw it tight so it didn't wag.
Heck, I only did this for a CP 19, Suncat, Precision 21, and Slipper 17, once or twice a month from 1993-2013, so who knows if it would work for you.
Happy New Year!
Powerboats have well reinforced transoms intended to handle the force of high powered outboards.
Trailering a powerboat with the outboard in place is no problem.
However, the transoms on sailboats are built much more lightly.
Have you ever followed a sailboat with an outboard on the mount on a trailer on a bumpy highway?
Did you notice what the outboard was doing? Did it seem to be bouncing up and down on the motor mount when it hit bumps?
Some sailboat owners do leave their outboards on the motor mount with no apparent (visible) damage to the fiberglass transon.
However, even if there was no risk to the boat, there is the risk that the motor could part company with the bracket and go bouncing down the road. (I have seen that happen.)
My options for transporting my outboard in order of preference:
These are the options I use:
1. Inside my van
2. In the cabin wrapped in a movers blanket
3. In the cockpit wrapped in a movers blanket
These options would be OK, but not ideal:
4. On the roof rack
5. In the passenger seat
6. In my friend's trunk
...
This last option would be my last resort, on a smooth, short road at moderate speed but only if I had a broken arm and could not lift my motor off the bracket.
99. On the outboard bracket
54 lb motor on the motor mount of a CP-19.
Trust the fiberglass. It's extremely strong.
The mount is bolted through glassed in plywood hardpoints.
It's all about spreading out the weight.
I have never seen it done but I'll bet that the entire CP-19, fully rigged, could be raised by the masthead with a crane.
And the weight would be hung by the chain plates, bow sprit with dolphin at bow ring, a stern chain plate and six cables making up the standing rigging.
It would be fun to do. Lets see, 2000 lb over 4 points, bow, stern, two midships chain plates, so 500 lb per point. And only 334 lb per cable.
Yep. no big deal.
skip.
ive had a 2 hp outboard on my mount for 6 years and no problems or signs of stress yet.
This topic was tackled before here before...see link. My Suncat has a 4hp 4 stroke Yammie on the back. The motor has a lock. When trailering I have it fully raised and then tied forward tighter by rope. This keeps the "bounce" from happening and has been no trouble after several thousand miles. (Florida-Pembroke Ontario Canada, Pembroke to Chesapeake, Pembroke to Maine 3 times, Pembroke to North Channel twice, Pembroke to Lake Champlain plus local trips) I would not want to trailer with it simply hanging out there (and bouncing)
http://cpyoa.geekworkshosting.com/forum/index.php?topic=6413.0
On the motor mount, vertically and padlocked.
On the motor mount, vertical, padlocked and also supported by the main sheet (clipped to the motor and the mainsheet traveller on the stern pushpit) to support the weight. This is a 6HP 4stroke on a Legacy.
I also trailer our Eclipse with the motor on the transom and a support strap up to the stern arch with just enough tension to help support the weight and absorb the bounce. We have trailered over 4k miles in the last 2 seasons and have had no damage.
-Allen
Quote from: Pete H on January 01, 2014, 04:42:30 PM
On the motor mount, vertical, padlocked and also supported by the main sheet (clipped to the motor and the mainsheet traveller on the stern pushpit) to support the weight. This is a 6HP 4stroke on a Legacy.
This has been my practice too. I've not had any problems thus far but I haven't trailed very far either. My motor is a Honda 2hp.
mel
Ditto on Frank's comments above.
4hp Yamaha on transom motor mount SUPPORTED with Nylon Ratchet strap under motor head and hooked to stern cleats. No "dynamic loads" from bouncing. No problems.
capt_nemo
I've always taken a different approach by lowering the motor on its bracket to the bottom most position, with the motor in a vertical position. This has worked well for my 2 1/2 and 5 hp motors. I then only secure the motor so it won't swivel around on the mount, but otherwise don't do any more to keep it from bouncing. Maybe it bounces some while underway...never seemed to notice and always arrived with it still on the mount! As to the transom, I've owned 3 16s over the years and never experienced any problems with any of them by using this approach. The heaviest motor weighed 55 lbs.
Jett
Eagleye, not sure your advice is relevant. You have a cat running a plank on the front of your trailer to offer a dynamic counterbalance. Not everyone can duplicate that. ;D ;D ;)
I never could bring myself to chance damaging the bracket,losing the motor or someone taking at the motel parking lot.........so always remove for any long trip,the few extra minutes it takes to remount is worth it......you might have gussed I am a worrier.........if you leave on boat be sure and put in gear, watch props turning at 70 mph and wonder long before the lower units are wore out.....nies
Does that make Allen's Eclipse a Catboat? ::)
Bob23
There was an old thread that talked about serious cracks in the transom in the area of the motor mount, and how to reinforce the area. Because of that and because the motor mount manufacturer specifically states that the motor should be removed for trailering, I do that on my 23 and lay it on the trailer spare tire in the bed of my pickup, with the motor safety cable locked to the truck. However, I had been using a 104 lb. motor. Keep in mind that these new four strokes are much heavier in every HP range than the old two strokes.
My new motor is 59 lbs. I still intend to take it off, in fact one of the many reasons for replacing the heavy motor was to make it easier to remove and remount.
The OP is talking about 25 lbs. Think I would be OK with leaving it mounted with some strapping that would limit both vertical bounce and lateral swing and would insure the mount itself did not see any dynamic moment forces that could damage it or be transferred to the transom. OTOH, 25 lbs. means no strain to get it off and back on if there is a decent place to carry it in the tow vehicle. A search would reveal pics of some stands built onto the front of trailers that are used to carry the motor. I think Mike Greene did that on one of his previously owned boats.
As expected opinions and experience vary on this subject.
Quote from: Bob23 on January 02, 2014, 03:35:06 AM
Does that make Allen's Eclipse a Catboat? ::)
Bob23
The cats name is Danforth and if he gives me any grief we just hook him up to some rode. ;) Hmmm.... I'm not sure of the correct size and length of the chain?
-Allen
Looks like an 8 or 10 pound Danforth. You may not need any chain for that little guy...just a flea collar!
Sorry for thread drift...my mind wanders whither it will. If it were me, regardless of engine weight, I'd remove it. It's not just the dead weight but the bouncing motion as the trailer hits bumps. But, as shown above, leaving a light motor on seems to work just fine.
I don't know the weight of my Nissan 8 hp 2 stroke...gonna guess about 50-60 lbs. It goes on the mount right before the boat is launched.
Bob23
I've travelled with the 6HP outboard on the mount for short distances, i.e. less than 30 miles. And each time I've taken a line to the stern rail to take the stress off the engine mount.
FOR LONGER TRIPS - I made a bracket - horizontal on the trailer under the bow area and travel with the outboard clamped with the motor clamps and lashed to this bracket and covered. It's a REALLY simple bracket. 2x8 laid flat and u-bolted to the trailer. On the 2x8 is a 6-8" 2x8 angled vertically. This is where I attach the motor clamps. The motor travels on it's side (correct side up so carb doesn't flood). Never had any problems travelling 250+ miles to Maine and back.
Steve
CP23 movin' to CP25!!!!
Since I store my motor separately from my boat, I always haul the motor in the bed of my tow vehicle. I just make it part of my setup routine.
Atrometer,
I put my MinnKota on the CP16 in the Spring and take it off in November. I do secure it with a bicycle cable to help prevent theft and, heaven forbid, having it fall off! You shouldn't have any problem with the Honda. But, definitely secure it to the boat or somebody else (like me ;)) might enjoy the benefits of such a fine machine.
Eagleye,
Madame Z looks great, even on the hard!
Marty K.