DaySailer.org Forum

I have just mounted a 4 HP outboard weighing 45 lbs over a rubber motor mount pad, bolted thru and shimmed out to the thickness if the transom coping. My question is whether it is safe to keep the moter mounted while trailing the boat (12 miles) or whether the weight could damage the structure of the transom or the hull.

Im new to the DS world, but not boats...

I would remove it myself unless its a real PITA to do it. If it is a pain, your only going 12 miles right?? Is it a rough 12 miles, or smooth highway?? If not a rough road, I would leave it on.

Normally I trailer with the motor off to save stress on the mount and the stern. It doesn’t take much of a bump in the road to cause a problem. Also make sure the motor is tipped up to reduce the chance of hitting the road surface or the ramp as you prepare to launch. Brad

I'm curious, what happens after the 12miles? Would you store the boat with the motor attached? There's the stress on the motormount during trailering, but I would also want to be sure that all that extra weight is really well supported by the trailer - esp. if you keep the motor on after you get home.

We have a 2HP Honda that weighs about 32lbs mounted to a outboard bracket that puts the motor about six inches off of the transom. We had the motor clamped to the bracket and tilted up and drove our boat about 90 miles to where we leave it for the summer. Everything went pretty smooth.

i have a 3hp johson which is on a adjustable motor mount, i leave the motor on when trailering, have had no problems, less work when rigging the boat.

Guys - not to be a worry wort, but I do not leave my motor on when trailering. I have a 3.5 HP and when mounted to the boat it's on a motor mount, not the transom - but I worry about over stressing the hull. It takes me about 45 seconds to lift the motor out of the cockpit, mount and tighten it down to the motor mount. Since the cap is leak proof and the motor has a fuel shut off valve, I figure I can live with 45 seconds on arrival and departure for all the peace of mind it affords.

And to be honest, I'm thinking about just leaving the motor on shore. I am really starting to wonder if I need it at all.

How many people don't bother with motors at all? I for one can't wait until I can shut the damn smelly thing off!

seandwyer wrote:And to be honest, I'm thinking about just leaving the motor on shore. I am really starting to wonder if I need it at all. How many people don't bother with motors at all? I for one can't wait until I can shut the damn smelly thing off!

Mine's electric. No smell. But the batteries are heavy. So, I'm tempted to leave it on shore if conditions don't look like I'll possbily need it. It's never hooked up until actually needed.

If I'm out of paddle range when the wind dies down, I keep sailing, even down to ghosting in the 1/10th knot range. If it's really dead, I take a nap. If that still doesn't fix things, I might hook up the motor.

Sometimes there's no choice: I have to get through a bridge, or be able to cross a shipping lane. Or my crew needs to catch the last flight home.

But on the right occasion, I'll stubbornly sail, if at all possible. One late night, or was it early morning?, I spent an hour tacking up a narrow canal in the faint light of reflected street lamps because my crew rather wanted to continue sailing than get home faster.

In my limited experience, taking a nap fixes most anything in life.

In the words of both my sister and my wife, "We are NOT paddling this boat again!"

I'm testing my motor and mount this weekend. Mainly, we will use it for getting in and out of boat ramps and harbors. We really don't need it at the club. We are usually close enough to shore there that paddling in isn't an issue.