stowing dinghy outboard on 26X

[mike uk]

I read the comments on the adjustable brackets for mounting outboards in the recent discussions.

As an alternative I've been thinking how I might mount my outboard so that it occupies the space behind the aft seat just to starboard of the main motor. Our swim ladder is on the port side so the space on the starboard side seems ideal. If it were located there, I would possibly lift it inboard and use the boom to help crane it over the side into the dinghy or maybe work out some sort of pole attachment for craning it over the stern.

The question is how to mount the motor in that area. I've thought about stainless steel brackets attached to the rear quarter stanchions or maybe attaching a bracket to the superstructure but it all seems a bit difficult and could put quite heavy loads on fairly thin fibreglass just there.

So, I'm thinking of mounting a bracket on the back of the stern seat. What I mean is just a square of plastic or timber about an inch thick which I could bolt through the rear lip of the seat back and reinforce it with timber or plastic in the hollow section of the seat back. It would protrude a few inches above the height of the seat back to receive the mounting clamp on the outboard.

When the seat is shut, the hollow lip of the seat back seems to engage with the superstructure in a fairly substantial and positive way and the hinge also seems strong enough, so I think the seat back ought to be able to accomodate the load.

Of course, it would not be possible to open the seat when the motor is mounted on it which is the main disadvantage. I can step over the seat easily enough although the admiral's legs are a bit shorter than mine so she needs to drop down a few inches off the seat back when climbing over it. But it would keep her fit. If it is really an issue then the motor can always be lifted inboard to enable the seat to be lifted.

Has anyone done this?

Any views on suitability and feasibility?

Mike

[Chip Hindes]

How big is the motor?

Having gotten my seat crunched in the rear ender traffic accident I had last year, I can testify that the seat is surprisingly flimsy. As you know it is not solid but two relatively thin shells glued together around the edges. Unless you glass it to the rest of the boat permanently, I wouldn't trust it to hold something as substantial as a motor. And before you point out that if the seat can hold your 100kg but, what's the big deal with a 25kg motor, let me first point out your butt is sitting in the seat supported by the whole seat structure, whereas the mnotor will be cantilevered off the back in a highly unnatural and stressful (at least as far as the seatback is concerned) manner.

After trying and discarding the stern rail bracket idea, even if I hadn't decided to put mine on a bracket which could lower it into the water for emergency auxiliary use, I still think the starboard transom would have been by far the best place for it. Yes, the fiberglass is relatively thin there, but with some big washers or an internal backer plate, I think it would be fine and certainly far better than the seat.

If your motor is lighter (and you have an X with stern rails) I carried mine on a bracket on the stern rail for a year without any adverse effect on the rails or boat structure. It's just that mine (26kg dry) was far too heavy to lift on and off the bracket.

No matter what you end up with, I don't think any kind of bracket ought to be used for transporting the motor while trailering.

Before you consider it as a possible solution, I recommend you experiment using the boom as a crane to lift your motor. We did this for the same year we had the motor on the stern rail and it didn't work worth a damn.

[mike uk]

Chip

Thanks. I agree the outboard should be down below or in tow vehicle when on the road.

My motor is the Honda 2.3 4 stroke weighing 13kg which would easily go on a bracket on the stern rail based on your comments.

Do you have a picture of how the bracket was fitted to the stern rail (or has anyone else got one?)

Regards
Mike

[TomKat]

Mike, I just posted a picture of my stern rail mount on the Mac Mod Page. It works great. Our first motor weighed only 38 lbs. However our new motor tops the scale at 60lbs, so we added a Garhauer Marine hoist . This makes it much easier for my wife and myself to handle the motor as we remove it on all long passages.
Tommy

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

Here's my setup. Handles our 6hp no problem. Not only does it carry the motor, it also can be lowered so the motor can be used as a backup. I usually keep the motor on it's shallow running tilt stop to get the required clearance when under way. These are actually the early set of photo's. I have raised the bracket up so the bottom holes are now where the top ones were. The ideal height for my motor would be in the middle, but I didn't want to drill more holes. It actually will push the boat at 6 knots with the ballast in. I changed all my tank fittings so both the main 50hp and the 6hp can connect to any of my four 6gal or the 3gal tanks.

We use the old style mast crutch that came with our 96X as a crane. I just attach the mainsheet on it and lift the motor off the bracket using the lifting sling on the motor, swing it outboard, then lower it onto the transom.

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/cgi-bin ... record=427



Here's how I got the bolts installed.



There is another layer to cut through behind the exterior one. The cavity is filled with foam.

[Simon]

so we added a Garhauer Marine hoist . This makes it much easier for my wife and myself to handle the motor as we remove it on all long passages.
Tommy

Thanks for that post. Tommy

Looks like a good solution.

Would you mind telling us a little about the install of the Garhauer Marine hoist. Do you think that the hoist is strongly attached?

S

[DLT]

Yeah, I'd love to see pictures of the marine hoist...

They make a combination hoist/radar tower...

[Simon]

It actually will push the boat at 6 knots with the ballast in. I changed all my tank fittings so both the main 50hp and the 6hp can connect to any of my four 6gal or the 3gal tanks.

Duane

What is the length of shaft on that 6hp o/b?

Thanks

S

[They Theirs]

Dinghy-Tow and Small Auxiliary Engine Removal

[Simon]

Good demo video. Some how I get the feeling that system would work much better on a larger boat.....

But you know i've been thinking.... Maybe a person could build a OB lift divit?

[TomKat]

I have posted on the mod page pictures and details of my hoist. Sorry couldn't figure out how to make it link here.
Tommy

[Bobby T.-26X #4767]

I have posted on the mod page pictures and details of my hoist. Sorry couldn't figure out how to make it link here.
Tommy

Wow!!!
That's impressive.
what size dinghy motor?

Dinghy Motor Hoist





Bob T.
"DaBob"
'02X w/ '04 90-TLDI & '06 2.5-Suzuki

[TomKat]

Bobby T.
I have a Suzuki, 4 HP, four stroke. Which has a weight of 60 Lbs. wet.
We previously had a 3 HP, 2 stroke . At 38Lbs we could handle it OK.
Tommy