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Help Towing CAT 25 ???

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JOHN SAINDON
Deckhand

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USA
24 Posts

Initially Posted - 12/17/2003 : 12:54:30

Hi All: I need some advice towing my cat25 fk/sr from norfolk to
pensacola Fl. Question is....is it OK to leave outboard motor on mounting bracket ?? My bracket is heavy duty garlik .Motor is a Honda
10HP 4 cycle 108lbs.Towing will be done by commercial agent.
Your inputs appreciated

Best Winds To you:

John Saindon Norfolk Va.

GERARD A. SAINDON

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 12/17/2003 : 13:35:31

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Is it OK to leave outboard motor on mounting bracket? <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

I've always advocated removing outboards before transporting to prevent damage to the motor, transom, mount, and the car behind you, but I believe, by virtue of you asking this question, that you have some reservations about leaving the motor on, and as they say, "When in doubt..."

Edited by - on

coach
Navigator

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USA
231 Posts

Response Posted - 12/17/2003 : 14:42:53

I have always been told to remove it during travel.

Not worth the gamble.

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Gary B.
Admiral

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USA
969 Posts

Response Posted - 12/17/2003 : 15:00:14

I have left my Yamaha 9.9 on the bracket, mostly because it is SO heavy for me to handle when I get to my destination (a long trip for me is 250 miles). I ALWAYS tie it up securely to the boat (cleat/stanchion) so the weight is off my very heavy bracket. I stop often and check it because it makes me nervous. I also have been known to put a strap behind the engine and tension it with the winches, in addition to tying it.

However, for the length of your proposed trip, I would really try to remove the Honda. In that long distance (I don;t have my atlas out!), I would be nervous about ropes stretching/becoming untied or loose, and nylon straps stretching, etc. A commercial guy is less likely to stop frequently to check these things. I suggest playing it safe and removing the engine, provided you have assistance on both ends in taking it off and putting it back on the boat.

Gary B.
Encore! #685 SK/SR
Vice Commodore

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Ed Montague
Captain

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USA
499 Posts

Response Posted - 12/17/2003 : 15:32:12

I also have the Yamaha and leave it on and well secured when trailering. Same reason as Gary, too heavy to handle without help. However with somebody else hauling the boat and possibly being left unsupervised in truck stops, etc, I would remove it just for the security factor.

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Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 12/17/2003 : 17:23:02

John,

I agree with those who suggest removing the outboard from the motor mount on long trips. So far, I've only been trailering a few miles every year or two for bottom maintenance. For such short trips, I just tighten several turns of rope around the motor handle and the stern rail to help take weight off the mount. If I were going to trailer the boat more than maybe 50 miles, I'd move the motor (and anything else I could) to the V-berth to improve tongue weight.

- Leon Sisson

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lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 12/18/2003 : 00:51:30

I have towed my sailboats probably 10,000 miles over the years, usually with the outboard still mounted, lashed very securely to the stanchions and aft cleats, and have never had a problem. However, if you are not doing the towing yourself, with your own vehicle, I would remove the outboard. You can't trust a commercial truck driver to stop and inspect everything. And what if he has to leave the trailer parked somewhere, unattended, and the motor is stolen or damaged somehow? I basically agree with what Ed Montague said in the post above.

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tmhansen
Captain

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USA
397 Posts

Response Posted - 12/18/2003 : 03:15:44

John, I trailer my motor on the heavy duty Garelick bracket. The bracket is tough but the motor still had some bounce to it. I was able to make it rock solid by adding a strut from the lower end of the motor to the motor bracket. I had my wife follow me down the highway and she said it did not budge. I have posted pictures of it here but I don't know how to dig them up and I don't have the link with me now. That being said, in your case I would take the motor off as Ed suggests because you won't be around to keep an eye on things and you don't know where your boat will be on along the way.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 12/18/2003 : 08:27:15

These guys have obviuously never experienced a broken outboard motor mount like I have...TWICE!

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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.