On 4/1/2021 12:38 PM, Peter Zimowsky via montgomery_boats wrote:
Hi: Normally I leave my 75-pound 4-stroke, 4-horse outboard on the transom all the time for the short trips to the lake (14 miles round trip; once a week). However, when I do my cruises in the San Juans, it’s 600 miles over the Blues and Cascades. I have been leaving the motor on the transom. Is that unwise? The motor is too heavy for me to put it on the motor rack on my boat trailer and keep taking it on and off. Any ideas? I’m I damaging the outboard motor rack on the transom. It seems to be tight; no damage after 5 years of this practice. I’m thinking of tradings the Merc in for a lighter motor.
Pete WinterSky (Zimowsky)
San Juan Islander lost inland - an old salty stuck in the sagebrush
outdoors writer and photographer Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pzimowsky Twitter: @zimosoutdoors The Northwest Outdoors Journey: https://outdoorsnorthwest.home.blog/2019/03/13/the-journey-begins/
"We Can Not Control the Wind But We Can Adjust Our Sails"
Hi Pete, My first concern is: have your beefed up the transom to support all that bouncing outboard weight as you drive? The 14 mile trip seems to have been OK till now, but 600 miles X 2?? Next problem of leaving the outboard on the transom while traveling.... With today's battery powered cutting tools, anybody that sees your engine hanging there can remove it in minutes by simply cutting away the transom holding the engine. You are much safer if the engine is in the trunk of your car - or inside the boat so that it can't be seen. Why offer someone such a juicy temptation? Connie