This year we are truck-topping our 14' Lund and I'm trying to figure the best way to carry and store the 15 hp long shaft outboard in the back of the
pick-up. Anyone have any cool ideas for a rack or other restraints ??
.AmoPescar - 12-8-2006 at 06:02 PM
Hey There Diver...A couple of questions
Are you carrying the Boat on a Truck Topper Boat Rack...or maybe just on a
lumber rack?
And is that mounted on the top of a Camper Shell or just mounted over the truck bed??
AmoMinnow - 12-8-2006 at 06:04 PM
Its best if you use two hands and a straight back.
Seriously now. Wrap a towel or blanket around it and put it as far forward as possible. Probably on the passenger side, then pack the rest of you
things around it. I has worked for me over thousands of baja miles and lots of different terrains, and I have never had a problem.
The real question is how to get that heavy Lund on the roof.BajaWarrior - 12-8-2006 at 06:10 PM
Build a wooden box just over the dimensions of the outboard, even with lower unit notched out of the bottom of the box keeping the box smaller size,
line box with foam like a camping mattress, cut it larger than the box for side protection of the motor, install outboard on side, shifter side up.
Have hauled a small outboard that way for years. I have a makeshift stand as well for upright storage. Also made of wood. Hey, I'm a carpenter.
Built a rack out of lumber for a boat (aluminum) that made it to Cabo and back!
(young carpenter)
Diving Minnow-------
Barry A. - 12-8-2006 at 06:13 PM
---I use a manual crank "Eide Boat Loader" to get the boat on the roof-rack, and I load my engine the same way as Diver, but I use 4 inch thick sponge
rubber "pillows" to protect the engine, stuffing additional gear around it to keep it in place. Has always worked good for me, but make sure the
engine is secured well so it does not get loose and bounce around. Also have a beautiful girl in a white Bikini along to keep an eye on things as you
motor along those rough roads-------( I just recently learned that last suggestion from the NOMADS board.)Minnow - 12-8-2006 at 06:17 PM
Barry A, I like your thinking. When camping the "sponge" can be used to sleep on. Same with the girl in the Bikini.Diver - 12-8-2006 at 06:47 PM
I also have an Eide boat loader that is mounted on top of lumber racks over a canopy. I think I may try a combination of the great ideas you guys have
come up with so quickly.
Maybe a wooden cradle padded with thick foam. I will bolt the cradle to the floor and add a strap from the cradle over the motor. How's that sound ?
With the thick foam, I won't have to scribe the cradle so closely to the motor. I also, have always been a carpenter; even through other careers.
Ooo, now how about if the cradle was mounted to a couple of heavy duty full-extension glides so I could pull it to the rear of the tailgate ??
I better keep working on the final solution.
.Minnow - 12-8-2006 at 06:55 PM
I forgot to mention that I always carry my motors, when in the truck, backside down, or tiller up.Diver - 12-8-2006 at 06:56 PM
Now that I've looked at Amo's ad and seenhis rack with wheels, I am thinking a cradle/rack on wheels so I can pull it out and leave it standing ?
The whole thing would have to be light for me to lift the weight along with the motor though.
Still thinking ........
.Minnow - 12-8-2006 at 07:03 PM
Is it a two stroke or a four? A four really should be kept upright.Diver - 12-8-2006 at 07:11 PM
It's an '02 Merc 2-stroke.Minnow - 12-8-2006 at 07:29 PM
I am sorry, I can't help you. Bueno Suerte.Diver - 12-8-2006 at 08:20 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Minnow
I am sorry, I can't help you. Bueno Suerte.
Unfortunately, you are right. My next one will be Japanese !
This one is fairly light and powerful but occassionally has a minf of it's own. And I carry lot's of extra spark plugs.
But if it dies, I get to buy a new one in La Paz !!
.
[Edited on 12-9-2006 by Diver]
Minnow------
Barry A. - 12-8-2006 at 09:13 PM
I too forgot to mention that I carry my engine tiller up. It is a Johnson 15, 28 years old, and I love it.msteve1014 - 12-8-2006 at 09:17 PM
if you lay the motor on a strip of carpet before you pile all the other things around it for the trip,then you can just pull the carpet to slide the
motor to the back of the bed to unload.that is how i get mine into,and out of,my camper when its not popped up. saves your back for unloading the
boat.AmoPescar - 12-8-2006 at 10:17 PM
Hi Diver,
Glad you like my wood rack. It's not sturdy enought to stand a lot of Baja
bouncing around though. But, one could be built a bit studier.
I was thinking about some other ideas...
What about some type of hitch mounted motor carrier? Maybe a mount welded to the top of a steel square tube, upright post, that the engine would clamp
onto and be locked to.
Or...maybe a bracket welded or bolted to your lumber rack. Maybe just inside the tailgate, so that it's easy to load.
Or...instead of building a box out of wood, is there a BIG enough heavy duty plastic TRUCK TOOL BOX that you could buy and line with foam. I know that
Wal-Mart has some pretty large ones and the prices are pretty reasonable. You could bolt it to the bed and be able to lock it up. The old addage "out
of sight...out of mind" pops up.
Amo
How much does it weigh?
Dave - 12-8-2006 at 11:18 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Diver
I'm trying to figure the best way to carry and store the 15 hp long shaft outboard
You can carry it over to my house and I'll store it in my garage.
I need one of those.
steve1014------
Barry A. - 12-8-2006 at 11:20 PM
------sounds like a good idea to me. I like it.steviecroc - 12-10-2006 at 02:56 PM
You may want to check out the motor carrier the Eide people make, it works as neat as their loader and sure saves older backs. Their website is below.
Enjoy the fishing.
You could wrap the entire engine cowling and the prop area in large bubblewrap. Use duct tape to seal it up and it's not too bad removing it.
Or you could wrap the entire engine in a dense foam sheet that backpackers use to sleep on, well, those that cant afford Thermarests. Walmart sells
some of this insulite-type padding in waffle construction for 11.00 in their camping area. Very dense stuff, but I would still wrap the prop in a
towel to prevent puncturing the foam pad. You could probably bungee the whole thing up.Al G - 12-10-2006 at 09:04 PM
Diver...how much work do you want to do?
I could describe how to build a styerofoam container of plywood.Diver - 12-10-2006 at 09:19 PM
Al,
I started a cradle/sled today.
3/4 ply bottom with (3) 1 1/8 ply ribs and 2 layers of 1/8 bender curved over the ribs. I will try to find the righ closed-cell foam to pad the thing
and either bolt or strap it behind one of the wheel wells.
The motor will clamp to a 2x so I can use it vertically as well, when it's not in the truck.
Last trip I tried bungees, towels and cords but it bounced around too much and busted the choke control.
.Diver - 12-10-2006 at 09:23 PM
Oh Al, I just had a thought, maybe what you were thinking....
I could wrap the motor in plastic and lay it in the cradle then use expando foam to create a perfectly shaped foam bed. I like it !!
.AmoPescar - 12-10-2006 at 09:29 PM
Diver,
Sounds like you've got the problem solved with a good solution. But, if for some reason that doesn't work as well as you want, That EIDE Motor Carier
looks like a really good way to carry a motor.
Good Luck with your project!
AmoDiver - 12-10-2006 at 09:39 PM
I have the Eide boat loader but the motor loader looks too $$$$$$$$$
And it looks like you have to add the sliding bed which is space we use for other things.
.AmoPescar - 12-11-2006 at 02:43 AM
Diver,
Doesn't look to me like you have to have the sliding bed to use the Motor
Carrier. May be a lot of $$$, but sometimes it worth spending the money to buy a product which makes our lives easier.
BUT, that sliding bed is probably a lot of $$$$. Sure would make loading and unloading some things a lot easier though.
Maybe when you're done with your Outboard Cradle, you can take a picture and post it for us to see. I'd like to see it.
Amo / MichaelPhil S - 12-11-2006 at 09:02 AM
About 1996 I bought a Johnson 25 hp outboard (commercial model) in Ensenada at Equipos Terramar & they delivered it to their warehouse in Chula
Vista where I picked it up. (one heck of a deal by the way) First thing I did when I got home in Oregon was to take it to my local upholstery shop
& had them make a black plastic heavy duty cover with two heavy duty strap handles sewn in. Motor still looks like new, thanks to the cushioned
soft cloth (interior) bag.
