I trailer with the motor and without a reinforced transom. I have 3.5
Tohatsu, however (about 35 lbs?), and I use a ratcheting tie-down around the
motor, attached to both aft cleats to "spread the load." This was suggested
on this list last year by somebody, and I've trailered it about 25 times
that way (long and short trips) without incident or gelcoat cracks or
anything else. If/when I get a bigger motor, such as a 4stroke, I would
probably do the same thing. However, watch your tongue weight! With the
motor on the back, and the water tank unfilled (it's winter,eh?), the hitch
rattles over 60 mph.
I started trailering with the motor on the back as part of an effort to
reduce my launch time. I've given up on looking "sailorly" on the highway,
but I can get rigged and unrigged in half the time, which gives me an
automatic 1/2 hour of extra time on the water (my real goal!).
Best of luck,
J.J. Falkanger
Cary, NC
P-19 #792 "Fozzguppy"
P.S. Yes Harry, there's a Grove Park Inn still there. I got kicked out of
both bars last year there! A little too fancy for my crowd...
-----Original Message-----
From: Gordon <hlg@pacbell.net>
To: wwpotter@tscnet.com <wwpotter@tscnet.com>
Date: Thursday, March 04, 1999 11:26 AM
Subject: Re: Trailering Advice
>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> West Wight Potter Website at URL
> http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>>I quit using the strap which secures the boat to the trailer. It didn't
>>seem to do much except give me major grief connecting it. Does anyone
>>feel this is asking for trouble?
>>
>>Greg Gaston
>>WWP-19 #808 "Peppermint Patty"
>>Asheville, NC
>
>It's asking for trouble. Use the gunwale strap. Boat trailers don't have
>shock absorbers so the boat gets a rougher ride than you feel in your tow
>vehicle. A sharp bump or dip can bounce the boat out of position on the
>trailer. Then there are all the other highway dynamics to contend with:
>gusts, sudden stops, sharp turns, minor accidents. The boat needs to be
>firmly secured to the trailer. I also tie my bow line around the trailer
>tongue so I won't be depending only on the winch cable to hold the bow in
>place.
>
>Isn't there an Oak Grove Inn in Asheville? I stopped there in 1959. I
>remember a huge fireplace built of large stones.
>
>Harry Gordon
>P14 #234, Manatee
>Mountain View, CA
>
>
>