Re: WWP-19 Outboard Motors

theodore f. boyer (freelanc@execpc.com)
Sat, 07 Aug 1999 20:57:21 -0500

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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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Dear Tim,
Actually this is for your information having a 4 hp Mercury attached at hiway
speeds of 65-70 mph for some periods for one way directions of aprox. 25-27miles,
pulled by a 91 Olds Supreme SL (6 Cyl.). The motor was tipped up in some cases
until it dropped down (you could hear it fall), but no apparent damage. But after
that it seemed like I was more aware of the noise of a bouncing motor from then
on.
I decided to add a large 3/8" thick stainless steel buck plate on the inside,
it stopped the noise in transit and all the vibration normally experienced on the
water. Oh yes, I now transport with the motor up and vertical only. Hope this
helps someone out there in "Potterdom".
Ted- Milwaukee WWPotter19 "Sea Breeze"

Tim Spofford wrote:

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> West Wight Potter Website at URL
> http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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> When I tried to tow my P19 with the motor on (an older 4.5hp 2-stroke
> Evinrude), it - together with the half-full gas can and a few other
> inconsequential odds and ends in the cockpit - shifted the center of
> gravity aft of the axle, not a good situation. I could probably balance it
> out adequately with some effort but I've found it easier thus far just to
> stow it in the back of my Cherokee. Mostly, I'm posting this as a caution
> for others who may not think to check this important detail.
>
> Fortunately, as soon as I got on the highway I experienced some slight
> fishtailing that I hadn't previously encountered and realized what the
> problem was. But had I not noticed it when I did and immediately stopped
> to correct it, I could easily have let myself in for a nasty accident or,
> had I survived the trip but released the ball mount in the parking lot, a
> badly crunched stern.
>
> Tim Spofford
> Kirkland, Washington
> P-19 #611 "Heron"
>
> At 07:02 AM 08/07/1999 -0700, Eric Johnson wrote:
>
> > > You may be able to strengthen your transom to allow leaving a 4 or 5 hp
> > > mounted so you wouldn't have to take it on and off, but there are
> > > conflicting opinions about the wisdom of trailering with the
> > > motor mounted.
> >
> >I'll do some experiments today on that. I'm heading out in a few minutes
> >from Seattle to Flathead Lake - 500 miles, 3 mountain passes. I'm leaving
> >the motor attached, but I've wrapped a dockline around the back of the
> >motor, and tightened it up with a trucker's hitch. The line should take the
> >bulk of the fore-and-aft movement of the motor, so the motor mount only
> >needs to support the weight vertically. I've done short trips like this and
> >it works well. In fact, I've done the whole trip with just the motor on the
> >mount with no reinforcements! But it does bounce around a lot when I've done
> >that.