How to safely mount a 15hp 4 stroke to wood transom

[Rudderman]

I almost lost my engine yesterday...it jumped off the transom at about 20mph. I was only using clamps to hold it on and it would have sunk to the bottom of the lake if the battery hadn't got wedged in the boat.<br />What is the safest way to mount the engine to the transom (1 1/2 inch marine plywood)? Any other safety precautions I should take to make sure I don't lose the engine / cause an accident?

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: How to safely mount a 15hp 4 stroke to wood transom

A well tightened on motor doesn't "jump off". You can put on a rope or chain attached to the motor and boat for insurance.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: How to safely mount a 15hp 4 stroke to wood transom

Never had that problem. Crank down those clamps!!!

 

[sloopy]

Re: How to safely mount a 15hp 4 stroke to wood transom

I have had this problem 2 times with fourstrokes, I tie a rope to each clamp and run it through a cleat.

 

[Rudderman]

Re: How to safely mount a 15hp 4 stroke to wood transom

Thanks for the replies.....<br /><br />How about transom bolts? Are you supposed to use the clamp as well as the bolts?

 

[ED21]

Re: How to safely mount a 15hp 4 stroke to wood transom

I had a 4 1/2 on a sailboat that had flanges screwed to the transom that the clamps screwed into. <br />The flanges wouldn't let the clamps slide past if they were a little loose. The clamps had to be unscrewed almost all the way to clear.<br />I then had a padlock through the holes of the the clamp handles so they couldn't move.<br />I would definately secure the motor w/ a chain or cable to keep it out of the drink.

 

[Rudderman]

Re: How to safely mount a 15hp 4 stroke to wood transom

Thanks for all the advice, all very good suggestions.<br />One thing I'm curious about is that if you tie the clamp handles together, will it not tend to unscrew the left hand clamp?

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: How to safely mount a 15hp 4 stroke to wood transom

You can also get a motor lock which will lock the handles you have tightened...<br /><br /> http://www.iboats.com/mall/index.cgi?prod_id=20162&current_category=motor lock&cart_id=354556385

 

[mulv80]

Re: How to safely mount a 15hp 4 stroke to wood transom

I've fortunately have never had a problem with my motor jumping off the back of my 14ft gamefisher. I do however check occasionally to make sure they are still tight. The vibration of trailering and the motor running can rattle them loose. Just check them once in a while during the course of a trip.

 

[Rudderman]

Re: How to safely mount a 15hp 4 stroke to wood transom

I am now suspecting that the main reason the engine came off is that I was using a tempo rubber transom pad.

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: How to safely mount a 15hp 4 stroke to wood transom

Yup. Thatll do it!