Launching wheels - Heavy engine

[Chicoutimi]

Hi, I want to install some launching wheels on my zodiac to get it in the water with the engine on. I have a 340 cadet. I am planning to buy a Suzuki 15, 4 cycle. The weight of this engine is 96 pounds, 44 kg. I now have a 9.9 and the weight is 76 pounds or so. I never tried to install a 100 pounds engine on the transom but I read some thread that it is close to the maximum you can handle, so I would like to install it while the boat is still off water.

Do you have to drill the transom to install the wheels, and if so, drilling below the water line is not a good idea. Any wheels with some type of clamping?

Any idea? I shearched the web and picture are not in very much details and they do not show any hardware.

Thanks

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: Launching wheels - Heavy engine

no wheels aren't a good idea .... don't you have a trailer? a 15hp 4-stroke is still fine to carry and mount ....

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: Launching wheels - Heavy engine

Most of the wheels I have seen mount above the waterline- there's a couple brackets on my Avon but I never got the wheels with the boat... they're about half way up.
100 pounds is a back breaker if you need to go any distance....
I'm a big guy and I'm not crazy about lifting my 20HP 2 stroke - it's 95 lbs.

Canadian Tire has the snowbear trailers on sale right now in my area- I bought a convertible 5' x 9' earlier this year - fits my inflatable perfectly.