Lock motor in up position

[peterbrown77]

This is not exactly the correct forum - but it kinda is ....

I have a 1995 9.9 Mercury 2-stroke on my inflatable. It is too heavy for me to keep taking it off/putting it on when I am towing the dinghy behind my sailboat. I want to leave it on, but in choppy water the engine won't stay in the "up" position. When this happens, my dinghy now has a rudder and a mind of its own, so i have to stop the boat, get in the dinghy while I'm bouncing around 5 miles offshore and try to put it back up.

I see that there is a tilt lock kit for trailering the boat that is supposed to keep it in the "up" position no matter what.

The questions/problems are this: first, it is kind of pricey for what it looks like ($150). Second, how quickly can it be locked in the "up" position? Will I be fiddling for 20 minutes and dropping parts in the water?

Finally (and what I really want to know) - has anyone come up with an alternative that is cheap and effective?

TIA

 

[mudslinging79]

Re: Lock motor in up position

cut a scrap piece of wood , like a 2x4 and set it across the part where it hinges, under the powergead, play around with placement. weight of the motor will keep the wood in place. cheap and easy

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Lock motor in up position

a heavy rubber bungee cord (not a cheapie) will hold the motor tilted, or will help hold the wood in place if blocking

 

[mudslinging79]

Re: Lock motor in up position

forgot to mention the bungee, thanks