Long distance travel

[Charlie_merrifi]

In July I'm going to eagle lake ca for a week. I'm taking my 12 foot aluminum rivet boat. My question is it will be loaded with camping gear while on the way. Should I pull the motor off or will it be ok to leave on. Not the best roads through part of it. It's about 500 miles

 

[Thuggin4Life]

I always leave mine on. is your transome in good shape? if it is then dont worry about tit and don't race around on rough roads.

 

[Charlie_merrifi]

Seems to be in good shape it just bounces around a lot being so light. Maybe with it loaded with camping gear will weight it down some.

 

[halibuthitman]

I always remove mine on long highway trips, probably becouse ive lost a trailer on the highway and I see no reson to risk being rearended or lose a motor as well, also why beat up the transom more than you need. I also shy away from putting more than a couple hundred pounds in my boat, boats are designed to push against even hull pressure, if you have a roller trailer as apposed to bunks you are pressing down on too small of a space on the hull and can start getting those annoying rivet leaks. but just my opinion.- Brad

 

[Charlie_merrifi]

Here are a few pics

 

[Charlie_merrifi]

There are no rollers on the trailer

 

[Thuggin4Life]

With the trailer you will be fine loading the boat with gear. as for the transom you shoud be fine. i always slow down for bumps so my boat/trailer doesn't jump to much. just go slow on the rough roads.

 

[capblack]

use a bungee to hold your motor down to the trailer, you dont want it jumping. also make sure you always tow with the motor in gear, I always leave the motor on though. Brian

 

[Thuggin4Life]

I have to tow mine in neutral because af the ratched action trim that engages when in gear. is it ti make the prop not spin?

 

[Thuggin4Life]

hey on another note how does that 15 push that little boat of yours?

 

[Charlie_merrifi]

hey on another note how does that 15 push that little boat of yours?

It hauls I've got the trim set just right to where it's still manageable. Still have to be careful turning. If I adjusted it more it would be insane.

 

[GDBrown]

I have to agree with Halibuthitman, your motor is not that heavy and removing it will make the tow a lot more managable. Small boats and small motor are not ment for long distance trips. I have seen a good transom ruined on a 500 mile trip. Be on the safe side, take it OFF.

GD

 

[Charlie_merrifi]

Can I take it off and lay it in the bottom of the boat

 

[halibuthitman]

I wrp mine with some egg crate mattress I bought at walmart and lay it in the bed of my truck, but I don't see why it could'nt be in the boat.

 

[fishnquest]

I left my motor inside my 12ft boat one time. My boat is fiberglass and I won't trailer it with the motor on the transom. Anyway, it bounced around so much I never did that again. Everything inside the boat bounces around like a bee in bottle. I ended up adding a mount to my truck rack to mount the motor, and I never transport anything inside the boat while trailering. I would recommend tying it down in the truck bed somehow.

 

[Charlie_merrifi]

I drive a taho which will have dog crates in it. Maybe I can tie it to the center seat of the boat.

 

[Thuggin4Life]

The best way to take all your gear is to stuff it inbetween the seats to were you have a tight fit to help with things bouncing. never stack things higher than the seat without tying them down, trust me or you won't have it when you arive at your destination. I would do as Halibuthitman sugggested and wrap the motor in something soft and then wedge it in with the rest of your gear. Also make sure you run the mottor out of gas or it will be flooded and hard to start when you get there. good luck on your trip and have fun.

 

[Razz]

Eagle Lake trout WILL not hit a fly 150' in back of the boat,just ask the old timers.

 

[Hawk]

Over 4 lustrums ago i towed my first boat (12') about the same distance, from Monterey,CA, when we moved here.

I made a vertical stand for my 15hp Sea King motor. Put her in the bed of my pickup.

About a foot forward of the transom i put a strap from the starboard trailer frame over the boat, attached to the port frame. For added safety i attached an extra line from the bow eye around behind the winch mount.

I put some belongings into the boat to tow so i put a tarp over the boat top & ran some line & bungies over it.

Bring a couple of transom boat plugs.

Have a wonderful adventure, Bro.
Drive Safely.

 

[stream2.5]

on mercs with the ratchet trim tow in reverse, it locks the tilt mechanism so it cannot raise up. but on that boat i would find a way to transport in the truck.