Was wondering if anyone has traveled with a inflatable boat(Zodiac) and an outboard motor. Where did you store the motor during travel. It is a 2 stroke 25hp so I was told it was ok to lie it on it side???? I travel with 21sb travelstar and Expedition. Any help would be great
We had an 11' Avon and 15hp Yamaha outboard that we hauled in a dpmh. You are correct that the 2 stroke outboard can be hauled in any position. Just run out the gas before putting it in a closed space. The boat took up more space than the motor. We gave up on the boat after a couple of years and gave it away and sold the motor. Sorry that I can't provide information specific to HTTs.
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I have an 11' inflatable sportboat with aluminum floorboards, air keel, etc, rated 20 Hp. Have two outboards: a 2-stroke, 15 Hp Evinrude weighing 75 lb, and a 4-stroke, 3 1/2 Hp Tohatsu weighing 40 lb.
Physical size and weight (particularly, weight of a 100#, 25 Hp 2-stroke) should be considered. Physical size of above motors is almost identical. Powerhead of the 3 1/2 Hp is about the same physical size as the powerhead of the 15 Hp. Length is the same.
Either 15" shaft motor will fit crossways in the back of an SUV. I wouldn't consider any other location, based on the difficulty of manhandling a 100# outboard into and out of a trailer, even if you have space for it. There are no issues transporting most 2-strokes in any position.
I formerly carried the 15 Hp for seneral years in an outside compartment of my 38' DP (now sold). This worked well after I modified the compartment door to open a full 180 deg, so that motor could be directly swung into compartment, rather than installing the 75# motor at arms-length under the original 90 deg. extended door. With experience, abandoned this in favor of carrying both motor and boat in the SUV toad.
Boats are usually launched at some distance from where RV is parked. Use the toad/TV for transport. You don't want to take entire RV to and from launch site. I found that moving motor (or boat) from RV to toad, and back again, was a hassle that got old fast. (may be why many give up on the whole idea)
I carry a 9.9 Johnson 2 cycle outboard in the dinette area of my TT. I remove table and lay motor down flat in a large tote. Generally I try to stay at Campgrounds located on the water to minimize the effort required to transport boat to water. I have a 14' Port a Bote that I power with my Johnson outboard.
Thanks for the help. One more thing when you put the motor on the boat what is the easiest way of installing on the transom before you put it in the water or after????/
Position boat with transom at water edge with bow pointed away from shore. Clamp motor to transom in the "tilt" position. You have solid footing, and will not skewer boat if you slip. Lift motor at skeg while pushing boat away from shore. In most cases, this will allow boat to float free. If too shallow, you will have to wade in about ankle-deep.
Don't drag your inflatable over rocks, etc.
Installing a heavy motor with boat afloat is difficult at best, and catastrophic at worst. Motor must be transferred directly from dock to transom. There's no place to rest a motor on its skeg, as an intermediate step, without damaging most inflatables. Is a very difficult transfer with heavy motor, while standing in the unstable boat.
We travel with a 13ft Saturn Inflatable and Yamaha 2 stroke 25hp Motor. Our trailer is a 19 ft Travelstar. The boat and floor travel on top of my tow vehicle. The motor travels in the trailer on the floor. I always run the motor out of gas to prevent gas smell in the trailer. This has worked well.
The motor weighs quite a bit and is murder to move. My brother talked me into this larger motor. I struggle when moving the motor but love it when its on the boat. The 25hp will put a boatload of 5 people up on plane and will go near 30 mph. This is faster than you really want to go in one of these boats.
When you put the boat together with the motor it weighs near 250 lbs plus. This is more weight than I can lift. I build the boat on shore and then install launch wheels (wheel-A-weigh) These wheels work great. You just pick up the boat and roll it down the ramp. The wheels roll up or you can take them off.
Good luck with your boat. My boat has become one of my favorite campsite activities. We now plan our trips to areas that have water. I like the places where I can leave the boat in the water during my stay.
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