-> My O/B motor mount needs to be replaced, and I was wondering if
-> anyone has any ideas on how to make it easier to lift the motor (9.8
-> HP Merc) out of the water. Men can handle it OK.The women, when they
-> take the boat out, have a problem. Is there an already-built thing
-> that I can buy, or do I have to modify one?
-> I drive a Tanzer 26, and would appreciate anyone's ideas. Thanks, Ed
Edwin: I take it you are using something like the Fulton motor mounts,
they have helper springs to take some of the actual weight off the motor
when raising or lowering it. Since most sailboats require a long shaft
motor I would get the ones designed for the larger engines (20 hp.). I
ran into problems with my older Fulton motor mount that kept slipping
off its locking position and I used a heavy rubber bungee cord to keep
the motor from dropping under its own weight. Attaching the bungee cord
higher on the boat made the motor feel lighter while moving it. I think
that once the motor is in the down position it could be left there in
neutral as the drag from the motor would not be all that noticeable.
                                             George
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