Towing over rough terrain with outboard down?

[matt167]

I’m going to move my boat to my girlfriends. Which has a 1/4 mile un paved driveway. I tow with the motor down and about 8” of ground clearance to the skeg. It tows perfectly like that. Think it’s safe to bring that over a bumpy driveway with a steep entrance where it drops in? I tow with the battery out as well so I don’t really want to pull off the side of the road to raise the motor

 

[Scott Danforth]

go slow, enter the drive from an angle

 

[Grub54891]

Leave the battery in and raise the motor when you get to the driveway. Simple.

 

[airshot]

Why take a chance?? Just raise the motor and be done with it!!

 

[matt167]

The battery jumps around going down the road and there is no place for a hold down under the splash well But I might just have to do it on the side of the road

 

[Grub54891]

Battery has to be strapped down per Abyc regulation. Regardless, I know in a small boat it’s not easy to do. How about one of those small hand held jump packs to trim up? Or a transom saver to keep it up a bit higher. Or trim up completely, and swing the trim lock down and just go….

 

[matt167]

I don’t like it either but a marine battery box does not have clearance where it is. The only thing I could do is put in a universal hotrod type battery hold down screwed to the floor. But it’s a 66 so i don’t know as all the regs were in place then

 

[Alumarine]

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[roscoe]

But it’s a 66 so i don’t know as all the regs were in place then

Doesn't matter what the law was in '66.
The law says all batteries must be secured, and terminals covered.

There's a reason.

 

[garbageguy]

8" skeg clearance? Do you have more than 8" clearance in the rest of your rig, and are towing in a forward direction?

 

[matt167]

Doesn't matter what the law was in '66.
The law says all batteries must be secured, and terminals covered.

There's a reason.

It also says that a boat of this size needs floatation even though I don’t think it ever had it. I think stuff does get grandfathered just like cars safety systems. This doesn’t mean I’m not looking for a solution but I haven’t found what I need yet

 

[matt167]

8" skeg clearance? Do you have more than 8" clearance in the rest of your rig, and are towing in a forward direction?

I think there is 8” at the hitch

 

[poconojoe]

Why would you trailer with the outboard down?
Why take the chance?
You might hit a speed bump or drive up an incline and make contact.

If you're paranoid about the engine bouncing, get one one of those transom saver bars.

 

[matt167]

Motor down is less stress on the transom and under normal circumstances the trailer has the clearance

 

[poconojoe]

Motor down is less stress on the transom and under normal circumstances the trailer has the clearance

Transom saver.
A simple adjustable bar that supports the outboard by spanning between the engine and trailer frame.

 

[JimS123]

NEVER trailer with the outboard down. Use a transom saver or secure the engine with a twobyfore and bungees if you don't want to spend money.

MY FIL and I had this argument for many years. His last 5 miles to his camp was a rough dirt / stone road. His last trip with the motor tilted up was a disaster. He called me to help because the motor and aluminum transom literally fell off.