do you store your outboard on the boat?

[sailorman]

I store mine virtually upright in an outside locker when we're back in the UK. However, I always drain off the petrol when I leave it so I would have no concerns about storing it inboard if I had to. Before I realised that it would fit in the locker I used to store it on the pushpit with a lock and a very thick PVC rubble sack type of thing tied down over it which is what a lot of boats in the marina seem to do.

Richard

any cover needs to breath or you are encouraging condensation within the plastic bag that isnt good for the motor

 

[Robin]

I've been puzzling why most of you seem to leave the o/b on board .... and then presumably row ashore? Only later did it occur to me that you must live in marinas; or at the very least have water-taxi service.

In the dim & distant when we last had a swinger we kept our inflatable in a rack at the YC and the motor on a stand in the engine shed also at the YC. Since moving to a marina the requirements are different and now we are in the USA again in a marina and the alternative is at anchor as there are few swingers to rent, Buoys not gels.

 

[mickyp168]

I'm thinking of doing that so it's always to hand when we want the dinghy. But SWMBO might object if it's left on the cabin floor. Do other forumites ever leave theirs on a pushpit mount with a lock on it in the marina?

I keep mine on the bracket as I dont have an inboard. But my marina has good security. Wouldn't want to keep it inside apart from the petrol issue it means humping it about and it weighs 25kg.

 

[KellysEye]

On the pushpit mount with a padlock.

When we were long distance sailing we had a stainless steel chain with water hose at each end. When the dinghy was in the water the chain was looped and padlocked to the outboard handle, passed through the handle on the petrol container and looped and padlocked to a stantion. On a pontoon the only difference was it was looped and padlocked through a cleat on the pontoon. In the Caribbean dinghy theft was rife.

 

[rob2]

If on board, the ob lives on a pad on the pushpit with a padlock holding the toggles together. If leaving the boat for any time it either comes home or goes down into the cabin, clamded (and locked) onto the rear of one of the dinette seats with a couple of pieces of ply to protect the woodwork. This keeps it upright and secure. With the air screw wound down it doesn't emit any fumes.

Rob.

 

[RupertW]

Two kept on each side of the pushpit.

One a Honda 5hp which I hope will be nicked as we can't work out how to get rid of it.

The other a Torquedo which had the handle and controls inside the cabin but battery and shaft padlocked to pulpit with cable round the battery. Should probably have hosed it down with fresh water dried it and left it in the cabin.

 

[[70521]]

I'm thinking of doing that so it's always to hand when we want the dinghy. But SWMBO might object if it's left on the cabin floor. Do other forumites ever leave theirs on a pushpit mount with a lock on it in the marina?

When onboard on the pushpit.
When ashore in the club engine shed.

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

Yes, kept upright inside a cupboard in the cabin

 

[johnphilip]

I kept outboards (two Seagulls and a Yamaha) on the boat for many years without a qualm, a lock or a problem. The trick, in my opinion, is always to have an outboard which looks significantly less valuable than those on neighbouring boats.

Very good philosophy. A scruffy cover has a remarkably similar effect, more effective than a lock.
I recall at a small isolated club our Prelude was never touched all winter for several years but taking off the cover at fitting out invited a break-in one spring.

 

[William_H]

I have always kept my engine in the cabin. It is the only engine for the boat. I always laid it on the floor just under the bridge deck where a real engine might fit. This season I have moved it to the fore cabin berth roped in to keep it in one place. This to improve fore and aft trim. Never any concerns about smell etc.
But then we don't sleep on the boat anymore. good luck olewill

 

[Alan_B]

Ours is kept on the bracket. Unlocked. Should really buy a lock for it, but its one of those things I constantly forget about until we go out sailing (every Saturday - you think that would be frequent enough to remind me). We occasionally remove it if competing in a long cup race, in which case its left down below until I can be bothered putting it back on its bracket. Actually, come to think of it, the hatch into the cabin doesn't have a lock on it, but if anyone wanted to steal some damp cushions and well past their best J24 sails I wouldn't be too annoyed.

 

[reginaldon]

I keep mine on the bracket as I dont have an inboard. But my marina has good security. Wouldn't want to keep it inside apart from the petrol issue it means humping it about and it weighs 25kg.

I'mjust on a mooring in the tidal harbour, motor on the o/b bracket like others - no problems over the last ten years.