Outboards on planes?

[Kelpie]

I found a few discussions on this but nothing very up to date or definitive.
I'd like to take a small outboard as check in luggage, probably either easyJet or Ryanair. It's a little 3.5hp 2T weighing 13kg. Definitely not new, in fact it's in pieces at the moment.

Previous discussions suggest that whilst you're apparently not allowed to do this, many people have done so successfully. Obviously I would drain all fluids and wrap it up well.

I realise that there's a risk that I won't be allowed to check it in, and I'm not sure what happens to it, and the rest of the bag, if it's refused. But it's sitting gathering dust in my shed and losing it is a risk I'm willing to take.

 

[Neeves]

I'd check with the airline(s). It sounds silly to re-assemble, check it works, drain it, clean it, wrap it up, pack it in a bag/suitcase to then you donate it to an employee of the airline/security. You may find different airlines have different rules and that may dictate with whom you fly.

Years ago I turned up at a check in desk with a lifejacket, harness, whistle (the works) don't recall if I had a knife) - check in staff were hesitant. They spoke to the Captain of the actual plane - his comment was something like:

'Don't be silly, its a safety device, of course he can take it on board'.

This was Cathay Pacific. Rules may have changed since then.

An alternative is some sort of courier service. It you followed my Spade regalvanising thread where I removed the lead etc - It weighs 10kg and I am sending it back to the owners in Tasmania - at their cost of A$30 (which to me seems a bargain). Its a local courier service - not much use to you - but just a thought.

The other option - sell it (wherever you are) and buy another one (wherever you are going).

To cast a working outboard aside sounds contradictory from a Scot . If you really don't care - donate to a local Sea Scout unit - or equivalent.

Jonathan

 

[harvey38]

My old airlines rules were it was OK if it was unused and no oil in it but the reality is we saw, and smelt quite
a few being brought back from the States, more strimmers and chain saws as they were cheap out there at the time.

 

[penfold]

Shrink wrap the bits and fit them in a suitcase with lots of padding around them so that it will survive being drop tested by the baggage mishandlers; I doubt the x-ray drones know what a dismantled outboard looks like, success increases when you disguise the unusual(smelly outboard motor) as the usual(boring suitcase just like every other).

 

[All_at_Sea]

I have done it a couple of times with Easyjet to Europe. Let them know that you are bringing it, drain the petrol and let the tank air dry for days before travel. They put it through the Xray machine and label it up for the hold. They wouldn't take it as onboard baggage. This was a few years ago but l don't see much change now.

 

[Minerva]

They wouldn't take it as onboard baggage.

I find it awkward enough carrying my outboard up the narrow path at side of the house and through the back gate without bashing the wall / gate /chopping the head of flowers / knocking harling off the wall - I'd hate to think how many folk I'd maim trying to get an outboard up an aisle on a aeroplane and into an overhead locker!

 

[Wing Mark]

Was the OP planning to import it into the EU?

 

[Kelpie]

Was the OP planning to import it into the EU?

That's an interesting point.
My boat is in the EU, the outboard is in the UK.
I'm not resident in an EU country, and the boat is not EU VAT paid. I intend to sail to the Caribbean in a year's time so will not have been in the EU for eighteen months.

 

[Blueboatman]

I would ring the airline
You then have a record of a conversation /affirmation

 

[Wing Mark]

That's an interesting point.
My boat is in the EU, the outboard is in the UK.
I'm not resident in an EU country, and the boat is not EU VAT paid. I intend to sail to the Caribbean in a year's time so will not have been in the EU for eighteen months.

I think there may be a big difference between what you can get away with and what's technically legal.
If your boat counts as a foreign ship, with the right paper work you can probably take stuff through the EU to your ship with 'importing' it.
But walking through the 'nothing to declare' pathway with expensive goods which are generally forbidden in the EU might be 'open to interpretation'.

If you are making several trips, taking a few 'low value used spare parts' each time might be less potentially contentious?

 

[AngusMcDoon]

That's an interesting point.
My boat is in the EU, the outboard is in the UK.
I'm not resident in an EU country, and the boat is not EU VAT paid.

Travelling by plane you can take up to €430 worth of personal goods into the EU tax and duty free. I expect a tatty old outboard will be within this limit*. It's under "Other goods including perfume"...

Rules for carrying alcohol, tobacco, cash in the EU and leaving and entering the EU

* depending on how much Old Spice you lug around with you

 

[ibbo]

If it gets rejected put it on a carrier at the airport.
I can pm my address?

 

[Kelpie]

An alternative is some sort of courier service. It you followed my Spade regalvanising thread where I removed the lead etc - It weighs 10kg and I am sending it back to the owners in Tasmania - at their cost of A$30 (which to me seems a bargain). Its a local courier service - not much use to you - but just a thought.

The other option - sell it (wherever you are) and buy another one (wherever you are going).

To cast a working outboard aside sounds contradictory from a Scot . If you really don't care - donate to a local Sea Scout unit - or equivalent.

Jonathan

Selling isn't really a good option, it's ancient and looks terrible and is in pieces, and the gear shift is seized in gear. Also I only have a few days before I fly (assuming nothing gets closed down by then!).

Courier from UK in to EU post Brexit is a non starter, and the ob isn't really valuable enough to be worth the cost.

I actually have a better outboard on the boat already, but I'm kicking myself for not putting my spare one aboard when we left Scotland. I thought it would just sit in a locker and never get used.
But now I just worry that something will happen to my good one and I'll be stuck having to buy a brand new one. The only way to guarantee that I don't need a spare is to carry one... I'm sure this applies to most boat parts ?

 

[Slowboat35]

First off, a two-minute search reveals that Ryanair do not accept internal combustion engines. At all... Provision 8.9.1
BA do accept them, subject to permission and conditions apply.
Easyjet is less forthcoming.

Rather to my surprise the UK CAA website contains the following table.
Note that both provisions apply - "Petrol Powered Equipment" is the device the engine is attached to (or not). The "Engine" itself - if fitted, has its own regs to apply - ie ICAO S.P. A70

I note there is no mention here of draining oil or ensuring it does not escape. That too is a significant hazard (imagine a baggage hold floor slick with spilled oil) that is not directly addresssed here - but I think the airline might well consider that to be the "other dangerous goods" . under "Engines".

Looks like different airlines have different rules.




ICAO S. P. A70
Internal combustion engines being shipped either separately or incorporated into a machine or other apparatus, the fuel tank of which has never contained any fuel, the fuel system of which is completely empty of fuel and without batteries or other dangerous goods, are not subject to these Instructions. The words “not restricted” and the special provision number A70 must be provided on the air waybill when an air waybill is issued.

Without doubt this requires a call to Customer Services to find out. Airlines are free to extend Dangerous/Prohibited Goods if they wish, and they often do.
If you imagine UK security is going to permit you to carry an outboard as hand luggage you'll have another think coming at the airport!

I hope Penfold is ashamed of his disgraceful suggestion. Rules are there to protect the public and aircraft from potential hazards and suggesting circumventing them is irresponsible in the extreme. The offense of hazarding an aircraft in flight is (which is what you'll get charged with if caught at this little stunt) is punsishable with unlimited penalty. Courts are quite rightly not sympathetic in such cases.

 

[ibbo]

There's no problem taking parts of engines, so you could take the most likely to fail?

Mike

 

[dunedin]

Well taking it to the airport is one way to clear it out of the shed - it flies or it goes in the skip

 

[Kelpie]

Hmmm, still only two votes on my poll. And still waiting to hear from somebody who was refused permission to check in an outboard.

 

[William_H]

This thread has gone in a rather sad direction. Rules have been set by ICAO and then followed by airlines regarding carriage of dangerous goods. With very good reason. However unfortunately for every rule you can find examples where the rule does not fairly apply to your situation. We just have to live with the rules as they stand.
It is much like the authorities setting a speed limit for a road. There are always situations and places where that limit can clearly be safely exceeded. But we have to stick with the limit if only for uniformity.
Now the rules as posted earlier clearly look at internal combustion engines. Clearly the duel tank is of real concern. In fact more explosive with less petrol in it. So removal and washing out would be essential. I trust they will take your statement that you have done that properly.
Then obviously for the sake of control you should advise the airline with the correct documentation that the engine is what it is, and is properly packed etc.
The moral question is not really regarding the likely hood of you bringing down a plane but of the imp[ortance of complying with a system that has been found by experience to be vital to airline safety. ol'will

 

[Laysula]

Back in the eighties, I believe one or two speedway riders were caught sneaking engines aboard in bags as hand luggage on flights to Australia.

 

[Kelpie]

Following suggestions on here, I contacted easyJet directly. Took a while to get through on their chat service but eventually I got there.

Me: Can I carry a small outboard motor as check in baggage? I will drain all fuel and oil first. It weighs 13kg.
Mahima: Yes it will go in a checked in bag

So that seems pretty straightforward. I've taken a photo of the chat window, only thing I can really think of to prove it happened.