David_Jersey
Well-Known Member
I want to put a motorbike on my boat.
Notwithstanding that one of the reasons why I bought my boat was that their was plenty of deck space (relatively) behind the aft cabin which makes moving around the deck when line handling easier it is also just enough room to put a small motorbike / moped.
My thinking is that it would be something which would be road legal (including in the UK) and would not live permanently aboard, just when I was going foreign. I used to have access to a car in France which I always found useful – even for just “popping” up to the shops or to the hypermarket instead of the local shop, where “only! a couple of km’s on foot becomes a long way back with the shopping bags! – also having a bit of transport does I find increase my exploring range a great deal. I know I could use pushbikes, but I am not really one for them.
Anyway, the “problems” I have is finding a motorbike small enough for TWO people (although both slim!), that will be road legal (at least for one person – I am quite happy to modify something to add a pillion – I know it shouldn’t be done, but………) and then to have a method of getting it on and off the boat.
The Motorbikes I have “found” on the net are these:-
Monkey Bike
Sachs Madass - VERY cool as well!!!
Diblasi - folding motorbike - might need 2 of these!
But today I saw another model which MAY be suitable, given a tape measure – but unfortunately I haven’t got a camera phone and it wasn’t the usual Jap brand name – so I have forgotten it!
What I am thinking is something that would be worth the effort of getting off the boat for only a weekend – not necessarily bringing it aboard each night – although for obvious security reasons this would be nice.
Obviously weight is an issue as well, particularly when it comes to manhandling it in a restricted area (I am NOT a bodybuilder!), but I figure whatever I get I will need some mechanical assistance, so as long the motorbike is small the weight should be ok. Whilst a purpose built derrick / crane would be ideal it is not something that is in the budget or that I would want on the aft deck 24/7 anyway.
However, fortunately I have a mizzen mast and (fortunately??) it will need re-rigging anyway. The shrouds would just about let the boom extend over the side of the boat right at the aft ¼, but the motorbike would need to held right at the end of the boom for it to have any chance of reaching a pontoon – however as the stern does have a slight overhang at the top so the boat could be brought close into the pontoon stern facing with motorbike dropped off that way. Either way I am figuring on it probably being a two handed job and a block and tackle arrangement, with or without the use of any winches so as to “pull” the motorbike away from the vessel for clearance from the hull – especially as the mizzen boom would have to raised somewhat so the motorbike could clear the pushpit. As the boat takes the ground could even just be dropped on the beach I guess.
I know I am stretching here, but anyone done anything similar! It might not be for a motorbike, but say, beefing up the boom fittings etc to turn a mast / mizzen mast into a crane / derrick so that it could be used to lift heavy weights (MOB?) or barrels of beer?! I am guessing that the mast fittings will need beefing up as well as being made so that the boom has greater sideways and up and down movement than is normal and maybe also the shrouds will need to be beefed up?? Anyone got any thoughts? Or suggestions?
Also anyone found any other small makes of motorbike?
Notwithstanding that one of the reasons why I bought my boat was that their was plenty of deck space (relatively) behind the aft cabin which makes moving around the deck when line handling easier it is also just enough room to put a small motorbike / moped.
My thinking is that it would be something which would be road legal (including in the UK) and would not live permanently aboard, just when I was going foreign. I used to have access to a car in France which I always found useful – even for just “popping” up to the shops or to the hypermarket instead of the local shop, where “only! a couple of km’s on foot becomes a long way back with the shopping bags! – also having a bit of transport does I find increase my exploring range a great deal. I know I could use pushbikes, but I am not really one for them.
Anyway, the “problems” I have is finding a motorbike small enough for TWO people (although both slim!), that will be road legal (at least for one person – I am quite happy to modify something to add a pillion – I know it shouldn’t be done, but………) and then to have a method of getting it on and off the boat.
The Motorbikes I have “found” on the net are these:-
Monkey Bike
Sachs Madass - VERY cool as well!!!
Diblasi - folding motorbike - might need 2 of these!
But today I saw another model which MAY be suitable, given a tape measure – but unfortunately I haven’t got a camera phone and it wasn’t the usual Jap brand name – so I have forgotten it!
What I am thinking is something that would be worth the effort of getting off the boat for only a weekend – not necessarily bringing it aboard each night – although for obvious security reasons this would be nice.
Obviously weight is an issue as well, particularly when it comes to manhandling it in a restricted area (I am NOT a bodybuilder!), but I figure whatever I get I will need some mechanical assistance, so as long the motorbike is small the weight should be ok. Whilst a purpose built derrick / crane would be ideal it is not something that is in the budget or that I would want on the aft deck 24/7 anyway.
However, fortunately I have a mizzen mast and (fortunately??) it will need re-rigging anyway. The shrouds would just about let the boom extend over the side of the boat right at the aft ¼, but the motorbike would need to held right at the end of the boom for it to have any chance of reaching a pontoon – however as the stern does have a slight overhang at the top so the boat could be brought close into the pontoon stern facing with motorbike dropped off that way. Either way I am figuring on it probably being a two handed job and a block and tackle arrangement, with or without the use of any winches so as to “pull” the motorbike away from the vessel for clearance from the hull – especially as the mizzen boom would have to raised somewhat so the motorbike could clear the pushpit. As the boat takes the ground could even just be dropped on the beach I guess.
I know I am stretching here, but anyone done anything similar! It might not be for a motorbike, but say, beefing up the boom fittings etc to turn a mast / mizzen mast into a crane / derrick so that it could be used to lift heavy weights (MOB?) or barrels of beer?! I am guessing that the mast fittings will need beefing up as well as being made so that the boom has greater sideways and up and down movement than is normal and maybe also the shrouds will need to be beefed up?? Anyone got any thoughts? Or suggestions?
Also anyone found any other small makes of motorbike?
