Tender to Boat Outboard Transfer - single handed

[JumbleDuck]

Use a Seagull, because nobody will steal it?

Actually, this is one of the reasons I stick to oars for the tender though some bugger stole my rowlocks once.

 

[Poignard]

Outboard motor manufacturers don't help by often not providing adequate lifting handles. It is ridiculous that people have to buy, or make, lifting slings for a product that requires frequent lifting, often under awkward circumstances.

 

[VicS]

Use a Seagull, because nobody will steal it?

Actually, this is one of the reasons I stick to oars for the tender though some bugger stole my rowlocks once.

It was all the Seagulls that were stolen from the yard shed a year or so ago IIRC

I used to leave the oars in the dinghy until they were nicked. I now have some nice jointed oars which I can stow , along with the Seagull, in a cockpit locker

 

[Gunfleet]

I’ll take a picture do it next time I do it. I can lift a Honda BF5 longshaft like it too. I may sketch if there’s nothing on the tv over Chrimbo. ��

I figured out a mistake we all are likely to make if we are using the boom is attempting to use the main sheet to do the lifting. Instead using the main sheet to lash the boom to a good spot - secured to a mooring cleat on the side deck for example, so that it projects over the side of the boat. Then I attach a snatch block at the end of the boom and another set somewhere to provide a fair lead to the winch. I’ve been using soft shackles (which I only learned to make this year to secure the snatch blocks. The winch saves faffing about with tackles.

I’m five years younger than the original poster and sail alone, but I’m not as strong as my 30 something kids now and have had to adapt!

 

[James_Calvert]

Tie dinghy fore and aft on the yacht's quarter. Lift outboard off the dinghy's transom and into the bottom of the dinghy, carrying handle uppermost. Tie a thickish line to the handle, a genoa sheet is handy for me. Get on board the yacht and hoik up the outboard with the attached line. Stow outboard.

Reverse the process to fit the outboard back on the dinghy.

Tricky bits.

Getting the outboard into the bottom of the dinghy without tipping over the dinghy. A tight stern line can help.

Getting out of the dinghy. You might need to get out in one spot and move it to another for the lift.

Bashing the outboard against the topsides on the way up and catching bits on the guardrails. Generally the quicker the lift the less likely it will rotate and bang or snag. Letting down is easier than going up.

 

[JumbleDuck]

It was all the Seagulls that were stolen from the yard shed a year or so ago IIRC

So either a thief with taste or a fisherman needing some new anchors for his pot lines ...

 

[nemodreams]

I have a suzuki dt2 - around the cowl is a figure eight of 50mm nylon web and buckle - on top of which is a ring. The strap is quite secure and does not impede fuel shut off or filler/vent etc. Attached to the ring is a strop of rope about18" long.
I can dangle the engine over the side one handed - its skeg then rests in the dingy and I can lay it down before letting go.
Its also very useful for lifting in and out of the locker where it lives. In fact - in any situation where I need to keep hold of it one handed. Even running it in a bucket fo fresh with prop off - its something to hang on to while starting. One of my better inventions - could not do without it really.

 

[Pete735]

Looks like I had better pull my finger out and make up a small padded bag that I can slip over the prop and first few inches of leg, a bit of velcro to secure it and within reason it should be safe enough (safety lanyard as well of course to pushpit rail). Another little job for one of the long winter nights.

Gunfleet I look forward to your sketch/photo, looking at TV guide, sketch should be ready mid afternoon boxing day at the latest!

 

[JohnDL]

Use a Seagull, because nobody will steal it?

Hopefully, I have a Seagull 40+ as old as the boat and it is light enough just to put some rope on it, loosen the clamps and lift it straight up and on to the push pit stowage. My problem is getting it onto the dinghy in the first place.

Swanage Sept 2017 (23) by https://www.flickr.com/photos/155795245@N04/, on Flickr

 

[Daydream believer]

Instead of a line for lifting, may i suggest some 1 inch wide webbing. This will be less likely to dig into the hands. Use a soft webbing. Even a sail tie may help as it will have a loop sewn in it for fastening to the outboard.

 

[JohnDL]

Instead of a line for lifting, may i suggest some 1 inch wide webbing. This will be less likely to dig into the hands. Use a soft webbing. Even a sail tie may help as it will have a loop sewn in it for fastening to the outboard.

Useful hint, I am using a soft 12mm rope so it is not a big problem - and if I remember I put gloves on in case the exhaust is still hot.

 

[Jaguar 25]

Thanks for all the interesting comments/suggestions. Looks like making a webbing strap to lift the outboard off the tender once I am on the boat seems a good solution. I was thinking of a rope around the handles but I have just tried this and the outboards I have seems to overbalance and go almost horizontal. My outboards are a 2 stroke Mariner 2.5 and a 4 stroke Honda 2.3. Just lifted both and there doesn't seem to be much difference in weight. If anything the 2 stroke is slightly heavier.

Merry Christmas to you all.

 

[KINGFISHER 9]

I have a Torqeedo, so can transfer it to the boat in lightweight, bite-sized chunks.

Me too ... best €2000 I've ever spent! ... I would recommend the latest one to anyone - 30 kms distance or about 6 hours and easily breaks down, the heaviest bit being 9 kilos ... :encouragement:

 

[fredrussell]

Totally agree with the comment above that outboards, especially small ones, should have carry handles fitted by manufacturers. Got rid of my Suzuki DT2 because it lacked a carry handle. Nice outboard, terrible design flaw. Was almost impossible to carry the damn thing one-handed.

 

[JohnDL]

Seagull 40+ 12 Kg in total, you are spoilt for handholds (when cold) or places to tie on to and mine cost £110 fully serviced and repainted and starts first or second pull. But it is noisy and a H&S person would have a fit with the exposed flywheel etc. but it suits me as being marina based it gets very little use.

 

[Dockhead]

For many years I just grabbed the motor ( Seagull 40 Featherweight) in one hand and climbed aboard with it. More recently I have been lifting it into the cockpit then climbing aboard but doing some damage is always a possibility.

I too am therefore looking for a safe and practical method!

I did think of using the boom, but realised some extra tackle would probably be needed either to lift the outboard or to control the swing of the boom. ( the mainsheet could do one of those things ) plus the boom would be crossing the side deck at the very point I would want to be climbing aboard

I asked for ideas on here a while ago and recieved a few suggestions http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...g-the-outboard-between-dinghy-and-mother-ship Google will, I think, find a few other ideas.

My best bet seemed to be to either buy and cut down the Plastimo Cargo boom( Expensive and too large to stow) or to design and build something similar but smaller but ill health has put paid to all plans at the moment

https://www.plastimo.com/en/mat-de-charge-pliant-et-amovible.html

Maybe a marina berth is the last resort.

The boom works very well, but you need to rig it out with a preventer, and then use a multi purchase block and tackle to handle the outboard.

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

Totally agree with the comment above that outboards, especially small ones, should have carry handles fitted by manufacturers. Got rid of my Suzuki DT2 because it lacked a carry handle. Nice outboard, terrible design flaw. Was almost impossible to carry the damn thing one-handed.

Just fold the tiller down and use that to carry it on its side. Balances perfectly. (But won't work too well if the tiller pivot is loose).

 

[maxi77]

Like others I first used the method of securing the dingy fore and aft and lift the engine straight onto the pushpit mount. Later I bought a spring loaded transom engine mount and with that in the down position it was an easy transfer and in the up it was clear of the water and an easy lift to the pushpit mount. Made life quite easy and also gave me an emergency engine in case of main engine problems.

 

[Flica]

On the basis that it is not wise to leave an outboard on a tender when left at a swinging mooring, what is the best way to transfer the outboard onto the boat when you are solo?
Appreciate any suggestions.

On my last 3 boats I've used a lanyard from OB carrying handle (hence @ CofG). Unship OB, lay it at the bottom of the dinghy, tie the lanyard to the guard rail, get aboard yourself and then haul in the OB.
Works with dinghy alongside, or aft of a sugarscoop stern.
As I've sailed single handed for over a quarter century it's a well-honed procedure, works even in a bf6 seastate, @ anchor.

 

[BrianH]

Instead of a line for lifting, may i suggest some 1 inch wide webbing. This will be less likely to dig into the hands.

Thanks for all the interesting comments/suggestions. Looks like making a webbing strap to lift the outboard off the tender once I am on the boat seems a good solution.

I have a wooden pad on the pushpit and with the 2.4m Zodiac lashed against the quarter can easily lower and lift the 13.5kg 3.5hp 2-stroke Johnson from the stern - or could up to last September. And I am a single-handed 82-year-old.

The secret for me is to have two webbing-straps round the engine cowling fore and aft of the shaft, joined by a third tying them together at the top with a long loop that can reach a down-stretched arm over the pushpit and that loops round my wrist. It is an easy matter to lower directly onto the inflatable wooden transom (after it stops spinning) with the clamps wide open. Equally easy to open them, climb the stern ladder holding the loop, and hoist up to the pushpit pad.

Remembering, of course, to have previously attached a safety lanyard from engine to pushpit pillar first to guard against it all going wrong.