Dinghy motor storage

AKFisher

New member
Good Day to all. I am interested on how everyone is storing their dinghy motors on deck while not in use. Do most of you just row around and not use a motor? If you do use a motor what do you do with it when your dinghy is tied down to the roof? Thank you and I look forward to learning about your ideas.
 
We use a Torqeedo electric motor--and either up it up under the V Berth (no foam) or over the railing on the 25 directly. Same would work with our 3.5 HP 2 stroke Mercury. We made a Starboard mount on the Tom Cat, similar to Brent's.

We have frequently used the dinghy motor as a kicker, and mounted it in the "up" position on the adjustable bracket. Also have laid motors down on their "proper" side (4 strokes, must be laid on one side or the other, because of the potential of oil leakage, or filling the cylinder). We have put the motor in the dinghy on the roof, with a woven rag rug under the motor.
 
Have a dinghy but no motor. I am considering a Suzuki 2.5 hp which is spec'd at 29 pounds (so maybe 32 pounds or so). I'm thinking of making a mount on the bow rail at a stanchion. The question is "is it sturdy enough?" It would help with the weight forward rather than more stern weight. What do others think of this?

Jay
 
C-Green":j73lf6ny said:
Have a dinghy but no motor. I am considering a Suzuki 2.5 hp which is spec'd at 29 pounds (so maybe 32 pounds or so). I'm thinking of making a mount on the bow rail at a stanchion. The question is "is it sturdy enough?" It would help with the weight forward rather than more stern weight. What do others think of this?

Jay
I wouldn't do that just for 32lbs of bow weight. Think of all the spray it will get and how cumbersome it will be to get up there from the dinghy.
 
Bow rail seems a bit inconvenient to get to. But of course I’m old and by myself a lot of the time. Also I’d need a good cover there because it would take a lot of spray on the bow. It would be high enough to be clear of solid water but lots of spray! How about a board like Brent on Discovery but mounted at forward end of cockpit??
 
I made a kicker bracket on the side gunnel by the door. The bracket is tied into the horizontal storeage bin and the bottom is supported by the foot step. The kicker is inside the boat, out of the way but easy to get to. I copied this idea from another boat. Unfortunately I can not find any pictures and have since sold the boat on. But it is real easy to do and everyone who saw it said, what a great idea. Maybe someone else will read this post and have a pic. If not, take your time, study the possibility and the light bulb will come on. BTW, I hung a 2.5 Suzuki there (that I called David!). Great motor and lightest 4-stroke on the market. You can drop it onto the dinghy with one hand.
Good Luck.
Martin.
Gypsy Rose.
Camano Troll 31.
 
In pic #7 and #8, San Juans 2014, in my folder, you can just see the top of the kicker on the stbd side. Sorry, it is the best I can do for a pic.

Martin.
 
When we ordered Wild Blue, I had the factory install an adjustable motor-mount on the stb side stern. With the adjustable mount, I could use a short shaft motor as a kicker and use that same motor for the dinghy. We had a 2.5hp and a 3.5hp; either were a good match for the dinghy and would move the CD-25 at 3 to 4 knots. Only ever tested it to move Wild Blue, never had to actually use it.

To swap the motor from the stern to the dinghy, I would tie them off stern to stern, undo the motor clamps, lift, rotate, and set it on the stern of the dinghy.

Here's a photo showing the motor bracket...

WBlift8.jpg

Motor on the dinghy...

Dinghy02.jpg

That adjustable motor bracket kept the motor out of the cockpit and gave us a "just in case" kicker.
 
The Suzuki 2.5 hp 4 stroke is a great motor for the dinghy. (We had one on the 25 and sold it with the boat...mistake). I agree with others that the bow railing is not a good place for it--spray, inconvenience, difficult to move back to the dinghy. You can bolt a piece of 3/4" Starboard (I order it from Amazon), to the inner liner/gunnel of the C Dory 22. Have it enough above the gunnel to allow the motor clamps. Quick release fittings could hold the starboard in place, so it could be removed if necessary.
 
I like the idea of being able to mount the motor to the inside of the cockpit. It would only be in the cockpit during our cruise to whichever bay we were going to then attached to the dinghy. Which is usually our ship to shore and used by whoever is camping out or exploring on shore. I will have to explore some mounting bracket ideas a little further.
 
Thank you Jay for finding a better pic. Just to add to Bob's message......The top of the bracket was not above the top of the gunnel if my memory serves me correct. The bracket sits about level with the top and a couple of inches away from the inside of the boat (using spacers) to allow the kicker to sit upright. This allows access behind to tighten up the clamps. I'm kicking myself for not taking a picture. In all modesty, it was the best inside cockpit bracket I have seen on a 22.
Martin.
 
AKFisher":b92i8a3c said:
Good Day to all. I am interested on how everyone is storing their dinghy motors on deck while not in use. Do most of you just row around and not use a motor? If you do use a motor what do you do with it when your dinghy is tied down to the roof? Thank you and I look forward to learning about your ideas.

Here is a pict. of my old 22', with the kicker storage bracket to the right of the kids L arm. 3/8 alu with a piece of oak 2x4.

:wink: :beer

Bucket_O_Shrimp_sized.jpg
 
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