Storing the Dinghy Outboard

[monte]

G'day, just a quick question. We will take the outboard off the dinghy for the Atlantic crossing, probably leave the dinghy on the davits. We have a 207 Johnson 2 stroke 10hp outboard I'm thinking of laying down in the chain locker. Is this ok for 2 strokes? I don't have a stern rail bracket for it and would probably rather keep the weight amidships.
Thanks for any tips

[ontherocks83]

Yes 2 strokes are not as sensitive to position as 4 strokes. The problem with 4 strokes is the engine oil can leak into the cylinders so they have to be laid down per manufacturers specs. 2 strokes don't have a oil reservoir so they can be laid down on their side.

[cwyckham]

On the side works. Be careful not to invert it and get sea water flowing up the exhaust and into the cylinders. Even a little bit could cause a lot of corrosion.

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[Cotemar]

Originally Posted by cwyckham

On the side works. Be careful not to invert it and get sea water flowing up the exhaust and into the cylinders. Even a little bit could cause a lot of corrosion.

Very good point.

Another tip would be to run the engine in a five gallon bucket of fresh water for a minute or two to remove any salt water from the cooling system.

[Terra Nova]

Originally Posted by monte

...probably leave the dinghy on the davits...

I'd be more concerned with this.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by Cotemar

Very good point.

Another tip would be to run the engine in a five gallon bucket of fresh water for a minute or two to remove any salt water from the cooling system.

And run it completely out of fuel so there is no fuel to leak out of the carb

[robert sailor]

Dinks on davits off shore have a mixed review. Normal trade wind conditions would probably be OK but if you got into some big following seas might not be. We won't leave our dink on davits offshore but many do.

[Cotemar]

We were offshore for 250 mile down the East coast of USA on a FP Helia 44.

We had heavy following sea's with some breaking.

The 12 foot dinghy with the 15 hp Yamaha 2 stroke engine had no issues.

It never moved or took any water.

[Cheechako]

On a cat I would leave the dingy on the davits.

[Dave852]

+1 for leaving the dingy on the davits on a cat since they ride over the waves as opposed to through them. The mistakes I see are folks not securing them properly, if you let it bounce around back there you will have problems. http://youtu.be/WFqm48C2BPk


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[Cheechako]

Yes, I had cleats to secure both ends of the dingy and keep it from swinging side to side.
Pull the plug too!

[monte]

Yeah the dinghy is very secure and about 2m from the water to the top, 1.5 or so underneath clearance. My main concern with it is shipping rain from squalls. The pissy drain plug drains very slowly. I have a cover for it so I might see if I can fit that so water flows off..
Thanks for the info on the outboard

[multihullsailor6]

Originally Posted by monte

Yeah the dinghy is very secure and about 2m from the water to the top, 1.5 or so underneath clearance. My main concern with it is shipping rain from squalls. The pissy drain plug drains very slowly. I have a cover for it so I might see if I can fit that so water flows off..
Thanks for the info on the outboard

Rob,

Before we crossed the Bay of Biscay we turned the dinghy in the davits upside down to avoid any water in the dinghy issues - worked a treat! If you cannot do that I suggest you fit the cover very securely! You can expect rainy squalls on your later part of the crossing and don't want to have to attend to the dinghy then!

Good luck!

[SV.Maverick]

I would vote for adding a stern rail mount. Cheap easy and keeps the outboard in the correct position. The little bit of weight should not matter on a cruising boat.

[jmcdboater]

Originally Posted by monte

G'day, just a quick question. We will take the outboard off the dinghy for the Atlantic crossing, probably leave the dinghy on the davits. We have a 207 Johnson 2 stroke 10hp outboard I'm thinking of laying down in the chain locker. Is this ok for 2 strokes? I don't have a stern rail bracket for it and would probably rather keep the weight amidships.
Thanks for any tips

Just drain all the fluids and take them along.......you can hang it upside down then, if you want to!