It's a great idea
I have had the same idea (obsession) for over a year now and have been studying ways to do it and having to discount the nah sayers as well.
I want to do the Great Loop with a bike, not cross an ocean, so half of my thing is in rivers and lakes, then there is the
ICW. But this is not about my goal....
Bikes: Electric scooters are novel, but in reality very limited compared to a motorcycle. Mine is a 650 cc Transalp, a Honda dual sport that can hit over a hundred and
cruise at 70/75 mph longer than you want to ride with two up. I can ride it out of the slop, up hill, off road or hit the highway. It's not a popcorn popper, they are V twins with lots of tourqe. Anyway, it weighs 325 pounds. It could be stripped down (fairing and windshield, rack) to be lighter, but that's really not necessary.
The weight is the same as talking some heavy set guy with you, most any
boat taken out cruising wild hold the weight. I have heard NAs say things like it throws off the CG/CB, it a dead load. It can't move like a fat guy can, horsepucky! It needs to be bolted down with clamps over the wheels to a track or fabricated holder, it won't budge. The CG of my bike is about 18" high from ground, not 3 1/2' high, so it really won't throw weight around.....if it were on
deck of my 26' cuddy cruiser, centered, I'd hardly notice it I'm sure.
The bracket, that will be additional weight along with what ever you wrap it up in. I thought about the bike carriers as well. Some concerns or issues;
Attaching it to the transom so as to ensure it will not pull out. Going inside I guess with a large backing plate and even taking it to the sides to attach to additional framing members.
How to load and unload, saying a
ramp sounds pretty simple but walk through each step from disconnecting the bike from its secured position to putting the kick stand down on shore. After you disconnect it from the
cradle now you have to hold it. Are you going to mount the bike while on the carrier? I'm a pretty good rider after 45+ years, but if a large wake hits the boat while i'm trying to ride it off a 6" piece of channel, you could have a problem 4' in the air. And if you bag the bike to protect it, just how do you do that on a rack?
Now, maybe the carrier could swing out like a spare tire carrrier on an SUV, you boat may not be that close to shore so that could get it at least over solid grond.
Taking it off at a marina can be a problem. I can see the owner running out saying stop, you can't ride that on my dock! OK, then walk it off, try pushing it (or riding it) up steps. At some point, most
marinas will have steps to get to the parking areas. I can see fences and hand rails along the way too. I know that in
Germany you won't be riding a bike along the river walks (never mind the other issues).
So, the best place to load and unload will probably be along shore where you can ride it out. Consider your
draft while loaded.
I see that some here have done it and they might address these issues in detail, what resistance there might be from authorities riding on beaches, walkways, ramps, etc. I have never done it, but can only imagine.
I wonder too about a
mast and boom holding that bailky weight and swinging it around on a rocking boat, as the boat rocks, the CG changes and the rocking can easily become more pronounced making it even harder to control and adding stress to the boom. I'd be more inclined to go with a specialty boom and a
remote winch control in hand.
I'll stop, plenty to discuss. I'm looking at an older Luger Voyager (know nothing about them), a 30 footer with a heavy squared stern that might
work. Otherwise, for me it is beginning to look like I need to build a boat for this, a decked scow with a
cabin and hold area. It would be a landing craft with an opening bow!
So, what boat do you have, what's the
draft? I doubt it would sink or roll with 300+ pounds on it...but who knows until ya do it?