Sean, If you get flamed then I'm right in line beside you! I trailer with the motor on as well. My body doesn't like trying to wrestle the motor onto the bracket. My boat has seen 20 years and many thousands of miles with no transom issues. I do, however, securely strap the motor to the transom with sturdy nylon web straps that attach to well backed padeyes thus distributing the load across a broader area of the transom as well as preventing any shock loads caused by 'bouncing' of the motor due to road irregularities. All this towing was done with the stock outboard bracket that came from Jerry on my M23 which was only through bolted through a reinforced area of the transom with 1 inch washers for backing plates. This winter I have installed a new outboard bracket (requiring new holes to be drilled of course) and added some beefier backing plates. I expect this to continue to serve well for many more years of trailering and sailing. I always removed the outboard from my M17 as well as the M15 but those are much lighter and more easily handled. We'll see if I continue to do that as I age or if I opt for motorless sailing for the olden years. I do tip my mast forward to raise it but I use an aluminum A frame that I designed and built that makes it a simple, easily handled, one man job to safely raise and lower the mast. I originally used the gin-pole method because that was how the previous owner had the boat set up. I didn't like it for a number of reasons including safety and peace of mind. My trailer has a long tongue extension that someone fabricated. It isn't as sophisticated as yours (my surge brake actuator gets dunked), but I find it essential for launching. Mark Dvorscak (also drinking milk past the expiration date and removing mattress tags) M23 Faith M15 ??? -----Original Message-----
From: Nebwest2@aol.com Sent: Apr 10, 2013 11:13 PM To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com Subject: Re: M_Boats: M-23
Hey Todd...
The Pacifics come with an extendable tongue on the trailer....however...it's not that long. I made a second 11' extension that I swap out for the regular extendable tongue when I launch. It has two benefits...keeps me from having to back the truck in too far...and also...I never dunk the brake controller....as it is on the tongue that is removed. After 8 years I have had no brake issues that normally occur when you dunk your surge brake controller and it gulps water in its air vent.
I am not a fan of tipping the mast forward....and have an a-frame system to go backwards instead. I know the original setup uses the boom as a gin pole arrangement and goes forward and the chainplates are cut for that. I didn't like that for a number of reasons. I have had a $50,000 mast lowering/raising incident that involved great discomfort, almost losing my career, surgery, and an air-e-vac ride to Las Vegas in the middle of the night (this was not with the M23)...so I play it pretty conservative these days. The M23's rig is very heavy compared to similarly sized boats...caution is the word of the day when dealing with that mast. :-)
Here...I will really shake it up and start some conversation...... I tow with the outboard in place on the transom rather than move it to a trailer mount or put it in the truck. Oh I will be burned a the stake for saying that and my transom will fall off, delaminate, explode, my wife will leave me, a thousand locusts will descend upon me ...or something...LOL... but I do it..... and have done it with an over 100lb outboard for 25,000 miles and around 8 years now. My back and neck appreciate it and the boat so far does not seem to mind. It's also another time saving at the ramp, and rigging the 23 you can use all the saving you can get. I have however, installed a first class 4 stroke mount and it is bolted through large stainless backing plates to distribute the load. I do not recommend that anyone else do it....just what I do and what works for me. :-)
Between the fact I tow with the outboard on the transom....and the fact that I use, love, and swear by surge brakes...... OMG all the humanity....let the flaming begin. LOL
S
PS
I also ripped the tag off the mattress, swam less than 30 minutes after eating, set my car batteries on concrete, and drank the milk after the expiration date as well.... why? BECAUSE I AM CRAAAAAAAAAZY! ;-)