Outboard Motor Stand Designs?

[CJ]

I need a stand to store my Honda 40 hp (about 200 lbs) outboard on for a couple years in my basement. I'd rather build one than spend money on a cheesy one.

Has anyone out there built one who has plans or pictures for ideas?

Thanks,
CJ

[wizbang 13]

I use a 2x6 nailed to a post.

[AndreasJordahlRhude]

[AndreasJordahlRhude]

[Thorne]

Unless it has to be rolling, a 2x6 screwed to some 2x4 blocks screwed to a post worked for me when I stored one - but it was a longshaft 6hp and light enough to carry back and forth to the storage area. For transport over rough floors, I've seen 2x6 blocks attached to hand-trucks, but these aren't stable enough for storage.

[Nicholas Scheuer]

I like the pic Andreas posted above. Now THAT is a motor stand!

I don't know how to set up photo hosting sites (had a good one once upon a time, but they wkent out of biz, and never found another I could work with using onlky my limited computer savvy)

Anyway, can't post a photo of the one I built for my Yamaha 9.9HT, but I can outline it in words ("use your words" my kids' mother always said when they were very young) and perhaps that is enough.

Ikstarted with a $19 2-wheeled hand truck from Harbor Freight. Rather than merely bolt a 2X8 across the vertical tubes for the motor to mount on directly, I built an L-bracket out of 2X8's so the motor hangs "sideways" on the hand truck. Then I added a pair of extra legs made of 3/4" electrical conduit which angle outward to rest on the ground in a 30"-wide footprint on the opposite side of the motor from the hand truck wheels. This gives the motor a very stable stand for winter storage in my garage. It can't be knocked over easily if I bump it with something else in my garage, like maybe a long ladder.

There are two good reasons for mounting the motor sideways in relation to the hand truck wheels. First, my Yamaha manual specifies that the motor can only be laid horizontal on ONE SIDE, or the back. When hanging on my wheel truck, the proper side is located toward the hand truck wheels, so that when the motor is wheeled up into my pickup, the proper side of the motor is down when the hand truck is tipped down horizontal for transport.

Second, the sideways mount makes it easier for me to transfer the motor from stand to boat, or from boat to stand.

Two additional components comlete my stand. One is a carpet-padded 2X4 mounted low on the hand truck for the lower end of the motor to rest on when the stand is horizontal in my truck. The motor is too heavy for the motor mounting clamps alone to keep the prop off the hand stuck steel.

The other simple additional component is a 2X4 "foot" projecting to one side up at the top of the hand truck which gives the motor stand better support against tipping to the "heavy side" when resting horizontal in my truck.

One thing I can try, Stinkpotter, will be to send you a PM with a photo of my stand attached.

I've been using my stand every winter for a few years now and have no need to improve it further. It is handy in another way, too, in that when I arrive at the Yamaha Dealer for winterizing and coolant impeller change, I can just leave my stand with it, instead of fussing around trying to hang the motor on a conventional stad in his shop.

Moby Nick

[Stiletto]

but draining a barrel full of water is another story

I have used a barrel with a bung for a tap in the bottom, just remove the bung.

I like the ability to have a barrel on the stand but have only used it for smaller motors, lifting a large motor up and into a barrel could be difficult.

[Ron Williamson]

I dug an old handtruck out of my scrap pile,welded some angle iron feet to the top side of the bottom plate and a bracket at the right height for the mount.
R

[Bill Huson]

I used 2x8 lag bolted to posts set at 15 deg angle. Twas a 10' 2x8 since I had around 8 or so outboards back when I was racing.

[Wooden Boat Fittings]

quick and dirty one is...
Take a 55 gallons plastic barrel, with top cut out...
attach it to hand truck/dolly with ratcheting tie-downs...
bolt a piece of 2 X 8 to the top rim..
then hang yer motor on...
that way if something drip or drop from the motor while repairin'.. it'll catch into the bottom of barrel... not in graveled drive or on garage floor... and fill with water to test run... but draining a barrel full of water is another story...

I use a wheelie bin (44 gallon? not sure) that I fitted between the wheels with a tap from a plastic water container. I can fill it up with water to run the outboard, then drain the water out using the tap. The engine lives in the bin all the time it's not in use.

But of course the outboard is a nice lightweight Seagull, not one of those modern thingummies.

Mike

[AndreasJordahlRhude]

One of my own motor stands. Built it entirely from lumber laying around. Use bolts and screws. Don't nail. Wheels make it a sinch to move around. Have had up to 110 HP Mercury outboard on this stand.

[CJ]

Just a follow up to thank everyone for their replies, plans and photos of some nice motor stands. I used a lot of your suggestions and decided to weld one up from some scrap unitstrut (see pics) in two halves which are then bolted together so that the stand can be disassembled and stored away, once the boat for which this motor in intended is completed. Wheels are definitely in the future once I go get some. Thanks again!
CJ

[Shero144]

I like the unistrut design.
Can you supply the dimensions?
What kind of wheels would you use?
Thanks

[CJ]

Shero144:

Hopefully this image displays okay, otherwise I can e-mail you a clearer one if you wish. The unistrut makes it real nice to move the wooden bracket, to which the motor is bolted, up or down to accommodate any size motor without having to drill more holes. Not sure about the wheels yet, 4 heavy casters or just two wheels which the whole stand can tilt back upon similar to a hand truck. The stand is very strong and can easily hold the 215 lb motor plus it's equally weighty owner. Any questions, let me know.
CJ

[Shero144]

Thank you for the dimensions and explanation. . How did you create that excellent drawing?

[CJ]

Actually, I created it in Microsoft Word, then coverted it to a .pdf file and had to then use Paint to make it into a .jpg file, which is where it lost it's clarity, then upload it to photobucket and finally paste it in to this forum.

There's probably an easier way...

CJ

[Auroradan]

CJ,

Great Design! Now I know what to do with all that Kindorf in the scrap bin at work!

Dan

[Stilettobob]

You can buy a cheap engine stand from Harbor Freight and bolt on a transom block to hang your OB from. Then it can be mobile.

[Shero144]

I just scored two old used engine stands from Craigslist for 40 Bucks. They show up from time to time. I believe that the vintage stands may be better made than the HF variety. I will modify them for my 2 40HPs.

[CJ]

Shero144:

That's great, nice find! Throw a pic here when you finish them. Good luck.

CJ