Beaching with Manual Tilt/Trim

[hvymtl939]

Just like the topic says, is there a safe way to beach a boat that has a manual tilt/trim motor? We would like to hit up some sandbars on the river this year, plus be able to pull onto the beach at the lake, but on both my pontoon and Glastron, they are manual motors. Is there a safe way to do this? Am i missing something simple?

 

[alldodge]

Assuming outboards, I would get an outboard motor tilt assist bar. Attach to the motor and be ready to lift. Come in nice and slow with just enough momentum to bring the keel in. Shut the motor off as it continues to ease in, then have another pull the motor up.

 

[Scott Danforth]

or anchor a bit off the beach and jump in.

or convert to PTT

 

[hvymtl939]

Assuming outboards, I would get an outboard motor tilt assist bar. Attach to the motor and be ready to lift. Come in nice and slow with just enough momentum to bring the keel in. Shut the motor off as it continues to ease in, then have another pull the motor up.

Yup, outboard, sorry for not saying. That seems easy enough. I do this anyway when I put it on the trailer.

 

[hvymtl939]

or anchor a bit off the beach and jump in.

or convert to PTT

That's gonna be what we most likely do this summer. In a year or two, I want to add a 3rd log to the toon, and go way bigger with power, so that will have PTT.

 

[nrf414]

We'd just coast in nice and easy in the old glastron. Mostly Sandy bottom so just coast in slow and lift when you can.

 

[hvymtl939]

We'd just coast in nice and easy in the old glastron. Mostly Sandy bottom so just coast in slow and lift when you can.

That's about what I had figured. I usually keep a 2x4 to rest the motor on when it's pulled up, since it's nearly impossible to lower the mount when you're in the water.

 

[southkogs]

Lots of outboards have a manual shallow water setting - the ones I've had were kind of a flip up bracket. It won't always get you completely on the beach, but it's better than nuthin'

 

[nrf414]

Yea the old 1974 85hp had a trailer tilt lever was made from cast aluminum and it broke the one time we were out. I just used the transom saver on the trailer and had a ratchet strap in the boat to hold the motor up on the beach. Would have fixed it if I had intentions of keeping it more than a summer.

 

[hvymtl939]

Lots of outboards have a manual shallow water setting - the ones I've had were kind of a flip up bracket. It won't always get you completely on the beach, but it's better than nuthin'

So that's what that little bracket is? I'll take a picture of it when I get home, and see if that's it.

 

[JimS123]

So that's what that little bracket is? I'll take a picture of it when I get home, and see if that's it.

More than likely that's a trailering bracket. If it pops down automatically when the tilt lock is flipped up, its for shallow water running. If it must be dropped manually when the motor is up, its for trailering.

Read the owner's manual.

Unless the motor is an antique it probably has a tilt lock. No 2x4 needed. Go in slow, shut the motor off, raise it up and then use a paddle for fine tuning at the last minute. We did that for 20 years until we could afford PTNT.

 

[hvymtl939]

More than likely that's a trailering bracket. If it pops down automatically when the tilt lock is flipped up, its for shallow water running. If it must be dropped manually when the motor is up, its for trailering.

Read the owner's manual.

Unless the motor is an antique it probably has a tilt lock. No 2x4 needed. Go in slow, shut the motor off, raise it up and then use a paddle for fine tuning at the last minute. We did that for 20 years until we could afford PTNT.

It has to be manually moved. The motors are a 72 and 76 respectively, both Johnsons.

 

[BigDfromTN]

Just ease into the beach, lift engine. Then get out and manually pull it on up on beach if need be. You will also be well advised to get one of the bungee type dock lines and a "T" handle(like a water key with out the end on it.) Hook the bungee on the bow eye or a cleat, stretch it out with the T handle and shove it into the sand. That will keep you boat snug to the bank and in the case of any waves, wakes, or wind, you boat will not float out or into your neighbors. If the water is rising, you may have to adjust it tighter during the day, or if falling be aware and maybe push it back at times. Beach Boating is a good day!

 

[JimS123]

It has to be manually moved. The motors are a 72 and 76 respectively, both Johnsons.

Then you don't want to have down while under power.

Tilting a motor up at the last minute is no big deal. We did it on 60 HP Johnsons all the time.