I just picked up a fairly light outboard... a 3.5 HP 4 stroke Tohatsu... and clamped that bad boy to a teak plate on stern rail... seemed fine there.

Then this last weekend we were buzzing about and at the end of the day I went to put the outboard back onto the teak plate... and the thing snapped. The plate that is.

Well the motor is less than 45 lbs... and yes, I can lift it with one hand... it is a bit clumsy though. Yes, the teak plate was old, dry and gray. But I see something like it on several of the local boats near mine.

So what I am wondering is, is that teak plate the best answer... or are there better solutions? Oh sure I could rush right down to Waste Marine and buy the Edson thing for some $250 and call it a day, but the engineer/sailor in me says no way, you own a table saw, get some wood and hack a new teak board out, but make it better, thicker and stronger.

So, uh, what do you folks use... got any suggestions? I have a T rail that in just the right spot that I can just bolt another plate to... whether I make it myself, or buy one from the local (not WM) vendor.

BTW, in the department of what works... 3.5 HP just about gets a light airfloor Zodiac dink up on a plane, with one person aboard (200 lbs)... with two folks, and combined weight of say 350lbs... no way. Since there is a 5MPH no wake zone just about everywhere near where my boat is... no problem, but if I go to the big bay and decide I want to "head out," that 3.5HP is rather anemic. Also as a matter of convenience, the 3.5HP Tohatsu's all have built in gas tanks... tanks that work well in a small yacht basin if you don't need to go far. But if you are "heading out" anywhere, a nice big gas tank might be a good resource.

Of course a 3.5HP Tohatsu is only 45 lbs... the 4 HP is 60lbs... and I suspect a bit more unwieldy.

I also put together a "handy billy." http://www.diy-wood-boat.com/Handy-Billy.html The one I put together is rather light, uses 1/4 inch line and has double blocks at both ends... attached to the main halyard it makes lifting a 100 lb air floor dink an easy task... and that 45lb outboard is a piece of cake. Even the admiral can handle the boat or motor with the handy billy. I wouldn't use it to lift more than a couple hundred pounds... but it sure makes the task easier. Yee Haw!

Just thought I'd put that info out there.... it's good to share.