Transport and service small clamp-on outboard motors up to 115 horsepower with this DIY outboard motor stand. Featuring a powder-coated 1" steel tubular frame with dual rear tires and front casters for mobility.
Measure and cut two 32" lengths of 2x4. Use an angled end of one of your support blocks (4"), such as one of those shown here, as a guide, to mark a line across both base pieces at their forward ends.
The Base
An outboard motor stand is an essential tool for every boat owner, protecting the motor from damage and making maintenance easy. While professional stands can be expensive, building one yourself is a relatively straightforward project that can easily be accomplished in an afternoon. When making one yourself it's essential that sturdy materials support both the weight of the motor as well as providing adequate bracing for stability.
Step one in building your stand should be to determine its dimensions, such as how tall you want it. Be sure to include the weight of the motor and any accessories like gas tanks you plan on storing on it as this information will allow you to create a solid framework that can accommodate them all.
Gather all of the necessary tools and materials, such as 2x4 lumber or plywood sheets, saw, drill, screws or nails, measuring tape and miter saw (for accurate cuts of wood pieces) along with measuring tape to complete this project. A miter saw can help achieve an angle suitable for upright supports in this endeavor.
Start building your motor stand by cutting two 36"-long 2x4 pieces as the base assembly, measuring 16" back from the front edge of one and marking with a line 16", as in step 3. Take two of those remaining 2x4s, cut them down to four-inch pieces using your miter saw, then angle their ends using your miter saw as in step 2; fasten these upright supports onto the base assembly with screws as described previously in this step.
After your motor board support assembly is complete, attaching it to the base assembly is next. To do so, line up a 24" 2x4 piece with the angled end of the forwardmost support and mark a line across upright supports using 4" block as a guide; mark each 32" upright support at this location using pencil; use line from block as guide and mark with pencil in mark at which point each 32" upright support should be attached with 3" wood screws to the assembly.
The Motor Support
Removing a boat motor for repairs, maintenance, or storage can be a tedious process for boat owners. A boat motor stand provides convenient access for maintenance purposes while making the process less laborious and unsafe. While building one from scratch might appear challenging at first, anyone with basic woodworking skills should be able to complete it within an afternoon.
Start by gathering all necessary supplies:
Lumber: When selecting lumber to support the weight of your boat motor, pressure-treated is often recommended due to its strength. Screws or Nails are used to secure wood pieces together while Drill is used to create holes for screws or nails and drill screws or nails into these holes. A screwdriver or Hammer can then be used to fasten them securely as well as be used as a hammer when necessary. Finally, a measuring tape provides accurate measurements when building the stand.
Once you've assembled all the required materials, it's time to assemble your stand. First, cut two 32-inch lengths of 2x4, making sure one end features an angled cut while leaving the other unchanged; these will serve as upright supports for your motor stand. Measure and cut another 24-inch piece from 2x4 that connects two 36" base pieces forward facing position - these will connect all pieces.
Attach the uprights and cross beams to the base pieces with screws or nails, once your frame is completed it's important to test its stability by placing some weight on it; if it wobbles or tips then additional bracing or support might be needed to make sure that everything stands securely.
Once the frame is secure, plywood can be added to form the top of your motor stand. This top can come in any size or shape; some common designs include an engine-mount transmission flange-fitted flat plate that replicates transmission function while clearing its flywheel, as well as shelves for tools or accessories storage.
The Casters
Removing an outboard motor from its watery home for repairs or storage can be a time-consuming and cumbersome task, making a stand much simpler to use and work on. A stand with wheels makes this even simpler - whether purchased or homemade using some 2x4s and deck screws - with the latter option more likely being more cost-effective in terms of price than any premade unit you purchase.
A caster (or castor) is a wheeled device attached to larger objects like carts or dollys that allows relatively easy rolling movement of them. Their wheels may be fixed in place for straight movement only or they may swivel for 360-degree maneuverability; additionally, they come in various load capacities, wheel diameters, tread widths, and specifications to meet various mobility needs.
An effective method for mounting a caster is attaching it to the bottom of a flat surface such as the floor or workbench, such as plate-mount casters with four mounting holes for attaching it directly. There are also stem-mount models with various stem types like threaded, friction ring, or expandable that may suit different mounting needs.
Use the 4" support block from the motor board support as a guide, marking lines on one of the 36" base pieces at its forward end. Repeat this process using both 36" base pieces; make sure that any vertical lines align with an upright support block on each one.
Cut two 32" lengths of 2x4, one of them featuring an angled cut and the other left squared, using a mitre saw set at 12 degrees, and align them along your workbench before placing a 24" piece of 2x8 on top of them to support the motor board support piece. Secure it using three 3" wood screws inserted through each of its four support blocks into its supporting base pieces and upward.
The Shelf
Removing an outboard for maintenance or storage can be a laborious task, making motor stands an invaluable aid. While purchasing one will incur costs, you can create one using simple woodworking tools and 2x4s to build one yourself at an extremely cost-effective rate. Add wheels so it can easily roll out of the garage when necessary!
Begin by cutting two 36" lengths of 2x4, cutting another pair of 4" pieces so one end has been mitered at 12 degrees while leaving one square. Once complete, put one of your 32" upright supports against one of these 4" blocks and mark its edge using your saw's guide - repeat this process for both upright supports.
Use the lines you have drawn on both upright supports to guide your cutting of 24" 2x4s that will form your shelf. Connect one of these 24" pieces securely to both 36" base pieces with at least two screws on either end for stability.
Align the other 24" piece against the squared ends of your 4" support blocks and secure it using at least two more screws, so as not to allow any movement when adding new parts later. This piece will become the aft end of the shelf and hold your gas tank and other components located behind your outboard motor.
Are You New to Woodworking and Confused about Shelves and Shelving? If this is the case for you, remember this mnemonic device to avoid confusion! Shelf is a noun that refers to a flat surface where items can be placed, and shelve is a verb that refers to placing something onto it. Without proper attention paid, these two terms could easily become confused, leading you down an unwanted path of misplacing items on shelves that don't belong there!