How to Keep a Boat Motor in Place

You can avoid the embarrassment of calling for an emergency tow when your outboard falls over the side. You can also avoid the problems of having your outboard stolen at the same time. The key lies in putting a security cable onto your outboard, securing it to the boat. Just like the safety chain on your trailer hitch keeps your trailer from escaping from your car, the outboard safety cable can keep the outboard in place.

Things You'll Need

  • Anchor bracket
  • Drill
  • Adhesive marine caulk
  • Screwdriver
  • 6-foot-by-1/4-inch self-coiling cable
  • Padlock
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Instructions

  1. Outboard Safety and Security Cable

    • 1

      Hold an anchor bracket to the inside of the transom. Mark the mounting holes through the holes on the bracket. Drill the mounting holes.

    • 2

      Spread adhesive marine caulk around the holes and onto the back of the bracket. Align the bracket with the mounting holes and install the screws to hold the anchor bracket in place, using a screwdriver.

    • 3

      Wrap one end of a 6-foot-by-1/4-inch self-coiling cable around the vertical "U" shape of the outboard's swivel bracket. Pull the loop at the end of the cable, and at least one foot of the cable, out of the bracket.

    • 4

      Push the other end of the cable through the loop, and pull the cable through the loop so that the cable is tied to the outboard's swivel bracket.

    • 5

      Pull the loop of the cable through the anchor bracket. Insert one side of the hasp of a padlock through the loop and close the hasp over both the loop and the cable.