My latest brainstorm is to figure out some sort of very local
transportation system once we board the boat full time.  Probably the
simplest thing would be to buy a couple of folding bikes and store them
aboard.  But, of course I always think bigger than that and therefore I am
trying to figure out a way to take along something a little more
substantial, like a Honda scooter, you know something similar to the old Vespa.
Something big enough for two to ride on and with enough get up and go to
make 30-40 mph.  Of course the obstacle comes in the form of dealing with
the weight and storage aboard for such an animal.  I assume one of these
scooters would weigh somewhere in the neighborhood of 150-200 lbs?

In my particular case I think I have two options.  Using my 1000 lb Dinghy
crane I could hoist it from the dock to either top side, those familiar
with the Hatteras 48 LRC know that there is substantial space on the cabin
top above the salon, or I could perhaps pick it up and swing it into the
aft cockpit.  In both cases one then becomes concerned with how to store
it.  It would be a pretty simple matter to lash it down in the aft cockpit,
but topside presents a much more difficult problem.  Perhaps something like
a bike rack to hold it in place and then use cables to pad-eyes to secure
it?  The obvious problem with placing it into the aft cockpit is that it
would then always be in the way when not at a dock where it could be set off.

As usual looking for advice from those who have "been there, done that"!

Jim Alexander
Port Charlotte, FL

Jim Alexander wrote:
My latest brainstorm is to figure out some sort of very local
transportation system once we board the boat full time.  Probably the
simplest thing would be to buy a couple of folding bikes and store them
aboard.  But, of course I always think bigger than that and therefore I am
trying to figure out a way to take along something a little more
substantial, like a Honda scooter, you know something similar to the old
Vespa.
Something big enough for two to ride on and with enough get up and go to
make 30-40 mph.  Of course the obstacle comes in the form of dealing with
the weight and storage aboard for such an animal.  I assume one of these
scooters would weigh somewhere in the neighborhood of 150-200 lbs?

Jim, a couple of years ago now, there was a dealer at the Toronto In-Water
boat show who was demonstrating a folding bicycle that came complete with an
electric motor.  I can't remember the name of the bike (I think it was
Italian made), but the whole thing weighed 60 pounds, and the motor/battery
module was removable for storage.  The nice thing about these bikes is that
you don't require a motorcycle license to operate them, at least in Ontario.
Our regulations require a special class of drivers' license for motorcycles
and "scooters", such as the Vespa replicas that are now on the market,
whereas "mopeds" - motorized bicycles with gas or electric motors that are
engaged by pedaling - do not require any special license due to their modest
attainable speeds.
BTW, as I recall, the dry weight of a Lambretta scooter I owned as a
teenager was 365 pounds, most of which comprised the engine and body
components.  It was capable of reaching 60 mph, but was about as reliable a
form of transportation as a pair of broken crutches or a wagon with square
wheels.  It averaged about 30 miles between repairs, which ranged from
throttle, clutch and brake cable adjustments to a cracked exhaust manifold
to a warped head and assorted carb problems in between, and I kept it about
three months before throwing in the towel and returning it to the dealer,
where I received 30% of its original value as a trade-in on a real
motorcycle.  Hopefully, the new versions are more reliable, but YMMV.
Bob Davies

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Jim,

Yamaha just came out with a 125cc version of their 50cc Vespa-type.  Enough
power for two-up. Weighs 229 lbs, 67" LOA. Good buy at $2200.

Bob

R C Smith Jr
M/V MARY KATHRYN
Hatteras 58 LRC
Key West, The Florida Keys

Found just the thing for you, Jim.

http://tinyurl.com/ytdou