How to Build a Small Outboard Motor Stand: One Afternoon, a Few 2x4s
A good stand keeps your motor upright, off the floor and out of the way. It costs less than a tank of gas to build and saves your back every time you move it.
To build a small outboard motor stand, make a sturdy wooden frame with a solid 2×10 crossboard at the top for the motor’s clamps to grip, tall enough that the skeg clears the floor, on a wide base with locking casters.
Walt’s motor kept falling over
Walt stored his 5 HP leaning against the garage wall on an old tire. Twice it slid over. The second time it cracked the cowling and dripped oil onto his wife’s recycling bins. That was the end of the tire system.
His neighbor, a retired shop teacher, sketched a stand on a paper plate: two uprights, a thick crossboard to act like a boat transom, and a wide base on wheels. Total cost was a few 2x4s, one 2×10 offcut, screws and four casters.
Walt built it in a Saturday afternoon. Now the motor clamps on exactly as it does on the boat, stays upright so oil stays where it belongs, and rolls to the truck with one finger. He even hangs the fuel line on a hook screwed into the side.
The best upgrade he ever made to his outboard cost less than a spark plug wrench set.
What materials do you need for an outboard stand?
A basic stand for a motor up to about 60 lb needs only standard lumber and hardware.
| Part | Material | Qty | Approx. size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crossboard (mock transom) | 2×10 lumber | 1 | 24 in long |
| Uprights | 2×4 lumber | 2 | 36 in (short shaft) or 42 in (long shaft) |
| Base rails | 2×4 lumber | 2 | 30 in long |
| Base cross pieces | 2×4 lumber | 2 | 24 in long |
| Diagonal braces | 2×4 lumber | 2 | Cut to fit, about 24 in |
| Casters | Locking swivel casters | 4 | Rated well above total load |
| Fasteners | 3 in exterior screws or carriage bolts | 1 box | Plus wood glue |
How do you build the stand, step by step?
Work on a flat floor and check for square as you go.
- Measure your motor. Note the shaft length and the distance from the clamp screws down to the tip of the skeg. Your crossboard top must sit higher than that, plus a few inches of floor clearance.
- Build the base. Screw the two base rails and two cross pieces into a rectangle about 30 by 24 in. Wider is more stable.
- Attach the uprights. Stand the two 2x4s at one end of the base, about 18 to 20 in apart, and fasten them with glue and screws or bolts.
- Mount the crossboard. Fix the 2×10 across the tops of the uprights, flush with their front faces, using carriage bolts for strength.
- Add diagonal braces. Run a brace from each upright back to the base. The motor’s weight hangs forward, so the braces stop the stand from racking.
- Fit the casters. Screw a locking caster under each corner. Lock them before you mount the motor.
- Test with the motor. Clamp it on, tighten the screws, and gently rock the stand. If it tips easily, lengthen the base toward the motor side.
- Keep gas motors upright on the stand so oil stays in the crankcase.
- Never run a motor on the stand without a water supply for the cooling pump.
- Motors over about 60 lb deserve a steel stand rated for the weight.
Stand-friendly small outboards, in stock now
These light motors are a perfect match for a DIY wooden stand. Prices in USD.
How to build a small outboard motor stand: FAQ
How tall should an outboard motor stand be?
Tall enough that the skeg clears the floor by a few inches. For a short-shaft motor that is usually a crossboard top around 30 to 36 in; for a long shaft, about 36 to 42 in.
What wood is best for an outboard stand?
Standard construction 2x4s for the frame and a solid 2×10 for the crossboard work well. Use pressure-treated or sealed lumber if the stand will live in a damp space.
Can I run my outboard on the stand?
Only with the lower unit in a test tank or barrel of water, or with a flushing attachment approved for your motor. Running dry can ruin the water pump in seconds.
How much weight can a wooden stand hold?
A well-braced 2×4 stand handles small motors up to about 60 lb comfortably. For heavier motors, buy or build a steel stand rated for the weight.
The stand is built. Now it needs a motor.
Pick a light four-stroke that rolls off the stand and onto your boat with ease.