Outboard Brackets, Pro's & Con's

[Bigshrimpin]

thanks for the clarification Big....too bad he couldn't save that mold

You can always make one (the dimensions are posted here and step by step instructions with nice digital pics) or buy one from hermco!! When you figure the amount of labor involved . . . hermco's is cheap!!

[ROBCAR]

You can always make one (the dimensions are posted here and step by step instructions with nice digital pics) or buy one from hermco!! When you figure the amount of labor involved . . . hermco's is cheap!!

hahahaha...that's so true. And Hemco makes some really nice brackets, which I am still considering for my 20 MA

[strick]

I forgot to mention that the photo is courtesy of Bigshrimpin photography LLC

My Yamaha 130 came with a dole fin attached that I never took off and I think that helps a great deal in the way the boat handles and rides. If you can find a used Yamaha 130 I would reccommend it as they are great running motors.....knock on wood!

Strick

[Bushwacker]

I added a Doelfin to mine after I had run it for a few weeks and I believe it provided some stern lift that helped reduce min planing speed. I also had one on old motor before repower; they may cost a couple of mph in top end, but I think they help getting on plane and staying there at low speed.

[zach]

Great post. This site helped me with my decision to add a bracket to my 20. Thanks for everyones help. I'm having the little boat redone by a professional down in Stuart. We decided to enclose the transom and add an Armstrong flotation bracket. I chose an Opti 175 Pro XS for power due to its strong power/weight. Should be a quick, efficient little set-up.

Enclosing the transom allowed me to add a livewell and more storage. We have two hatches, one to port and one to starbord, and an approximately 17 gallon livewell in the center. Here are a couple pics:

[CaptLloyd]

Zach,

You have been holding out...

WE WANT MORE BOAT PORN!!!!

BTW, from what we see, the boat looks great

Lloyd

[thehermit]

A while back, Mr. Potter threw his $.02 in on brackets for SeaCrafts:

Why brackets for SeaCrafts (or most other open transom outboard boats!)?!! 1.SAFETY - The biggest cause of offshore accidents is capsizing due to destabilizing water in the cockpit which in almost all cases came in over a low cut transom. That is why we put full depth motor wells in SeaCrafts. A bracket alone helps this, but not as much as having a full height transom with the bracket 2. PERFORMANCE - All bracket mounted engines should give at least 8-10% better top speeds and improved fuel efficiency than the same engine(s)and propellor(s)transom mounted plus better steering at speed and more engine trimability. 3. MORE INTERIOR SPACE - You can cut out the old motor well or you can convert it to additional seating, a stern casting deck or additional storage space. (See the Hermco link for pictures of some he has done.) 4. STRENGTHEN THE TRANSOM - Brackets with full width integral swim platforms spread the motor weight and leverage out over most of the transom. A properly designed bracket can be used on most SeaCrafts in stead of replacing the original core and/or raising the transom height - For not a lot more money and a lot less work!!! CHECK OUT the complete Seamark ALL FIBERGLASS Transom Brackets and Transom Closing Systems at the Hermco link. And by the way, who ever thought it made sense to put a permanent ALUMINUM extension on a good FIBERGLASS BOAT----

I appreciate some of the comments here. I have been admiring Hermco’s work and the work of Bigshrimpin and Strick as I consider a bracket for my 23. If anyone has input on the self-bailing characteristics of a 23 with thru-floor scups and a bracket (any type) I’m all ears Is re-routing the scups mandatory (of sorts)? The other question/comment I have is it seems a lot of the 23’s that ad brackets fill in the rear vents….why is that?

[Bigshrimpin]

I believe people patch those rear vents, b/c the break every time you land the boat at the dock.

[Snookerd]

My 23 w/ an older armstrong bracket with minimal floatation still is self bailing with 2 3.0 mercs @ 900 lbs of motors. I would have the plugs in if a couple guys were in the back though. The 23's aren't prone to needing their decks raised to offset extra stern weight.

[zach]

WE WANT MORE BOAT PORN!!!!

Ha, thanks Lloyd, I really appreciated your help with the bracket. I'll have more pics coming in the next couple of days. I'm trying to aggregate and arrange them in a sensible manner.

We're putting her in the water this weekend for the first time. I'm anxious to see how she sits with the bracket. Even with the floatation chamber, that's a lot of weight to move back. I'll put up a pic so others can see how a 20 rests with 430 lbs offset 30".