Floatation Bracket...Build or Buy?

Captn C · #1 06-22-2005, 04:59 PM

Well for those who didn't see the ealier post....I still have transom problems with my 1999 25' SeaCraft (I know she is not a classic, but she'll have to be re-built like one.

If I can get her though the summer, if I don't have to do it sooner, I plan to do-away with the euro transom....close the back of the boat and add a bracket to hold a pair of motors.

I feel pretty good with what I plan to do to the boat, but I am unsure which route to go with the bracket. I feel I could build one that would suite my needs, but would it be worth the effort....could a manufactured one serve me just as well.

I would like for it to have the swim platform and most definitly have floatation.

One reason I was thinking about building one was because I want the the LOA to be at least 28' when finished. The boat is 25'6" now, so I only need 2.5' to be there.

I am trying to get a solid plan laid out in advance so when I start the project I can get it done a reasonable time frame.

So....should I build or buy...any pros or cons on either choice?

BTW-I plan to hang 400hp on the back of her too....I might think about a pair of 225hp, but the stock hull is only rated to 400hp?!?!? I'm not sure if they would warranty 225's or not?!?!?

Ryan · #2 06-22-2005, 06:16 PM

why not consider selling her and buying a new one or something else?

ScottM · #3 06-22-2005, 07:32 PM

Quote:

I'm not sure if they would warranty 225's or not?!?!?

Not sure who you're referring to - bracket mfg, engine mfg or SC. It's your insurance that you need to worry about when going over the HP rating. Your carrier could deny coverage in certain instances.

Captn C · #4 06-22-2005, 07:58 PM

Ryan,

I couldn't do that to someone....I'd have to take such a beating on the boat, I couldn't afford to buy another one.

I have looked around and I can honestly say I can't find a boat with as much fishing room for it's size.

Also The boat rides so well. Plus, I feel the way a lot of people here at CSC do....the 25' boat should have been longer....so we'll see!

ScottM,

I've heard that too, but I have also heard the motor manufacturers don't like it when you excede the boats power rating.

warthog5 · #5 06-23-2005, 01:46 AM

Sound's like a BIG undertaking. Not the bracket, but modifing the boat.
My alum D&D bracket was $1675. Twin's, bottom modified to match the deadrise V.

FELLOW-SHIP · #6 06-23-2005, 12:03 PM

Ha Capt C
Yesterday I thought about your plan and even looked at some pictures of 25’s on the web. But didn’t see what I was looking for. I am Almost Positive that the bottom of your hull on the 25’ is straight to the transom like the Contender boats. If that is true than I think your plan is a sound one. If you use lots of epoxy resin work, moving thinks back and put a full transom in the boat building up the gunnels close to the stern to the same height of the rest of the boat and then a bracket attached to its back that would work.
OR you could even re do a euro transom bracket setup with a step like SeaVee boats from where the transom now ends and building a bracket yourself directly attaching it to the current transom design. Some guys have talked about this but I don’t remember anyone actually doing it yet. With your boat since you want to make it longer and you already have a euro transom boat this one would be a great boat for this type of work.
P.S. Have you been catching any tuna lately?
Fellowship [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

Captn C · #7 06-23-2005, 03:22 PM

Yes, I ran out on the 22nd of May 95nmiles and we boated two Yellowfin and 34 Blackfin.

Here is my fishing partner with her first Yellowfin;

Captn C · #8 06-23-2005, 04:43 PM

Lets pretend I'm real good with photo editing...OK

This what the boat looks like now...oh and yes the running surface meets the bottom of the transom.

This is what I want to make the back of the boat to look like. I have also traced out where the bracket will roughly be placed.

I am thinking that I will use Cossa Board and bring the transom all the up to the rub rail and almost to the sides of the boat above the trim tab wells.

The swim platform will be lower than I have traced out. I didn't pay attention to how high I drew it in.

Captn C · #9 06-23-2005, 04:56 PM

One other re-building question....

I have noticed inside the bilge area the transom material stops just short of the bottom of the boat. Why wouldn't you want the Airlite to go all the way to the bottom of the hull.It seems that I have seen some of the transom replacements bring it all the way down. I have alway wondered if that was not part of my problem.

warthog5 · #10 06-23-2005, 07:51 PM

Captn C You did great on the drawing. If it was mine the transom core would come to the bottom. Actually you would grind a slight radius on the outside of the core corners. This is to account for the fillet that you would run around the bottom and up the corners of the transom.

When doing as mush glass work as your talking about here, I'd pull those thru hull's and fill the holes. Then redrill them up higher with one in front of the other. Keep them as high as you can. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]