Bracket Modification

[CaptLloyd]

I closed in my transom and added a B-Bracket to my 1973 20cc 5 years ago. I love the bracket/swim platform concept, but I came to realize I put on the WRONG bracket. When I ordered it, I specified that it was going on a Seacraft with a 14* transom angle and I was going to hang a 25" shaft motor. After I mounted the bracket, I noticed it angled downward, and after I hung the motor with the assistance of the outboard shop where I bought my Suzuki, it was evident that the B-Bracket is better suited for a 20" shaft motor.

When I splashed the boat and seatrialed, I was appalled by the wall of water the would drown my brand new motor during the transition to plane I was out of time and motivation to tear it apart and battle with B-Bracket,
so I fabricated this "Frankenstien" to add some planing surface and protect the motor from the water.

This solved the problem and the boat has been operating just fine for five years, but now I've been inspired by this site to do a better fix My plan is to fabricate a fiberglass tub basically shaped like a Hermco, and bolt/seal it onto the B-Bracket.
Here's the mold I made over the weekend (sorry about the fuzzing pics, my little helpers got thier little finger on the lens of my camera)



All thoughts and opinions are welcomed.

Lloyd

[hermco]

Huh?

[CaptLloyd]

Input, Don, I need input.

I only have a few dollars and a couple hours invested so far, if you thinks I'm nuts, and should just leave it alone, tell me so.

Plan "A" would be bring the boat to you, trash the B-Bracket, and have you put on one of yours, but frankly, I just don't have that kind of money available.

I'm just trying to see if my plan has any merit.

Thanks

Lloyd

[hermco]

Hi Sir:
My name is Mike Borrelli from Metan Marine and I'm here in Don's office. I'v looked at your photos and I have to concure with him "Huh"

[Snookerd]

Wow Mike, you and Don have some profound advice for Capt Lloyd . Come on, step up and tell him the deal............

[hermco]

I have a couple of questions. How did you determine the bracket mounting heighth? The transom angle on the 23' should be 13 deg. so a 14 deg. bracket is not a problem just asthetic and will actually give you more negative trim. I don't see how water on the motor would be a problem, they are made to get wet and judging from the pics the bracket and motor look high to me. Do you have any problems with prop slippage or cavitation?

[CaptLloyd]

Don,

Thank you for the come back.

My boat is a 20', I understand that 20's have a 14* transom angle, and I measured it at 14*. I don't think the bracket is 14* as I ordered it, I think it more like 10 or 12.

Bruce from B-Bracket told me to mount it with the top of the swimplatform 25" above the keel for a 25" shaft motor. When I set it up on the boat, that looked way too high to me, the swimplatform was going to be 6"-7" above the waterline, so I lowered it a little over an inch. The guys at the outboard shop thought that it was mounted too low, so they mounted the motor as high as it would go.

No, I do not have any problems with cavitation or slippage, even in tight turns. The motor trims out good, and if anything, I feels as if the motor could go up another inch or two. My cavitation plate is 2.5" above the keel at 0% trim, and the water flow is about 1.5" above the cavitation plate on plane.

It really was disturbing how much water was flowing up around the motor on take off, and in certain conditions when I wanted to run just off plane. I want the "tub" to give some lift at take off, and some floatation at rest.

I considered doing it in aluminum, but I don't think that would be as cost effective.

Thanks,

Lloyd

[hermco]

Thats why bracket looks high it's a 20'! Ok. The 20' transom angle is 14 deg. If the bracket is a 30" setback and you had mounted as suggested it would probably have allowed you to mount the motor another inch higher with out any slippage. The water and floatation issues are to be expected with an aluminum bracket that has a minimal floatation design. The water flowing around the motor would not bother me, but if you want more floatation you need a bigger body on the bracket that will provide additional displacement and will also give some lift during plane like mine. Your Idea of making a fiberglass bucket would be fine if you had a fiberglass bracket so you could glass it to the existing.I don't know how you seal your fiberglass part to the aluminum and not have leaks. You do not want the thing full of water. Have you thought about leaving it open at the back so it could drain when getting up on a plane? If it was me I would pull the motor and bracket. Sell bracket and get a replacement aluminum wide body floatation bracket. Aluminum beacuse it will probably be the cheapest. The new bracket will cover the existing holes so you plug them with dowels and epoxy. No paint or finish work required. Mount new bracket and motor and you are done. Armstrong single wide body bracket with 72" wide platform lists for about $2200.00. Or try to get the guy that made his own out of fiberglass (Strick?) to make you one and offer to buy him beer. Or Build your own out of fiberglass and buy yourself beer. Or get a welder to add on to existing and see if he will work for beer!

[zach]

Lloyd,

I'm interested to see what you decide to do. Keep us informed.

[76Red18]

Looks like your scuppers would be covered if you use that mold design. In that case you would want the back of the tub to be open. As long as water doesn't get anywhere near the cowl intake, your alright.