Ride on 18's with brackets?

[jtnole02]

I have an 18 and am thinking of putting a bracket on it. I do not want to go up in boat size because of gass prices. I use it for offshore fishing mostly out of Miami and would like to close off the transome and make it more of an offshore boat.

Can anyone with an 18/bracket tell me how it affects the ride?

[BLKHAWK]

JUST HAD MY 20 DONE IN BOYNTON IF YOU WANT A RIDE

[GodsReel]

the ones i have seen looked ok , i think the trick is to not put to much motor on it , todays 4 strokes are so heavy if you put a 150 or so on it i think it will sit real low in the water. I have had a couple of 23's one on the notch and one on the bracket and have not made up my mind which i like the best? Good luck i am sure you will get some good feedback . I would love a 18 project.

[snook1221]

look it up on google images there is a 18 with a bracket and ths got a 175 on it i think . looks real good i was thinkin about doing it on mine but i dont know if its worth it

[snook1221]

http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/.../18bracket.jpg

[snook1221]

http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/...21/bracket.jpg

[GodsReel]

salty dog if you do it move the console forward a little.

[Bushwacker]

A bracket shifts the boat's CG aft, and an 18 will obviously be more sensitive to this than a 20 or 23. You'll need to be minimize engine weight and do whatever you can to shift weight forward like moving console, batteries, etc. Might work ok with a 300-350 lb motor. A stern-heavy boat won't self bail, won't plane well at low speed, and won't ride as well as one that is properly balanced. You'll need a stern lifting 4B prop and maybe a Doelfin to get acceptable low speed planing performance. A bracket with a big flotation tank like a Hermco will help with static trim, but once you're on plane and the tank is out of the water, the basic physics are still working against you. Don told me he can make his bracket with setbacks of 18, 24 and 30", so a Hermco bracket with an 18" setback would probably be best, but that's a little skinny if you want to use it for scuba.

CSC member Keys Cruze (Urban Patterson) has an 18 with a bracket and a 150 E-TEC on it. He said it's a 50+ mph rig and his kid loves it, but I haven't ridden in it or heard anything about it's rough water ride characteristics. He doesn't post much but you might try sending him a PM. I can send you his e-mail address if you want to send me a PM. Denny

[snook1221]

i wanna see a pic of that 18 with the 150 etec got any?

[asdfhood]

I too have toyed witrh this idea for my 18. If you go to Don Herman's site, Hermco. I think you will see the 18 with bracket you are referring to. It is pictured with a Evinrude 175 FITCH. Sure would like some feedback as to the preformance after these changes.