tophatyachts.com

Hello,

Have been researching outboard brackets but am still unsure about what i need.

Basically, the outboard will only be attached to the transom when needed for use, it will be stored inside the boat at all other times.

Would it be possible to create a fixed bracket? As in one that doesnt pivot up and down?

I was thinking of just making one myself.

Just wondering how high out of the water should the outboard be?

Like, in line with the bottom of the transom?

When using a commercial bracket, when you pivot it down for use, is it horizontal or does it go further down past where it attaches to the transom?

Sorry, hard to explain

Does anyone have a pic of an outboard on a bracket that is in use rather than out of the water?

Thanks

One last question.

How wet does the cockpit get with the well cut out?

How hard it it to plug the hole when the engine is out?

Still weighing up the pros and cons of well mount or bracket.

Anyone here unhappy with their well?

Here's my experience but I am no expert.

The outboard which came with Windchaser is too big at 18 hp. The well has been modified to take the bigger motor. I use a multi-pulley system to move it up out of the water when moored for more than a day or so. Physically the motor is too big to handle easily and it is a bit of a squeeze getting it up and down.

I have never seen any water come into the cockpit from the well. The closest it has come was with very steep wind-against-tide washing machine type waves some of which slopped over the gunnel but not up through the well.

I like the motor in the well because when using it, the prop never lifts out of the water as sometimes the outboard on a bracket does in lumpy seas (However, some folks on the forum have not had a problem with their outboard on bracket cavitating like this so it is not a problem that happens all the time.)

With the motor in the well, it is close for starting and using. However, it is a bit louder than if further away and I can not easily see the cooling water flow.




You can see how far the motor hangs down underneath.



If you look at the growth line and the antifouling you can see that the back of the well in Windchaser is usually sitting out of the water. This means that it is unlikely to splash water back into the boat. I could be wrong with this as I have always had the motor down when moving. I know one couple with their diesel powered Top Hat but the well was cut out, they did not close it off and had no problems with it.



I have thought of putting the outboard on a bracket to make more room in the cockpit. However, it has worked amazingly well in the well.

Cool, thanks a lot Troppo, that settles it.

It's going in the well.

Cheers

One final question.

The piece of wood in front of the well that the outboard sits on is loose. Would epoxy be enough to hold that on?

Hi Stonepirate,

I would definitely bolt the outboard motor support to the fibreglass uprights as the force on the support will be substantial, and you will want to remove it in a few years to replace it. You should put large washers or a backing plate behind the nuts. The fibreglass is thick at this location so that it can take the force from the bolts if washers or backing plate are used.

You may find that you have to put some spacers between the support and the fibreglass to move the support and motor forward, depending on where you cut the hole in the hull. The whole of the bottom of the well does not have to be cut out (as it appears to be in Troppo's photos), but the hole has to be large enough to get the propeller and anti-cavitation plate through and to allow the motor to be rotated for steering.

I suggest that the bottom of the support should be 2 or 3 cm above the cockpit floor to let water drain out. Any higher and you risk losing winch handles and similar under it. The top of the support should be only as high as is necessary to keep the metal bracket of the outboard off the cockpit floor.

Cutting the hole should be easy with a fine tooth saw. I cut mine to enlarge it. My boat was on the slip so I could use an electric jigsaw from below. If yours is on the water, it should be straightforward to drill a starting hole and then cut by hand from above. Seal the cut edges with flowcoat or other resin.

You are making the right decision putting the motor in the well rather than on a bracket on the stern of the boat. If you were planning to keep the motor on the bracket all the time, then the stern bracket would be OK, but as you are planning to only put the motor in position when it is needed, you would find it almost impossible to put it on a stern bracket but comparatively easy to put it in the well.
Stern brackets have the advantage that the motor can remain on them at all times and be tilted/lifted out of the water when moored or to reduce drag when sailing. Motors in wells have to be lifted out of the well when moored and you have to put up with the drag when sailing.

You will get water coming into the cockpit via the hole when sailing, but this is not a problem provided that you have the standard upstand at the companionway.

Steve

Great, thanks a lot Steve, such a thorough answer

Will fit the engine tomorrow

Cheers

What was wrong with the inboard? Inboards are better if you have one that is in good nick. That way the outboard well is not an issue.

The inboard seems fine, but it is possibly 30 to 40 years old and i'm no mechanic if anything goes wrong.

Probably wont even use the outboard, but its reassuring to know its there if i need it

SP what type of diesel is it ?

Bear