How to cut out engine well hole?

[Phillip]

Yes, use some 13mm MARINE ply [at least 200 x 200mm in size] seal it in whatever paint you like.

Use stainless steel bolts when you bolt the bracket on.

Make sure you use plenty of silaflex between the ply and the fibreglass at each bolt.

Goodluck.

[stonedpirate]

Cool, thanks Phillip

[Miker]

Yes, use some 13mm MARINE ply [at least 200 x 200mm in size] seal it in whatever paint you like.

Use stainless steel bolts when you bolt the bracket on.

Make sure you use plenty of silaflex between the ply and the fibreglass at each bolt.

Goodluck.

SP, from experience, 200 x 200 is way too small. The idea of a backing board is to spread the load of the outboard' bracket's four mounting bolts. My backing board is almost the same shape as the transom, but about 200 mm smaller all the way around. It is covered with an epoxy resin and has been glued in place using epoxy glue. Essentially, it's become part of the interior structure, and it's important that it is strong and spreads the load so the force of the outboard surging around doesn't stress the fiberglass, which is thinner on the transom.

When I bought Dulcamara she had four small timber backing plates on the inside of the transom, and when under motor you could see the transom flexing like Rolf Harris' wobble board. It also meant that there is no a few hairline cracks in the gelcoat. With the new improved backing board, there is still a little flex, but over the whole area, not just on each bolt.

On the other hand, it may pay you to do a really good service on your diesel and make SURE it's going to be safe amd reliable, thats what I would do. If you had both engines, you may be the only Top Hat in existence to have two auxiliary power sources and it seems like a lot of work for a "just in case" scenario.

[stonedpirate]

Thanks Mike

Yeah, maybe 2 auxiliaries is overkill but these new yamaha 4strokes are light, practically maintenance free and only a little work to get it fitted.

I could have spent the $2k having the old diesel reconditioned but i plan to sell the boat one day and dont want to loose too much money. When i sell, i can take my barely used yammy with me for my next boat and dont lose the cash fixing up an old engine that would add zero value to the overall sale.

Thats my theory anyway

Plus my girlfriend feels safer having 2 engines on board and it solves the debate of inboard vs outboard when u have both

[bearmcnally]

SP you can join the club for "When in doubt have both " I think there are two members now Shaun and yourself !

Bear

[Phillip]

Michael,

I bow to your experience!

I did not realize that the transoms on 2's & 3's needed that extra reinforcement for a stern mounted outboard.

[stonedpirate]

Quick update.

Got the well cut, bolted on the wooden mount and outboard is installed.

Was pretty easy.

Test her out tomorrow

[Brainless]

Good to hear it ended up being an easy job