Re: Bracket Project
 

when you trim the engine up and lock it. Does it hit or rub the transom of the boat?

Re: Bracket Project
 

The motor has plenty of clearance to tilt all the way up. The boat still hasn't splashed . . . hydraulic steering is on now just waiting for my control cables to show up. Lots of honey do's lately b/c my wife got a fellowship to study in france for the next 9 months. Also had to get the Salmon Permit squared away on the other boat. One of my wifes friends is going to help me redo the cushions this weekend . . . should be fun to learn how to use a sewing machine :)

Re: Bracket Project
 

That's with a 26 inch setback....??

Re: Bracket Project
 

Agh ha, Let me get this straight ;)
Wife going to France and wifes friend going to give you sewing lessons. :rolleyes:
Maybe of a few pics with you at the machine would be beneficial to the rest of us..... :D
Have fun, Ken

Re: Bracket Project
 

I'll see what I can do about pics :) My Wife's not leaving for France until the end of August, but she's got me running around. I told her as soon as Salmon season opens up again (July 1st) I'm fishing.

Re: Bracket Project
 

Well . . . with a laundry list left to do on the boat . . . I cut every corner to get the boat on the water today for the first time. I couldn't wait any longer to get the boat on the water. Fortunately Strick had my back in case things didn't work out, but I am happy to report everything worked out on the shakedown run. Here are some of stricks pics from today!!









http://www.casdvm.com/photos/Tims%20...t/DSCN6964.JPG http://www.casdvm.com/photos/Tims%20...t/DSCN6965.JPG http://www.casdvm.com/photos/Tims%20...t/DSCN6968.JPG http://www.casdvm.com/photos/Tims%20...t/DSCN6992.JPG http://www.casdvm.com/photos/Tims%20...t/DSCN6973.JPG http://www.casdvm.com/photos/Tims%20...t/DSCN6975.JPG http://www.casdvm.com/photos/Tims%20...t/DSCN6993.JPG http://www.casdvm.com/photos/Tims%20...t/DSCN6998.JPG http://www.casdvm.com/photos/Tims%20...t/DSCN6999.JPG http://www.casdvm.com/photos/Tims%20...t/DSCN7001.JPG http://www.casdvm.com/photos/Tims%20...t/DSCN7004.JPG http://www.casdvm.com/photos/Tims%20...t/DSCN7007.JPG http://www.casdvm.com/photos/Tims%20...t/DSCN7010.JPG http://www.casdvm.com/photos/Tims%20...t/DSCN7016.JPG http://www.casdvm.com/photos/Tims%20...t/DSCN7017.JPG http://www.casdvm.com/photos/Tims%20...t/DSCN7020.JPG http://www.casdvm.com/photos/Tims%20...t/DSCN7023.JPG http://www.casdvm.com/photos/Tims%20...t/DSCN7024.JPG http://www.casdvm.com/photos/Tims%20...t/DSCN7031.JPG

Re: Bracket Project
 

Looks great.....sits nicely. Can't way to see the numbers...

Re: Bracket Project
 

Big, Lookin' good!!!
It had to be a great feeling making the splash. :)
Although I'm trying to read between the lines on the
"Babe on Bike" Chips, and the pic of your license plate.
Was Stick implying your tag was expired and no lights !!! :D
:D :D
See ya, Ken

Re: Bracket Project
 

Tim-

Looks great! Judging by the existing bootstripe it appears that you gained a few inches of lift in the stern? As NoBones said....the boat is sitting very nicely and appears to be well balanced.

Do you want to make one for CSICKNICK's OUZO???

Re: Bracket Project
 

Thanks guys . . . I couldn't be happier. The boat rides nice and I haven't put the tabs on yet. I didn't have any tail lights and my license plate is attached with zip ties. Luckily I didn't make the light at the intersection or I might have been in trouble.

I'm running a mirage plus 17 pitch Prop. The motor is old 1979 vertical front half Merc 200 (new cowling - 3 piston trim)

GPS, navman unit, 2 people 1/4 tank.

Cruise 4300rpm at 35mph - 34 Liters (gauge was set to liters)

5100 RPM hit 42mph and the boat still has plenty left over.

I had the powerhead completely apart over the winter, so I was trying to be gentle. Based on yesterdays ride . . . I believe this engine will turn over 6000rpm . It starts right up and sounds really tight.

Re: Bracket Project
 

Beautiful work - love that boat !

If you're takin orders, I'll take one - next in line after Nick !!! :D


Bill

Re: Bracket Project
 

Very cool and awesome fuel numbers. If my calculations are correct 34 liters is just shy of 9 gallons which equates to 3.9 miles per gallon. Not to shabby for a 1979 oldie but goodie.

Re: Bracket Project
 

Big-Dang, she looks good. Ditto on that water line way below the boot strip! Nice job.

Big - do you by chance have any of the measurements for your bracket; I'm thinking about building one for a 20' that I just bought and cut up already.

I've done a couple brackets since this one and learned a LOT of lessons along the way. Number one lesson - buy a hermco!! Building a bracket cost about $800 - $1000 in materials (not including beer). Hermco is $2495 for a single. Building your first one will take about 100 hours to complete from start to finish.

If I were to make one for another boat, I'd make a simple box type. Hermco's design has a lot of complex curves and the chances to screw up are high. I would have probably given up except that I had Strick coaching me through this first one. That said I'll try to piece together some rough dimensions of the red one (which btw is on a 23 now holding up a Honda 225 in FL).

These pics were one I build for my dad in 2010. It looks a little funny b/c he had a 30" motor that would eventually go on it and platform had to fit b/w the trim tabs, but this design is easier to build.

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/...188_Medium.jpg
http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/...191_Medium.jpg
http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/...195_Medium.jpg
http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/...Medium_001.jpg
http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/...Medium_001.jpg

I second that, Building brackets isn't for the beginner or someone that hasn't got a ton of extra time and patients. I started on for my 25' and haven't got it done yet. I started strong and made good progress then work kept me away for a while. I have got it about finished now but still need to do the swim platform top half and bond them together. I will try to post a few more pic up once I get a chance to do so. If you decide to do one, keep it simple, once you get 3 different angles merging together it can be hard to get the dimensions correct. A simple box style would be the way to go but even it would be tough to make. Just having to get the top half to drop on the bottom and fit right is a task not to mention you mount height, motor height and transom angles all come into play too. Mine is on a 14 degree transom angle with a vee bottom that is angled around 22 degrees to match the hull bottom but then there is a 20 angle rise as the bottom flotation tub rises up to a tapper that makes one hell of a compound angle. The hermco comes straight back and is flat on the bottom where as mine has an extra set of angles in it that makes it that much more of a bare. It will be worth it in the end but I think I will pass the 100 hr mark that Big mentioned. There is too many used ones floating around for $1000 to do this or for the time spent you could just buy a hermco and have something real nice. Unless you are up for a challenge or just hard headed like me I would proceed with caution.

thanks for all the input so far guys. im currently in the process of a new floor; with that being said im tying to decide on whether or not to cut out the rear seat area , and make it a full transom or just cut out the splash well area and leave the seats with the stock transom height.. im leaning toward cutting them out and raising the transom.

For a 20 seacraft, I'd notch the transom to 25" and run a motor close to or less than 400lb or buy a hermco.

I'll try to get rough dimensions up . . . I know it was 38" wide (the width of the fiberglass mat and roving) Front face was 17" tall and rear was 22" Setback was 27". Bottom v was 20.5 x 20.5 and 36w (tapered down from 38"w) at the swim platform.