A bracket for 25\" 150hp on 20' CC- Pros & Cons?
 

Hey everyone. I'm seeking advice on adding a transom bracket to my 1974 Potter 20' CC. I have to do the whole rehab this fall: replace the WHOLE deck, mod the rails and replace the fuel tank. I did the transom 2 years ago but now since I'm re-powering (great deal on 150 Ocean Runner) with a long shaft I have to mod the transom as it is for a short shaft. Since I'm cutting the deck up any way I'd like to re-do the transom with no cut out and add a bracket. Here are my biggest questions:
-Can I glass in ply over the cut out? Strong enough or do I have to re build the whole transom solid?
-What is the way to go- Glass bracket or Aluminum tube style?
-Are trim tabs necessary with a bracket?
Thanks in advance for any info!

Re: A bracket for 25\" 150hp on 20' CC- Pros & Cons?
 

-Can I glass in ply over the cut out? Strong enough or do I have to re build the whole transom solid?

*** Since the cut out area is not structural . . . you can glass over ply to fill the open transom.


-What is the way to go- Glass bracket or Aluminum tube style?

Either is fine . . . Fiberglass won't pit or corrode like aluminum. You will want a flotation bracket regardless of the material it's made out of.

-Are trim tabs necessary with a bracket?

Absolutely . . . without any question!!


Also . . . if you are redoing the floor and replacing the fuel tank, move the tank as far as possible toward the bow. The bracket makes the bow of these boats very light.

Re: A bracket for 25\" 150hp on 20' CC- Pros & Cons
 

Right on. Thanks for the response. After reading a bunch of the threads on this site, I have a better idea of what the whole project will entail... I'll try to post what I start with. I'm planning on starting a mold for a bracket this week. MDF like the one the Almighty Strick did. His threads kick ass! God my eyes hurt from reading so much INTERNERD......

Re: A bracket for 25\" 150hp on 20' CC- Pros & Cons
 

Just an FYI - making a bracket costs $500+ in materials using Polyester, marine ply core/stringers and 1708. It'll take 3 - 4 weeks to complete if you throw a lot of free time at it. If you have time and don't mind traveling . . . you can occasionally find used brackets for $600 - $1000 on ebay and craigslist and for 2K you can pickup a hermco.

Re: A bracket for 25\" 150hp on 20' CC- Pros & Cons
 

It's a shame you can't run on one to even see if you want the bracket....Some don't like them, some are all for it for various reasons..... I will say that if you were to do it you have a very light compact motor in mind, and that is a big factor. I'd love to get a nice 175 of that same block at a decent price..I'm sure if you've been searching posts you can see all the opinions, discussion, modifications...For me the good far out weigh the bad. I have a simple setup with a fairly light motor and no tabs and I love it.
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_...148_medium.jpg

Re: A bracket for 25\" 150hp on 20' CC- Pros & Cons
 

I was wondering if anybody knows how the weights compare say hermco vs armstrong.

Re: A bracket for 25\" 150hp on 20' CC- Pros & Cons
 

not sure on the weights but the big advantage to the hermco is the larger chamber.

Re: A bracket for 25\" 150hp on 20' CC- Pros & Cons
 

FYI- you can get an Armstrong with a big chamber as well.

Re: A bracket for 25\" 150hp on 20' CC- Pros & Cons
 

I was ordering a deckhatch from armstrong a few months ago and while I had the guy on the phone I asked about bracket pricing, etc. One of the things he said was their brackets are much lighter than the fiberglass ones. Was wondering if there really is much of a difference.

Re: A bracket for 25\" 150hp on 20' CC- Pros & Cons
 

I just installed a wide body Armstrong with an 80 inch swim platform and the bracket was not heavy. Two guys could easily hold it in place. It probably weighed 70-80 pounds???

That said we got lazy and hung it from a forklift cause we had one!

Re: A bracket for 25\" 150hp on 20' CC- Pros & Cons
 

Aluminum brackets are lighter than fiberglass. I have an armstrong bracket with the wide body and a 175 hp Mercury Optimax on the back, which in my unqualified opinion is the most weight I'd put back there. Your ocean runner should be lighter.

Re: A bracket for 25\" 150hp on 20' CC- Pros & Cons
 

Thanks for all that info y'all!. I had hoped to get a better idea of the pros of a glass bracket. I have a week off- held up by slow concrete contractor- so I plan on starting a mold for a glass bracket. I have digested some of the posts like "Here we go again" by Strick but I have questions about the over all dimensions of an effective design: over all width? length from existing transom? height at motor mount from V to top of mount? I'm sure I'll have more ?'s once I get going. Thanks in advance!

Re: A bracket for 25\" 150hp on 20' CC- Pros & Cons
 

30" setback is standard so the motor gets full tilt. One major pro of a glass bracket is it will not corrode and since you are designing and fabricating your own you can build it with the max floatation possible. If you build it right it will be far superior to any aluminum you can buy.:D

Re: A bracket for 25\" 150hp on 20' CC- Pros & Cons
 

I concur sir.
That OMC is @365#`s dry. Nice n light, and a great match for that hull.

Enjoy,
GFS

Re: A bracket for 25\" 150hp on 20' CC- Pros & Cons
 

i have an armstrong came with the boat, i'd go hermco all the way myself. pretty sure you get flotation not due to weight but space within and displacement (but others know).

if you can go 30" engine, its almost 3 feet back with a bracket and nicer to get motor up outta the wa-wa.

Re: A bracket for 25\" 150hp on 20' CC- Pros & Cons
 

You are correct, but when running, which is when weight REALLY comes into play, the floatation chamber does nothing.

To the OP regarding set-back, I'd go as short as is necessary to fully tilt your engine up. Since you're building your own, you have this option. Yes, 30" is standard but I bet you can get away with a 25-26" setback, maybe shorter. Not too big of a deal but every little bit helps.

I also think it looks more proportional with a shorter set-back.

Re: A bracket for 25\" 150hp on 20' CC- Pros & Cons
 

Thanks for that Zach & Hermco. I'm starting to lay out the mould now. I bought 5/8" MDF and 1/8" MDF to build the mould with. I'm a contractor and this is REAL challenging compared to my day job! A friend mentioned there is a ratio of setback length to bracket transom height. Any thoughts?.....I'll have pics soon to illustrate my layout process. Forgive my ignorance, but how do I up load pics on this site? Instant UBB code what? I've started a mock up out of card board for the mould parts. I hope all y'all bare with me on this...God knows if it was easy, every one would do it!