Engine bracket or no bracket on an 18 rebuild
 

My son and I are in the process of rebuilding a 1976 18 seacraft. The boat was in amazing shape but one thing led to another and We ripped everything out. Now are considering closing in the transom and adding a engine bracket. I have seen a few rebuilds that they did it but am concerned about the boat having trouble getting out of the hole and porpoiseing. Just figured I would ask guys who have more experience than I do. Thanks

Don’t do it for the reasons you mentioned. One or two people have done it. It pushes the weight to far back.

I agree..seeing lots of squatting seacrafts out there. It has to be done just right.... redistribution of weight in the boat, full flotation bracket with minimum set back, and as light an engine as you can get...and the boat will set right but will not be as nimble as it was without the bracket. The bigger seacrafts tolerate brackets much better then the smaller ones. I have a bracket on my little 20 scepter and that boat tolerates it well because it has much more weight forward than the center consuls do. And I built a full flotation bracket with a little Suzuki 140... these days I often wonder how it would ride without the bracket.

Strick

Located in the stickeys is an example ESTIMATING THE CG SHIFT WHEN ADDING A BRACKET OR HEAVIER ENGINE of 9/24/16. Also see the comments of Bushwacker before/After relocating his ETEC 150 to a Hermco bracket on his 20’ Seafari, which as Strick mentions is less adversely affected than a CC.

No question. When I repowered, long before gathering the wisdom of the three previous gentlemen, I hung a DF140 and a hydraulic jack plate on the back of my 18. I thought I could tune the height and gain some of the benefit of the offset. I fought to keep it from porpoising and finally listened to my mechanic and ripped the 35 or 40 pounds off. It immediately ran better and that was with a wet transom. After a two year rebuild, I have high expectations for vast improvement. If I were you I would spend the effort on upgrading the splash well for safety and hang something light on the transom. Do the CG calculation mentioned above for sure. Good luck. Look forward to watching your build.

If you go with the advice of Strick and Snookerdd and forget the bracket, you could still raise the transom. My 20” transom was getting a little dicey with the weight of some boat guests. During my transom rebuild I raised it to 22” instead of 25” which avoided a longer driveshaft in my ETEC and switching to hydraulic steering. You could go to 25” if you need a new engine.

I raised mine about 2-3/4". Installed a 3" setback jack plate so I could dial in the motor height. Have since removed the plate as it served it's purpose. I could go on, but, check my "deck replacement" thread. It's all there.

Thank you guys
 

Thank you guys for all the insight. Thinking raising the transom and passing on bracket may be the right way to go.

No to the bracket. Not enough room to move people and or gear to compensate for the added weight.

18 with Flotation Bracket
 

I had a 1976 18 ft seacraft that I had Don Herman enclose the transom and install his flotation bracket, it had an amazing ride and increased the space inside the boat, I moved batteries and oil tank to the center console. Attached are a couple of pictures