Quote:
Originally Posted by beastley
I second that question. Just about ready to drill holes for my hermco bracket. And I'm concerned about getting the motor high enough.
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First of all I would mount the bracket on the transom where Don recommends to maximize flotation and because that located the swim platform at the perfect height on my boat. I think optimum motor height depends on bracket setback. Based on my experience, if it's a 30" bracket mounted where Don mounted mine and the motor mount holes are drilled where Don originally put them, a 20" motor would probably work but mount the motor so max possible AV plate height from keel is 5" with ability to lower it if you get too much aeration. I haven't actually been able to mount or run mine at the 5" ht so you're on your own there! Mine works fine where it is; there may be some performance benefits to raising it more, but don't know that for sure or the magnitude of the benefit since I haven't tested that. With a 20" motor, your powerhead will be 5" closer to the water than mine. Not sure I'd be comfortable with that on an offshore boat, although I think the E-TEC cowling is well sealed and baffled. Pretty sure you would need to run a good 4B prop with lots of cup so it bites well when running close to the surface.
If you have a 25" motor, drill the motor mount holes in the bracket as high as possible. To mount it any higher, you'll need a jack plate or a spacer plate about 1" thick extending above bracket with the lower engine mount bolts facing aft with the heads buried flush with front of plate.