Adding Bracket to New Transom

[strick]

Thats pretty cool. Nice glass work. Are you using epoxy? Like the others I too think it should be bolted as well. That and the lamination you have already done should make it bullet proof. I worry about the swim platform height. I think it may be right at the water line. You are going to want it a couple inches above the water line. I realize that the water line is different for all boats and I may be wrong but it looks a little low to me. It would be easy to add a couple inches to the height of the swim platform after your first test float if need be. For your washers use 2.5x2.5 inch square SS 1/4 inch thick. Round washers are not nearly as strong as square washers. Have a welder punch them out for you. Of course you can have a template made as well instead of using washers. Thanks for sharing your project and keep us posted.

strick

[Ryank]

Beautiful glass work, and those knees on the inside of the transom add tremendous strength. Without a doubt secure the bracket somehow to the transom as the set back of the bracket increases the amount of leverage once the weight of the motor is applied, I forget the multiplier but it more then triples the amount of force of the bracket against the transom. I have seen what seemed like strong transoms flex or break when a bracket or bracketed twins were installed even on newer boats.

[billfisher]

Thankyou guys for all the comments and concerns. This platform/bracket was built using polyester resin not epoxy. I have used both Mas, and West System epoxies in the past but used a polyester resin for the simple reason the boat was built using this resin. Also the cure times when it's chilly out are much better than with the other epoxies. Again the platform height is right at the original BOOT STRIPE not the water line. The boot stripe was 3" above the old water mark on the bottom paint. I hope with the added bouyancy the bracket gives me, that I will be ok with this height when the motor and CMC jackplate is mounted on it? I noticed this weekend at the Baltimore boat show that all of the Armstrong brackets where mounted higher on the transoms so time will tell. I'll keep the pic's comming as I progress. Thanks again!

[billfisher]

Just some more pic's to keep ya's updated. The first coat of fairing is on and getting ready to spray with Awlgrip 545 and sprayable fairing to get the desired build. This cold weather up here is making for some long curing times??? [image]
Spent last evening sanding what you see here, and hopefully the bracket, hull and top deck will all be sprayed and ready for final sanding by the end of this weekend. Lot of fuel gonna be burned this weekend!!!

[Bryan A.]

Looks good!
A few questioins Did you through bolt it? Is the center "tub" permanently sealed? And what is the red stuff? I had some filler on my boat from an earlier repair that is that color and I just wanted to I.D. it. Thanks

[billfisher]

It is not thru bolted yet, once it is finished and the Jack plate is mounted, those bolts will run from the back bracket thru a 1/4 inch plate, and then thru the transom with both sides having a backing plate as well. The top of the motor box section will get a watertight access hatch to allow for the thru bolting procedure, and any internal rigging I may want to do. The brown stuff is a wood color light fairng filler mixed with the resin to make round fillets, just didn't have any micro ballons in white. Makes for easier sanding and nice smooth edges.

[Wobbet60]

That looks very good, impressive actually.

[billfisher]

Some new update pic's for the bracket addition, It's been cold up North here so progress has been slow, but getting there.






Fairing her out,.......getting out the waves



Final coat of Awgrip Sanding Surfacer


Sorry about the dust on my camera lense?

Ready for 545 final prime!!!

[Chaos]

AWESOME job lou

[joseeli8797]

The amount of labor and love in this bracket is tremendus I've never seen a all wood wraped in glass bracket of this sort before but then again I may only have a limited perception on this, a 500# outboard is going to be a true test. Good luck sir.