Floatation??

[RidgeRunner]

I am seriously thinking about adding some floatation to the transom of my center console. I know I am overpowered with the 250XS but it is too sweet to repower and I don't want to give back a hundred hp.

SO

What about a lightweight flotation pod built of fiberglass that would surround my existing bracket??

It would add approx 8" in width on each side of the current bracket, about 19" in height at the transom would put it approx flush with the top of the existing bracket, and it extends back approx 30". My quick calculation has me increasing displacement by approx 180 lbs (at rest trim). While only adding 30 lbs to the gross weight for a net gain of 150 lbs. The entire thing would add near 400 lbs of floatation if fully submerged and will be completely out of the water when on plane.

Lightweight and either styrofoam core or just leave it hollow like the bracket..

Anybody ever tried this?

[reelapeelin]

I am seriously thinking about adding some floatation to the transom of my center console. I know I am overpowered with the 250XS but it is too sweet to repower and I don't want to give back a hundred hp.

SO

What about a lightweight flotation pod built of fiberglass that would surround my existing bracket??

It would add approx 8" in width on each side of the current bracket, about 19" in height at the transom would put it approx flush with the top of the existing bracket, and it extends back approx 30". My quick calculation has me increasing displacement by approx 180 lbs (at rest trim). While only adding 30 lbs to the gross weight for a net gain of 150 lbs. The entire thing would add near 400 lbs of floatation if fully submerged and will be completely out of the water when on plane.

Lightweight and either styrofoam core or just leave it hollow like the bracket..

Anybody ever tried this?


I'm tryin' to picture how that's gonna work w/that REEL nice swim platform you got on that baby...other that that, the premise sounds good...and yeah, I'd put foam in it...

[spareparts]

look at the potter brackets on the seacrafts for ideas

[RidgeRunner]

I been snooping around over on the classics site.. there are some nice rebuilds going on. Some of those were built like tanks, I am looking more for an armored cav.

[reelapeelin]

I been snooping around over on the classics site.. there are some nice rebuilds going on. Some of those were built like tanks, I am looking more for an armored cav.

Hey "Snoopy"...enjoyed the 1:15 spent last night designin' this thing...I think yer on to something..even to the point others could use (and would pay for) down the road...so consider this research & development...prototyping new stuff is a lotta fun...:clap:

[spareparts]

Did you look at Big Shrimpin's bracket build? You could build something like that to add on under your platform. Is your bracket open inside? is it sealed. We're stuffing noodles inside the bracket on my buddies Sea V

[RidgeRunner]

I didn't see your post Spare, it is sealed and watertight. I have never seen so much as a drop in there when changing motors (as I often do), or when inspecting it thru the drain plug on the bottom. I tried to get a picture of the lower while underway and decided it was too rough to leave the controls and crawl back there. LOL. Suffice it to say, the motor is mounted high. At 40, water is running at least 2" below the cav. plate but rising up fast from there, nearly touching the rear of the plate at the rear. Now I know why she loves trim.. 4165

4166

[reelapeelin]

Ya know...Spare's got me thinkin'...w/your 'glass skills, why not make your own w/the same flotation characteristics and the same width, depth, etc you'd have by adding to the existing bracket...after it's all done and you know yer happy, sell the Stainless...just thinkin' out loud here...

[RidgeRunner]

Smokin Joe on another site is building his own bracket on the back of a 24' Wellcraft Nova. His main supports go straight thru the transom and sister up with his stringers. I see it as a superior design. I think I would simply find a lighter motor before I tore into this one again. I can use it as is, the downtime is not something I want to live with.
I priced the Stainless Marine brackets for twins. Ouch.. They are up in price from when I purchased last..
No test time at the lake this past weekend. Too busy chasing go-fasts and the wind was blowing 20+ out of the south. Next time I will get some data and better pics. Never got to talk to the aluminum guru, he was rafted up about 40 boats down the bank. I got called out by Egg Sucking Dog (Seacraft guy), I didn't want to embarrass him.. LOL. Or myself for that matter.. The go-fasts are a tough bunch to hang with..
Looking at a few pictures, I really have a lot of freeboard compared to some. 4167

[jasoncooperpcola]

Ridge, just an idea. Why not build your boxes to go to the bottom of the hull? You would have even more flotation and that will help with flotation on plane where the normal bracket does not help on plane. Basically a tunnel hull will be created and you will no doubt have a V22

[jasoncooperpcola]

Ridge you just posted an idea i had. I was thinking about building my own bracket and extending stringers out the transom and use one layer of 3/4? plywood in the transom to eliminate weight.

[randlemanboater]

I saw some extra floatation on a Tracker aluminum boat the other day...looks like what you are talking about...except they are aluminum.

http://www.trackerboats.com/boat/?boat=3430

[RidgeRunner]

Definitely similar Randleman. That is to ensure the transom doesn't squat when they hang a heavy 4-stroke back there and it will still pop up on plane.

Jasoncoopercola, I boosted some pictures of the bracket in progress from Smokin Joe. A true work of art IMO. He commented on saving weight from the original.
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[jasoncooperpcola]

Thats about how I expect mine would look. Only change i would make is use the entire 8' rip of plywood instead of 6'. Mine will be the guinea pig for this project if nobody else does it first.

Ridge when i commented about the side flotation boxes next to the bracket, i thought you had a full swim platform across the back. Now that i am on the comp it is clear. I was thinking the platform would hide the top of the boxes and help it all appear as one piece.

[RidgeRunner]

Still looking at different designs. One would be to 86 the swim ladder and put floatation shells on both sides with a full width swim platform.
I would need to build it around the trim tabs for full effect, like Contender does with their transoms. Lots of work, time and money. I am scared of the one in the middle. Too little time..

[jasoncooperpcola]

I know its an elementary drawing but here is my idea.

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj199/jasoncooperpcola/Bracekt.jpg

What does everyone think?

[phatdaddy]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/Johnny_B/Catch%2022/DSC00978.jpg

this is a shot of the old style livewells. is this what you had in mind, but filled with foam & a bracket in the middle.

[spareparts]

here's bigshrimpin's bracket project, turned out real good
http://www.wellcraftv20.com/community/showthread.php?t=12323

[RidgeRunner]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/Johnny_B/Catch%2022/DSC00978.jpg

this is a shot of the old style livewells. is this what you had in mind, but filled with foam & a bracket in the middle.


Yes, only trying to work around stuff that is already bolted in place: bracket, custom swim ladder and a pair of trim tabs. Is that the picure of Big Shrimpins project boat, beforehand?

Spare, thanks for the link to the BS project bracket, I have checked out many times over and have a few pictures saved for reference.

[phatdaddy]

ridge, that's just a shot of an old aquasport i had(the photo,not the boat). that was state of the art in livewells in the 70's. when the boat was stopped, water would flood in & when on plane only drain down tothe holes. really only good for live shrimp and a few pinfish

[RidgeRunner]

Aquasport did that a lot as I recall. Buddy of mine had a 17 Osprey that I put a couple pistons in. It had the boxes like that.
Thanks for the input.
Undecided as of yet but near about getting the itch.

[RidgeRunner]

Visit- HERMCO and check out the custom brackets.

Link -- http://www.hermco.net/boat_gallery.html
Look at the splash boards/top of transom, all aluminum and form fitting in the before pics of the Mako 222.

The Tsunami I really like. Do a bracket base for twins and with a single engine setup for my V. Not breaking any new ground here, it has already been done, very nicely I might add. HERMCO looks to do some fantastic work. On the HERMCO brackets - it looks to me that the bottom of the bracket doesn't swoop up at such a drastic angle as the Stainless Marine brackets do. Something I also took away from Big Shrimpin's build and Smoking Joe's. That and the V design would add additional bouyancy because it all happens below the waterline. I saw a picture on HERMCO's site that showed some thick core material and about 6 layers of biax, and that was only the inner skin. Heavy glass encapsulated wood frame I guess??

Jasoncoopercola- Your drawing nailed the design I had in mind perfectly and would be my second choice. Easier on the budget..

[jasoncooperpcola]

Thanks for the site Ridge. I got a couple new design mods for my bracket. Definately doing a v bottom bracket. I must say i like their design and they are a nice bracket. But what about weight? Its got to be at least 300lbs for a single!

[RidgeRunner]

If it is that heavy then I gotta go back and figure displacement. Every cubic foot of displacement is about 64 lbs worth of salt water. The Stainless Marine bracket is fairly light.

[jasoncooperpcola]

Ridge i just went through every pic on that website. I just called to see what the core material is that they used, its "Divinycell" They did transoms, floors, brackets, swim platforms and everything else with it. Those brackets may not be as heavy as i thought because the divinycell is low weight. A sheet of 3/4 is $194! :cen:
www.fiberglasssupply.com/Product_Catalog/Core_Materials/core_materials.html

[RidgeRunner]

It won't be cheap to build your own. Wonder how they put the divinycell together. I was thinking Coosa or Space Age with the reinforcing strength of fiberglass built in. Still 40% lighter than plywood and I know it is strong because my floor and hatches already have it as a core. Thanks for the legwork and info. Did you ever find the picture of them laying up a bracket? I swear I saw one on their website somewhere.

[jasoncooperpcola]

I think so. I remenver seeing one where i saw tge diviny cell used for the mid stringer, motor mount, and the rest of the box.

[macojoe]

BS built one like they have there, really i think he did 3 The cost for him in material was about $700, but they came out great!

[jasoncooperpcola]

Ridge, do you have anymore pics of the outrigger bracket? Also what site is this on?

[RidgeRunner]

It is on Screamandfly.com Fiberglass section, SmokingJoe's thread about adding a bracket/outboard to a 24' Wellcraft Nova (originally an I/O). It is the most solid attachment I ever seen.. Strick and another fellow are still at it on the Classicseacraft.com site. Both places require a free membership to view pics.

[jasoncooperpcola]

I was all over classic SeaCraft last night. Strick can build some nice brackets. I never thought of using malanine for molds, I might give it a shot when I build my twin leaning posts. I will head over to scream and fly now. Thanks Ridge! What did you decide on your additional flotation?

[RidgeRunner]

The short of it, delayed by life. In good time all good projects shall come to pass. My project is done for the most part. She is very useable as-is. LOL. Not ready to scale-up for a bracket build.