Floatation??
 

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...

look at the potter brackets on the seacrafts for ideas

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:

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

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.. Attachment 4165

Attachment 4166

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...

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. Attachment 4167

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