bracket on center console

reyb · #1 10-20-2009, 03:55 PM

Did the forum and google search but would still like to hear about the pros/cons of installing a bracket. I have a '89 V20 with a 20" transom. I'm thinking of filling in the transom and putting a bracket...thinking about it :) Bracket wise I was thinking of making one like the following attachement. What's the max weight to put on the bracket? Comments/concerns?

RidgeRunner · #2 10-21-2009, 07:57 AM

Nice power plant. There are lots of boats with brackets on this website, check out the albums. To do it over again I would probably use a bracket with less setback. If I had planned to use a 500 lb motor, I would have only used a 24" setback. Joe7670 is installing a new Optimax on a bracket right now.The Gil bracket is tough as nails, my concern there would be the lack of floatation versus what you get when you use a box type bracket. Shifting weight to the bow of the boat is a good idea when practical as anything you hang off the rear will tend to weigh down the transom. I love the full transom but there are tradeoffs, my boat isn't a self bailer anymore. Besides the fabrication of the bracket there are other $$$ concerns, hydraulic steering comes to mind. It just is not practical to have a teleflex type steering cable. There are a lot of concerns about porposing that would require trim tabs. More $$$. Basically I think that lots of planning and budgeting is the first step.

joe7670 · #3 10-21-2009, 08:09 AM

I went for the full platform bracket with the idea that it would be great to get in and out of the boat when diving.
Look aroung as they can be had used for much cheaper than new.

Redistributing weight will be big recommendation if you are converting a non x seadrive model as you could end up with a too much weight towards the back.

I've read things like moving batteries up, fuel tank...

reyb · #4 10-21-2009, 08:35 AM

"...lots of planning and budgeting is the first step." no kidding :) I already have the hydraulic steering and have already moved the batteries underneath the seat in front of the console. I have the following bait tank I made that holds around 40 gallons which equates to 320lbs, so I"m concerned about how heavy a motor to put on. I'm thinking of putting some kind of weight in the bow compartment. I'm thinking I need to secure this weight some how and can't just drop in a couple bags of rocks. I mentioned in another thread about gettting a '06 150 Optimax but I'm shying away from it due to what Spares said about what it costs to repair it. Also, it weighs in at around 485lb compared to 420 that the DF140. Regarding a floatation bracket, I'm sure I can enclose the bracket when I make it but wonder how much it really helps.

RidgeRunner · #5 10-21-2009, 09:51 AM

"Regarding a floatation bracket, I'm sure I can enclose the bracket when I make it but wonder how much it really helps."-reyb

Me either, I don't see it doing much until it gets submerged. When submerged someone said it would give 70# bouyancy??? With the 500 lb motor I see a lot more of my bracket in the water. I put a baitwell/seat in my center console, I forget the gallons but it is heavy. Full of water and 600# worth of a$$ standing at the stern I have about 4" of the bracket above the water in dead calm conditions. I need to do some sea trials before I would feel comfortable going to any big water, it is intended for duty as bay boat. Everything I can think of is forward from where it used to be. The 400# motor carried much better on the 30" setback. I only wish I had found this website when I was doing mine. I might have gone a different way. As a bay boat I would love to have a jack plate.

reyb · #6 10-21-2009, 05:31 PM

What way would you might have gone? Would you put a jack plate on the bracket? I found a set of manual adjustable jack plates on craigs list for $40, so I'm thinking of
what other options I have since the old motor is gone and the transom is empty and staring at me.