Bracket Installed!

[RidgeRunner]

Nice job. I can attest to the great mileage and dependability of the OPTI. I just thought from the previous thread that you were leaning toward the 4-strokes.
I repowered my 20 CC this past weekend with the 250 EFI at 500 LBS on the bracket. The new to me Frankenmotor was missing a few critical bolts and nuts for the gearcase so it's not ready for a lake test. Even on the trailer I can tell the difference in weight. I may have to adjust on the trailer to get some more tongue weight. I was hoping to have it in the drink so I could let you know how she sits in the water and how it runs with the extra weight. Maybe by the time you get back I will have a picture or two.
Have a good vacation.
Vic

[sunny717]

Hi Newbie here.
On a V-20 cuddy I/O conversion to bracket, has anyone used a 30" motor rather than a 25"?
What are the pros & cons.

[macojoe]

I did a 25" but after I had I was wondering the same thing. But on a V20 I don't think there is enough transom for it? You would have to use a jack plate.
My Sea Ox also has a 25' conversion, and i find the same issue, the power head way to close to the water.
Would love to have a 30" to nkeep npower head out of water.

[sunny717]

Mounting and Armstrong or a SeaMount bracket higher on the transom wouldn't work?
Looking at some pix it looks like there is room.

[joe7670]

Mako know more than me about this, but I see enough room on my transom to mount the bracket higher.

Now on my bracket/platform there is a little bit of positive flotation that the bottom of it provides which I would guess you may loose as it goes higher.

[sunny717]

Originally Posted by joe7670

Mako know more than me about this, but I see enough room on my transom to mount the bracket higher.

Now on my bracket/platform there is a little bit of positive flotation that the bottom of it provides which I would guess you may loose as it goes higher.

I keep seeing the smaller brackets with no platform, they look like they may fit inside the horseshoe.
As for positive flotation/buoyancy from a bracket, you gotta show me.
If you seal the chamber of the bracket and throw it in water by it self, I would bet it doesn't float.
Joe

[RidgeRunner]

When sealed up properly brackets definitely float and add bouyancy. There is a formula for calculating the exact amount of bouyancy. I heard somewhere that a 30" bracket has 70# bouyancy. Problem is, bouyancy is not evident if the bracket is mounted high out of the water. It certainly does not float like a piece of cork. In the water sealed off all by itself it would float motor end down with only the top 10" or so above the water line.(best guess) On my 20 the bracket adds bouyancy in heavy seas or coming off plane when it really gets dunked. I believe mine is about neutral in weight with the 500 lb motor hung on the back, boat at mooring. The manufacturers of the brackets can custom make anything your heart desires. There is a lot of conjecture about the correct mounting height for the bracket. I have done the bracket retrofit now on two boats less than 22' long. Stainless Marine gives a neat template to put on the transom, I have found their recommendation right on the money, their bracket raises the mounting height in relation to the keel to account for the water rising back up some 36" behind the boat where the lower unit meets the water. As far as a 30" shaft length, I don't like the idea, the less weight the better on a bracket. I like the jack-plate idea just fine and would recommend a smaller setback as has already been mentioned. 18" setback plus 6" for the jack plate would work nicely. My .04, adjusted for inflation

[macojoe]

I have a smaller bracket on my sea ox thats fine, as for mounting in the horse shoe, tats why i said you have to measure.
As far as the flotation, your right I bet it would sink, but you are looking at it wrong, if you have a open bracket it allows the water to flood the bracket and the back will go down.
with a closed bracket, when back goes down it can't flood the bracket and helps with keeping the motor out of the water.

i took a ten foot wave and filled the v20 with water!! and i still say till today that the bracket when pushed up by a smaller wave is what saved us.
the motor was just about under and we were going in the water, when the wave pushed the motor up and it was running, gave it all the throttle i had and we made it out, after bailing fast with bucket we were able to make in to the harbor.

A open bracket will have not allowed for that, this is why a flotation bracket is recommended

[RidgeRunner]

Originally Posted by sunny717

I keep seeing the smaller brackets with no platform, they look like they may fit inside the horseshoe.
As for positive flotation/buoyancy from a bracket, you gotta show me.
If you seal the chamber of the bracket and throw it in water by it self, I would bet it doesn't float.
Joe

I took the liberty of emailing Stainless Marine. The 30" setback single motor bracket without the platform has 310# bouyancy when completely submerged. Good luck with your projects

[macojoe]

You will have to measure? But well craft has that horse shoe looking set in on the rear, you might be it to it and have to build out for a flush mount.

You can always mount a bracket at 25" and add a jack plate, but be sure to go with a shorter bracket set back as the jack plate will set you back about 6"

All food for thought, and I no longer have a V so I can't go out and measure. Before you get in to it take all measurements and figure all out.