Floatation??

[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.. River Ranch 013.jpg

River Ranch 014.jpg

[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. River Ranch 015.jpg

[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.
bracket.jpg

bracket2.jpg

bracket3.jpg

bracket4.jpg

bracket5.jpg

[jasoncooperpcola]

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



What does everyone think?

[phatdaddy]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...2/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.