Engine mount replacement questions?

[Phazer230]

Hi guys I am goint to eventually replace my engine mount perches or whatever you guys call them? I know that something is wrong with them because my starter is touching one of the mounts now and it wasnt before"rotting". I am currently replacing the floor, but dont want to get into this job until late fall so I want to go ahead and do the floor but would like to do the engine mounts later. I hope this is possible, I want to use my boat this summer. The stringers or plywood surrounding the engine compartment is not great but it is holding together, my question is do you guys think it would be ok to leave the old ones in place and add all new "boxing" marine board "just go over what is already there"? and fiberglass it all, I would think it would make it stronger anyway the old is only 3/4". This would make the job alot easier since I may already have my floor down floor down. The other questions I have are how are these engine mounts "fiberglassed boxes" assembled? I have read that they are almost solid wood fiberglassed on the outside? How are they connected to the engine surrounding stringers? All I see is fiberglass, I would assume these boxes are built pretty sturdy and I want to know the easiest way to remove them? I have tried to read alot about this but am having trouble finding a good article that is close to what I have. How thick should the fiberglass on these mounts be? How much wood? I assume it is plywood layers? Any help would be greatly apprciated. I tried to post photos but had problems sorry.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Engine mount replacement questions?

The top three threads are all about photos here http://forums.iboats.com/forumdisplay.php?f=32

I am personally agains shortcuts and band aids to problems. I would rather see things done right the first time. Post some pictures. I am not comfortable directiong you to take the shortcut which could result in a disaster.

What engine and outdrive combo are you running. Each one places stress in various places.

What's marine board?

 

[Phazer230]

Re: Engine mount replacement questions?

Ok I'll check out the photo thing. My engine is a 5.7 OMC 351 cobra engine and cobra outdrive. what I meant by Marine board is marine plywood I have 3/4". Thanks

 

[Robj]

Re: Engine mount replacement questions?

I agree with Bob. Fix it and fix it properly. Rotten engine mounts can have serious consequences, like sinking your boat. You hammer the throttle, the torque twists the engine, mount fails, engine is sitting on the hull. Not a pretty picture.

Have a great day,

Rob.

 

[Phazer230]

Re: Engine mount replacement questions?

Yeah I definetlly want it fixed correctlly thats what I am asking you guys your opininons. I would like to just go over the boxing not the acual engine perches, I want to toltally rebuild them. But I would like to just epoxy in new wood surrounding the engine though. I am going to try to post some pics here thanks guys

 

[Phazer230]

Re: Engine mount replacement questions?

Here more

http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/ww79/danzik50/DSCF0351.jpg

 

[Phazer230]

Re: Engine mount replacement questions?

 

[Phazer230]

Re: Engine mount replacement questions?

What do you guys think? What a mess huh

 

[danond]

Re: Engine mount replacement questions?

Phazer - I have bad and good news for ya.

Bad news: Your bilge and engine compartment are toast. Yep - all of it; not just the engine mounts.

To do this right, you're going to need to pull the engine and drive and get to work. I'm guessing your transom, sole and stringers aren't far behind. There's always more rot than you anticipate.

Good news: Check the link in my signature - I started with a similar problem and fixed it. I just got back from two days at the lake with my freshly repaired '89 OMC 4.3 Starcraft. Now my only issue is my prop doesn't have enough pitch.

 

[Phazer230]

Re: Engine mount replacement questions?

Yeah the stuff around the engine is definetlly toast, but I think the transom is ok. The stringers arent the greatest but I think they'll work the ones on up the boat anyways. The engine compartment is my biggest issue right now. I think and hope the rest of it holds up it seems sturdy enough but all tyhe wood around the engine is gonna have to be replaced, but cant I just cut off the mounts and epoxy in new wood around the engines surround and build new mounts? anyone?

 

[danond]

Re: Engine mount replacement questions?

Sure you can. But it'd be a crappy repair that devalues your boat, it'd be unsafe and you'd be back in there inside a season or two.

Take the engine out. Remove the rotten wood. Build new where you removed. Then you're done.

There's no "quick and easy" way if you want to do it once and safely.

 

[Phazer230]

Re: Engine mount replacement questions?

Yeah I dont wanna do that, I would rather do it the right way. What is holding those engine mounts in place anyways? I find it hard to belive It would be just epoxy and fiberglass? That motor is pretty heavy, are those mounts bolted to the stringers also? How should I remove everything just cut it out with air cutter or what? I belive I have all the tools to do the job just not sure how to go about it, and I would rather wait till Fall but be prepared.

 

[wca_tim]

Re: Engine mount replacement questions?

I would guess that your engine is probably so far out of alignment from the sinking mounts... that you're in danger of having some serious problems if you run it much especially hard...

 

[danond]

Re: Engine mount replacement questions?

Yeah I dont wanna do that, I would rather do it the right way. What is holding those engine mounts in place anyways? I find it hard to belive It would be just epoxy and fiberglass? That motor is pretty heavy, are those mounts bolted to the stringers also? How should I remove everything just cut it out with air cutter or what? I belive I have all the tools to do the job just not sure how to go about it, and I would rather wait till Fall but be prepared.

Ohhhh dude. If you haven't seen what epoxy and fiberglass can do, then I can understand your question

Check out my site below. Read through it, it's quicker than posting it all here. Yep, you remove the engine, measure everything, write it all down, take a sawzall, cutting wheel, hammer, chisel, etc and dig it all out, rebuild it all with epoxy (or polyester) resin, fiberglass and wood. It's a pain, but the finished product is awesome.

 

[F14CRAZY]

Re: Engine mount replacement questions?

The "boxes" that the engine mounts are bolted to (lag screws) aren't just fiberglass but they're dimensional lumber i.e. : 4x4 with an angle cut in it to match the hull with some heavy fiberglass over it (3/16''-1/4'', at least on my boat, you'll want to replace whatever you remove). They're glassed to the stringers though when I replaced mine I peanut butter-ed them to the hull AND to the stringers as well.

They look bad though from here. As mentioned it's best to get it over with now. You won't have to make another mess next season and won't have to worry about any structural failures (or worse)

 

[Phazer230]

Re: Engine mount replacement questions?

Ok thank you guys for all your help this is a wonderful site! I am in the process of ripping it all out I am starting with all the foam though, I am just going to gut the entire boat and start from scratch. I ripped some foam from the bottom of the boat and sqeezed it and water just poured from the foam arrrrr. To bad the boat wont make it on the water this year, at least I just recently purchased a used bass boat, I guess I can use it for fun right now, but there wont be any over night stays out on it dang it. Boy I sure wish you guys will hang with me over this process for I will have many questions along the way I am sure and I will need plenty of advise and help. I hope my engine lift will raise high enough to get that engine out hehe. I think I am going to go ahead and replace all the stringers also I might as well do this all right cause I dont want to be back in there doing it all over again. Thanks for your help guys!