Making an outboard bracket

pagedm

Recruit
Joined
Dec 16, 2007
Messages
1
Hi Guys,
I have been researching outboard brackets for a while and have read many of the posts on this site but I still want some advice to hear what you think. Many of you have done I/O to Outboard conversions, I am gearing up to do one myself. I am an experienced welder and have all the equipment to weld up the alluminium pod/bracket myself. I have visited many boat shops for a bit of "covert" research, but I still can't quite decide what thickness material to use to make my pod. Many I have seen seem to be constructed from 4mm alluminium plate, do you think that sounds right? or would 6mm be better? maybe 6mm alluminium plate would be too much and add too much weight. If you have a boat with an outboard bracket/pod running something similar in size to a 140 can you duck out with a ruler and let me know what thickness material it is made from?

Let me give you a basic description of my boat.

It is an 18" V hull, original from factory it had twin 60HP outboards (with a huge splashwell)

I am planning on mounting a 140HP Suzuki on a bracket, by my calculations with the 140 sitting back on the bracket the overall effect on the hull would be pretty close to the weight of the twin 60's right on the transom, what do you think?

Don't worry about the transom reconstruction etc, I have that all covered,
I am just interested in your thoughts on the weight/balance camparison of the twin 60's vs the single 140 on a bracket. and what thickness alluminium I should weld up the bracket with.

Thanks!:D
 

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,323
Re: Making an outboard bracket

Many I have seen seem to be constructed from 4mm alluminium plate, do you think that sounds right?

Ayuh,......... No reason to go any heavier........
A 3/16ths" aluminum Box is a pretty strout structure.........

The 1 I was looking at the other day was a couple feet back, about 1/3rd the beam of the boat,+ only a couple inches higher than the keel at the transom......
It was also a sealed compartment, with a sealed access hatch,......All free Floation.....


Btw,.......
Welcome Aboard to the forums here at iboats..............:)
 
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