Mounting Outboard...

H

HollaGeo

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Oct 7, 2005
Messages
316
I gonna' keep this simple. Just bought an older Johnson Super-Sea-Horse. It has two screw holes. I assume to screw onto the transom. My transom has no holes. What do I do??? Drill holes through my transom???
 
H

Home Cookin'

Fleet Admiral
Joined
May 26, 2009
Messages
9,715
Re: Mounting Outboard...

you don't say what size, but I wonder, with only two holes, are they in the front of the bracket? Is it under 35 hp? Are the holes threaded? If so, you might be missing the two "permanent" clamp screws--and you don't drill holes in the transom.
 
C

Chris1956

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 25, 2004
Messages
28,102
Re: Mounting Outboard...

Hey Home, Even if the motor has the two thumbscrews, it is smart to put thru-bolts into the transom, for any HP above 10. If the motor is just held on by the thumbscrews, and you hit bottom, it will pop off the transom and sink like a rock.....
 
G

gt

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Jun 5, 2009
Messages
86
Re: Mounting Outboard...

And since the powerhead is heavier than the lower unit, when it pops off, it flips over and sinks powerhead first, and then all you see to grab is the prop which is now spinning wildly because it has no water to hold it back, and it's scary, and you grab for it anyway, and then jump back so you don't cut your fingers off, and you feel like crap afterwards cuz it's not even your outboard, and you still fish that same area in VT 40 years later and still tell the story, and.... oh sorry about that, was I babbling...

Yes, tighten the clamps well, drill holes in the transom, and make sure you seal them when you put the bolts in.
 
H

Home Cookin'

Fleet Admiral
Joined
May 26, 2009
Messages
9,715
Re: Mounting Outboard...

or you tie a rope to it SOP. Has worked for me for 40 years and half dozen boats. And I've hit many bottoms and never popped a motor loose.
The idea of the "thumb screws" is so you can remove the motor easily. It's an option.
 
H

HollaGeo

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Oct 7, 2005
Messages
316
Re: Mounting Outboard...

Let's say they are for thumb screws. Do you guys know of a website that I can buy them from???
 
H

Home Cookin'

Fleet Admiral
Joined
May 26, 2009
Messages
9,715
Re: Mounting Outboard...

best to get them from a boat junk yard; parts like that can be very pricey.
 
Frank Acampora

Frank Acampora

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jan 19, 2007
Messages
12,004
Re: Mounting Outboard...

Or: On smaller engines a lot of those thumb screws were standard 1/2 inch threaded. If yours are, you could buy a couple of appropriately sized stainless screws and put them in backwards so the heads bear against the transom. (with a steel or aluminum plate under them, of course, to spread the load.)
 
H

Home Cookin'

Fleet Admiral
Joined
May 26, 2009
Messages
9,715
Re: Mounting Outboard...

I'd bolt on an 80. As I said, the "thumbscew" was for small motors you'd remove frequently.
 
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