Transom Brackets

[ken52]

Could someone explain is there an advantage to a boat that has a closed stern with a transom bracket for the outboard as opposed to a notched transom that the motor tilts into. I've seen my boat with both types the year was 1 yr newer I believe but everything else the same. Jusy was wondering why they wern't one way or the other. Trying to learn more about boat design and boating.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Transom Brackets

The biggest advantage to the closed stern is just that, it's closed. The cut out transoms tend to have very little freeboard. More than one boat has been swamped when the open transom for one reason or another went under and swamped the boat.

Brackets give you more room in the cockpit and tend to improve performance by getting the prop out and way from the turbulence caused by the hull.

My boat has an option to go with the bracket. I've ridden in a couple boat with the optional bracket and the ride difference is quite notice. The boat rides much bigger than mine

 

[ken52]

Re: Transom Brackets

Thanks, I've heard of boats getting swamped. I really love my boat but it has the notched transom. Probably not worth the cost of having that done. But is good to know if I ever go for another boat.

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Transom Brackets

Those transom brackets were made popular by the Sportcraft line of boats. Unfortunately they were using OMC outdrives that proved to be problematic. I had a friend who had one and I too noticed how much more usable room his 20' had than the 20' I owned at the time.
Also agree with dingbat about the performance advantage with the bracket.