Factory-installed hand rail on swim platform.

[fst415]

I will soon be taking delivery of a very-lightly used 2015 R-25SC and have a question regarding the hand rail on the swim platform. Is this hand rail strong enough to support the weight of a Yamaha 4-stroke 6HP outboard engine weighing 59-lb. when mounted on an outboard motor bracket attached to the hand rail? Thank you. Feroz

 

[Red Raven]

Yes, but only if you add a stabilizing rail from the swim rail to the boat and an additional vertical post to hold the motor mount. The motor mount needs to be mounted at a tee to keep from swiveling and does not fit at the bend. We have this setup on our boat. The rail is removeable with pins so it does not inhibit port side access to the swim step when the dinghy is down and mother is on the dinghy. Ranger Tugs parts department can send you the parts making for an easy install.

There are some photos below You can mount it further inboard if you have the swim step floor space. We have a motor bracket on the swim step that interferes and thus mounted the outboard mother further to port. Also the photo shows the motor on the outside of the mount. This created problems with the dinghy hitting the motor in large seas at high speed. We now mount the motor on the inside.



The other thing I would note is to add large stainless fender washers under the swim step and lots of 5200 inside the holes if you drill and mount a port support through the swim platform. It will not likely be reinforced where you drill (as RT does for the other posts) and the swim platform has a foam core. The washers will add reinforcement and the 5200 will reduce the water intrusion into the foam core.

 

[fst415]

'Red Raven', thank you very much for your detailed reply to my post.