Mounting outboard on swim platform

[PhilR]

I have the same removable outboard "transom" that Commander Ed has on his swim platform. Only my boat has the attached fenders on the back of the swim platform whereas Ed's doesn't have the fenders. I don't think it will work unless I remove one of the fenders where the transom is to be mounted. Has anyone dealt with this issue?

Phil

 

[Andrew Custis]

Bolton Stainless makes a HEAVY DUTY outboard bracket that works great for a platform mount. I have installed this on a few different tugs with the fenders on the platform. If you would like photos or have questions about it, your best bet would be to contact Tom@boltonstainless.com directly. I am sorry but I did not take photos of this installed. Maybe one of our customers who had it installed will chime in here and offer up some photos. Thanks!

 

[Commander Ed]

Phil,
I mounted my transom while boat was on my trailer. Made access so much easier, and I think you should be able to do a "fit check" with your transom and motor before you drill a hole. Try mounting the motor on the transom and then lift the combined motor/transom into position. This should tell you if you have a problem with the fender. Good luck and let me know how it works. I have been a little envious of you guys that have the fenders on the swim step and have considered finding a way to "upgrade" my swim step. Don't know exactly what the difference will be, but I think you have a good chance that it will work with fender left in place - just a guess.

Commander Ed

 

[PhilR]

Andrew, Thanks for the input. That looks like a good solution except that the Weaver Industries Unit that I have cost just over $300 incl. shipping and I would like to use it if I can.

Commander Ed, When my boat comes out of winter storage, I'm going to do as you suggested except that I don't own the outboard yet, so I will take measurements from a dealers motor from the shaft to the transom surface to see if it works. I don't want to buy a motor until I know what fits, long vs short shaft, etc. In your photos, the shaft looks to be close to the edge of the platform. I think that I will have to remove one of the three fenders to make it work. Does it work well being positioned off center on the port side of the swim platform?

Phil

 

[aginglawyer]

Has anyone used the swivel mount that lets you tilt up the dinghy and leave the engine on? See i here: http://www.allinflatables.com/shopping/ ... pivot.html

 

[Bruce Moore]

Has anyone used the swivel mount that lets you tilt up the dinghy and leave the engine on? See i here: http://www.allinflatables.com/shopping/ ... pivot.html

We had one on the Livingston dinghy we carried on our former R-25. It did the job, but it can be a knuckle buster. The T-handle on the locking peg ended up right between the motor's mounting clamps (not shown in the picture), so it was an awkward process - at least for me - involving tilting the engine slightly to reduce friction, and making several small incremental turns of the T-handle to free the pivoting bracket.

That said, it worked and was very stable. But I always felt the need to pivot the mount in two 45 degree moves so the motor was never horizontal. Maybe I didn't need to, but it was a hassle. One of several reasons why we opted for the (electric) Torqeedo which is, among other attributes, much easier to mount/dismount and stow.

Cheers,

Bruce

 

[Auklet]

Re: swivelmount,
I have found the same problem as Bruce. Even worse on an inflatable. The engine bumps up against the extended hull. I can only reach the T-handle with a pair of pliers. In the long run, still better than not having it.

 

[walldog]

My Suzuki is designed to stow flat on one side. I installed the davits on my dinghy so that with the motor mounted on dinghy and dinghy folded up to vertical, the motor will be on its proper side for storage. I have not had the nerve to actually do this yet. What am I missing here, think it will work?

 

[Commander Ed]

Phil, Sorry for delayed response.
As for the "off center" mounting - it is no problem. Plenty of rudder authority to offset if you just use the captains station and leave the outboard at a constant angle and RPM, and I got an extension handle for the outboard, so I can streer and throttle from the cockpit as well. Bottom line - it works well. I do think you will need a long shaft outboard, and when you get to do the fit check - it should all come clear...
Ed

 

[PhilR]

Thanks Ed. To mount an outboard with the fender in place would require approx. 6" spacing between the transom and the motor shaft. I'm pretty sure a fender has to be removed for it to work.
Phil

 

[j&lgray]

For the Laurie Ann, I designed and had a shop make a stainless swivel mount for the dinghy. You can see a photo of it our website: http://www.laurieann-ranger25.com - its under the tab, "Making Use of Smaller Spaces." The project was so easy and much more affordable than a retail, off-the-shelf solution that it made me a believer of using the craftsman in our communities to solve problems.

With the dinghy attached to the swimstep with davits, we easily pull up the dinghy with two ropes and secure it to the rail on the transom using the swivel mount. Voila, easy, and secure with the motor upright. To launch, release the mount from the rail and drop the whole package in the water.