Aux Engine Bracket Recommendation

westerlystorm · 13 April 2010, 10:08

Hi All,
I am planning to put a 6hp Yam 4stroke LS on my Redbay 6.5m. Can anyone recommend from experience which type/make of bracket to use?

eg. Spring loaded etc

rgds

Gareth

gotchiguy · 13 April 2010, 10:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by westerlystorm

Hi All,
I am planning to put a 6hp Yam 4stroke LS on my Redbay 6.5m. Can anyone recommend from experience which type/make of bracket to use?

eg. Spring loaded etc

rgds

Gareth

From reading on here and elsewhere I'm sure you will gather that in a rib, there arn't really any manufactured brackets that are up to the banging and crashing of a rib, even more so since you plan to put a hefty four stroker on it. As far as I'm aware the best, in fact only way to do it is get one welded up yourself, otherwise it#ll never be strong enough

Regards, Gotchi

Bern Hanreck · 13 April 2010, 10:34

I would second Gotchi's comment .
I suspect that directly onto the transom is the only way to go .

JABS · 13 April 2010, 11:14

Having just spent money on having some gelcoat repairs on the transom, from experience, don't do it! We had it directly on the transom.

You have a heavy four stroke aux being thrown around on a bit of fibreglass covered ply.

Carry it on board somewhere.

Ian M · 13 April 2010, 11:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by JABS

Having just spent money on having some gelcoat repairs on the transom, from experience, don't do it! We had it directly on the transom.

You have a heavy four stroke aux being thrown around on a bit of fibreglass covered ply.

Carry it on board somewhere.

But four strokes have to be carried upright

JABS · 13 April 2010, 11:25

Not a Mercury 6HP. On a specific side, yes.

Ian M · 13 April 2010, 11:27

So is that just the 6HP, or are there others that can be stored/carried flat?

Bern Hanreck · 13 April 2010, 11:32

It's all very well carrying it on board , but chances are that you'll need it ( quickly ) under unfavourable conditions !

Transom for me every time

bedajim · 13 April 2010, 11:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by gotchiguy

From reading on here and elsewhere I'm sure you will gather that in a rib, there arn't really any manufactured brackets that are up to the banging and crashing of a rib, even more so since you plan to put a hefty four stroker on it. As far as I'm aware the best, in fact only way to do it is get one welded up yourself, otherwise it#ll never be strong enough

Regards, Gotchi

Yes I've never seen or used one that's up to the job and so I had one fabricated

jyasaki · 13 April 2010, 15:40

A buddy of mine used 4 different kicker brackets on his 17' Boston Whaler (which has a rougher ride than most RIBs, I think.) None of them lasted more than a season and a half without having to be repaired.

I get around that by not having a kicker.

If you find something that lasts, let the rest of us know...

jky

spartacus · 13 April 2010, 17:18

I fitted a Tohatsu 3.5hp to a Plastimo stainless steel adjustable bracket to the transom. As it's only 17kg - I attached a ratchet strap to the seat pod to keep it under tension. No rattle - job done.

Chris · 13 April 2010, 17:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by JABS

Having just spent money on having some gelcoat repairs on the transom, from experience, don't do it! We had it directly on the transom.

You have a heavy four stroke aux being thrown around on a bit of fibreglass covered ply.

Carry it on board somewhere.

Eh ? Hopefully a redbay transom that can carry a 225 will be capable of carrying a 6hp?

No point in carrying on board when you need it you may be in a hurry so unstrapping and then mounting an outboard in difficult conditions is not good news.

I had an aux on my last Osprey and hung it on the transom when needed it could be deployed in seconds. Make sure you run the aux on a regular basis as they do suffer a bit hanging off the transom in all weathers.

JABS · 13 April 2010, 18:26

The issue is to do with the shock loads.

Hopefully the main engine is bolted onto the transom.

The auxiliary will be clamped on. The clamping area is quite small and, in fact, the clamp on some small engines are ridged to get better grip, particularly on a wooden transom.

The issue with the aux that I found is that when the boat is thrown around the aux jumps all over the place and stresses the transom.

Four stroke motors are heavy. In fact I gave up. The gelcoat was cracked around the clamp area. There was one piece that had become detached completely.

Believe me, I wouldn't have spent what i did on the repair if it hadn't been necessary.

If you use a bracket, it will provide some resilience and relieve the pressure on the transom and hopefully spread it somewhat.

I still wouldn't clamp an aux on the transom directly again.

I realise that when you need it, you need it. Current engines are pretty reliable and usually have a limp home mode, just like your car does.

Neil Harvey · 13 April 2010, 19:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by JABS

I still wouldn't clamp an aux on the transom directly again.

and after my experience, I would not use a bracket again

not fun trying to get your 9.8 Tohatsu back on baord when it's locked to a bracket half hanging off the back, in a big solent swell

not tried the transom yet, but that's the only way I'll go in future. No reason why it could not also be bolted on is there? I thought even the smaller outboards have bolt points if you wish to use them?

JABS · 13 April 2010, 22:00

Neil,

Maybe you have the answer. Bolt it on and spread the load on the inside with a plate. Make something that is thick enough, maybe 5mm and see how you go.

It could work.

I know where you are coming from. Ours also came loose and, yes, it is a nightmare.

Let us know.

davej · 13 April 2010, 22:35

Hi,

As other posters have said the best option is to fit it directly on to the transom, which I do with mine, even though mine is a small 2s Yam Malta. I haven't trailered with it on the transom but I guess it should be OK, what I do think is important is to make sure that it has a safety line/chain securing it to the boat.

If the yam hadn't fitted I would have made myself a simple bracket that bolted on to the transom
DaveJ

Hightower · 13 April 2010, 23:15

Just a little lateral thinking here, but hang the Aux off the transom on a custom made bracket. But don't store it on the back tilted. Have it mounted upright with a sliding mechanism that can be locked into a retracted position ie: prop out of water. Then you wouldn't be stressing the brackets and transom so much and deployment would be as easy as removing a pin or sliding a bolt back and dropping it down to operational hight.

bedajim · 14 April 2010, 06:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil Harvey

and after my experience, I would not use a bracket again

not fun trying to get your 9.8 Tohatsu back on baord when it's locked to a bracket half hanging off the back, in a big solent swell

not tried the transom yet, but that's the only way I'll go in future. No reason why it could not also be bolted on is there? I thought even the smaller outboards have bolt points if you wish to use them?

Mine lives on the bracket mounted to the transom and is secured with clamps and bolts

Jim

Neil Harvey · 14 April 2010, 17:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by bedajim

Mine lives on the bracket mounted to the transom and is secured with clamps and bolts

Jim

yeah, but you made yours...

so it's going to be up to the job...