Hull aluminum thickness and outboard bracket question

[ezmobee]

Re: Hull aluminum thickness and outboard bracket question

I crack up every time I look at this. The Mercruiser Seadrive

One of my favorites for sure.

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: Hull aluminum thickness and outboard bracket question

That is an idea for sure. The stern drive has to be strong to with stand the forces on it to push a boat, I am not I would hang a 150hp off of something like that but a 100hp motor I bet would work.
Must work because the motor is still there on the boat.

 

[Starcraft Enterprise]

Re: Hull aluminum thickness and outboard bracket question

Probably better add a safety chain in case it did break. Would be quite a sight if it broke under full speed.

 

[Starcraft Enterprise]

Re: Hull aluminum thickness and outboard bracket question

Looks like the oem bracket has close to the same floatation as that eBay bracket.

 

[GLG fishing]

Re: Hull aluminum thickness and outboard bracket question

SE that looks like a flotation pod. Look at the bottom and you will see a V. There was a discussion a while back in regards to the inspection hatches leaking on that pod. The pod would fill up with water and cause problems. The owner was upset (rightly so) that they put cheap (made offshore) hatches that would let water in.

I?m not saying that a bracket would not work on your Starchief. You would have to plan carefully with the weight. You don?t want to have to mix up some cement to stick in the bow to stop you boat from proposing. As a fellow 18-ft Starchief owner we know there is a weight balance issue with these boats. There is too much weight in the butt end. The preferred method to fix it would be to shift weight to the front or remove weight from the back. If you can manage to get the weight right with an outboard and a bracket then that would be great. I?m just saying that you need to think this through (like your doing) so your results are what you expect.

GLG

 

[barato2]

Re: Hull aluminum thickness and outboard bracket question

to stop you boat from proposing.

are you saying i need to watch that old lady to be sure she don't run off and get married? good thing i installed the locking chastity belt in the trailer hitch......

 

[Starcraft Enterprise]

Re: Hull aluminum thickness and outboard bracket question

I contacted Reel Deal Marine about the eBay bracket.
"Several of us have been discussing outboard brackets on the iboats Starcraft forum. I brought up your bracket and from the pic it is hard to tell if your bracket has a floatation pod in the center.
Does the center of this bracket offer some floatation?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SING...5516715QQptZBoatQ5fPartsQ5fAccessoriesQ5fGear "

Reply

"yes the center compartment where the engine mounts to is a sealed box and obviously floats. call me for more details at 228-342-9337. if no answer please leave message for quick response. thanks"

 

[Starcraft Enterprise]

Re: Hull aluminum thickness and outboard bracket question

If you look at the other brackets offered by them, I think it gives you an idea to the amount of floatation.

http://stores.ebay.com/REEL-DEAL-MA...143549010&_sid=34365540&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322

 

[Jet Mech 71]

Re: Hull aluminum thickness and outboard bracket question

Hi all, one thing I have not seen a post about is what is your transom rated to have for max HP and weight? When I was looking at the new Islanders, 200 is the max HP for that transom. I have the factory bracket on mine, and I would put one on any outboard set up in a sec. You want the ones that add flotation for sure. Mine has just a small about of rear lean but no worse then my old glass boat with an I/O. Here in WA, you see the brackets all over with most glass and aluminum boats. Like most things marine, it is not cheap, but for what it is worth, do it if you can afford it, I dont think you will be sorry.

 

[Starcraft Enterprise]

Re: Hull aluminum thickness and outboard bracket question

Over the course of this conversion I will be replacing and attempting to upgrade my transom. Hopufully the bracket and platform will assist in spreading out the load across the entire transom versus concentrating the entire force to the center.
I will also be tying the transom and stringers together to share the burden.
When all is ready for splash, the limiting factor on HP use will be water conditions and driver skill / comfort.

 

[veilside180sx]

Re: Hull aluminum thickness and outboard bracket question

If it doesn't go toward the edges you can always bend up some tube and attach diamond plate to the top to expand the stresses closer to the edges. This of course assumes you have a TIG/spool gun/push/pull MIG.

Whenever I find a 21-22 ft Chieftan, I think this is what I will do as well. I've always been a fan of offshore brackets, and the amount of extra floor space it creates getting them off the back.

 

[Jet Mech 71]

Re: Hull aluminum thickness and outboard bracket question

Starcraft Enterpirse, that is a smart move. I know my Islander with the 150 I have on the back is plenty for me. She will top out at about 44 on the speedo and the GPS, and cursies nicely at about 35 mph. I have been told by several boat guys to max out you HP to what ever the boat is rated for. I am sure you know that the 4strokes are heavier than the 2 stokes. That was the reason for me saying max HP rating and weight. With mine being the 2200 LBS that is she is, 150 is just fine for me. It is a fishing and cruise boat not a speed boat for me.

Good luck on your progress, sounds like a lot of work, time and fun.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Hull aluminum thickness and outboard bracket question

Here is one for ya if you are willing to go for a drive...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1990...at_Parts_Accessories_Gear&hash=item3a615b84d5

 

[GLG fishing]

Re: Hull aluminum thickness and outboard bracket question

JM71 how does your boat troll for fishing. Any difference trolling on the main verses trolling on the kicker. SE and mine are 18-ft Starchief IO models and on my boat the thing likes to wander. I just can?t seem to get it to go in a straight line when trolling. Can be a gong show when you are alone and have a salmon on. My buddy has an 18-ft Holiday OB model that trolls straight as an arrow on the kicker or the main. His sits in the water nice and flat while mine sits butt heavy. I have weighted the front with 150lbs and that helps. Just don?t like doing that. Wind can be an issue and sometimes you just can?t get the boat to turn. You have to gun the kicker to counter all the forces. Few other questions are what length is your boat and do you have a full flotation pod? Is it stern heavy?

GLG

 

[havingfun2]

Re: Hull aluminum thickness and outboard bracket question

this is a great thread..many questions posted I've also been thinking about.
I'm in the process of doing an i/o to an outboard conversion!

kicker motor issue.
I believe a "big" motor is the best steering under general conditions. Problem is when the wind kicks up.
When that happens I believe too many variables come into play.
Hull weight..but more so hull or "sail" size.
When your going 2 mph with a cross wind and trying2 maintain a course..thats tuff!
Then adding in the wave direction only complicates it.
Adding a planer board to one side (or both) complicates it..what lurer's /rigger balls etc are being pulled add's to it.
it's very much like 1 degree does not matter much up close until one travels 1 mile "off" by the same degree.


From experience past.
If I can trowl with the big motor I will.
Mainly because the prop and or rudder is deep into the water.
Lots of times with just a kicker just pushing forward.. the big motor shut off.. but still deep acting as the rudder..everything is fine.. depends on wind and direction and speed.
if it gets too windy for that..I either change course or go back to shore.

sometimes it just gets too bumpy to keep eveything running right..so back to the camp fire and a cold one!

 

[Starcraft Enterprise]

Re: Hull aluminum thickness and outboard bracket question

this is a great thread..many questions posted I've also been thinking about.
I'm in the process of doing an i/o to an outboard conversion!

kicker motor issue.
I believe a "big" motor is the best steering under general conditions. Problem is when the wind kicks up
When that happens I believe too many variables come into play.
Hull weight..but more so hull or "sail" size.
When your going 2 mph with a cross wind and trying2 maintain a course..thats tuff!
Then adding in the wave direction only complicates it.
Adding a planer board to one side (or both) complicates it..what lurer's /rigger balls etc are being pulled add's to it.
it's very much like 1 degree does not matter much up close until one travels 1 mile "off" by the same degree.


From experience past.
If I can trowl with the big motor I will.
Mainly because the prop and or rudder is deep into the water.
Lots of times with just a kicker just pushing forward.. the big motor shut off.. but still deep acting as the rudder..everything is fine.. depends on wind and direction and speed.
if it gets too windy for that..I either change course or go back to shore.

sometimes it just gets too bumpy to keep eveything running right..so back to the camp fire and a cold one!

How I deal with windy days is I put my 11 year old son in the captains chair, fire up the kicker (EZ Steer with remote throttle shift controls), give him a heading and speed using land, compass, fish finder and GPS as a guide and let him deal with it. The main outdrive is down which aids in drifting and if he is going into a strong headwind and is having difficuly maintaining his course he knows to hit the key to the main engine, pop it into gear and idle it with the kicker until the difficulty has passed.
He is better and cheaper that autopilot. Then all I have to do is concentrate on my ten trolling poles used with 4 downriggers 2 sideplaners and 4 divers. Running back and forth between the poles is busy enough, I rarely have time to steer the boat too. It is a good feeling though when all of your gear is in the water, the water is calm and you do get the chance to take the helm, cruising along listening to the downrigger cables humm and sing.
And then an arched pole tip jumps straight and then another and another, darn it, I had everything just right, but now I got to reel in these fish and start over. HEY TREVOR!! BACK OFF THAT THROTTLE!!

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Hull aluminum thickness and outboard bracket question

Great visual there SE ^^^^^. Come on summer!!!

 

[GLG fishing]

Re: Hull aluminum thickness and outboard bracket question

Then all I have to do is concentrate on my ten trolling poles used with 4 downriggers 2 sideplaners and 4 divers. !

SE you?re a monster. I would go fishing with you anytime.
Out here 2 lines in the water on 2 downriggers is normal.
Sometimes 4 lines total on 2 riggers, stacked.
Had all 4 line get hit when Chum salmon fishing and it?s a gong show.
Double-header on Chinook salmon and it?s also a gong show.
Most time we fish with just 2 guys.
It make steering and netting and playing the fish a challenge.
Hence the gong shows.
Would I like it any other way, heck no.
Hat?s off to you guy?s that fish with so much gear in the water as I know it?s a challenge to do correctly.

On another note I have been looking at a Merc 115 hp to stick on my boat.
It would be a ?convert from I/O to OB? thing.
I?m leaning towards replacing the transom and fabing up a splash well.
I?m not convinced that a pod on my 18 foot starchief is the way I should go.


GLG

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: Hull aluminum thickness and outboard bracket question

Good thought GLG the splash wells on the early Starcrafts were a real sorry set up. Dont know why so much space taken. I removed the full width rear seat so I could access the kicker throttel, and shifter guess Imight as well convert it to a helm control and be done with it.

 

[mcool]

did you ever complete project ? just starting mine ,