Notch my transom, Bay extension kit, or transom extension bracket? Help Please

[jdtilton]

I picked up a 1989 New Bay Osprey 18' boat. It's a center console walk around with a cuddy. Like a Striper, trophy or Arima. No motors. Previously rigged for an Evinrude I think. I found a sweet matching set 90hp and 15hp Johnson's for a great price and in amazing shape for the year. 1990 I Think. Only to realize the 90hp has a 20" shaft. The transom needs the motor to be about 26"-28" to work perfectly. I found the 5" Bay Marine Kit for $700. I found a custom made aluminum extension Offshore Bracket for $700. I'm considering cutting out the transom and patching the fiberglass and covering it with aluminum angle bracket for looks, and sealing it up tight in 5200 for waterproofing.

I need help from the experts.

 

[Teamster]

Re: Notch my transom, Bay extension kit, or transom extension bracket? Help Please

I'd look around for a different lower unit,....

Or sell it and find a motor with the proper lower unit before cutting into the boat,....

A jackplate might help,.....

 

[bakerjw]

Re: Notch my transom, Bay extension kit, or transom extension bracket? Help Please

I concur. Cutting more out of the transom would only weaken it and on a boat that size, I'd personally want the transom to be as strong as possible.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Notch my transom, Bay extension kit, or transom extension bracket? Help Please

I think ExtraLong shaft motors are still 'only' 25" from the transom clamp to the anti-ventilation/anti-cavitation plate:

So even if you buy a extra long shaft motor you may not be at the correct motor height if your transom 'needs' a 26" or 28" shaft length OB. Perhaps you're not measuring it correctly or the boat wasn't originally a typical OB transom.

This info may be helpful too

^^^ Seems unlikely that New Bay built an OB model that didn't conform to typical shaft length dimensions.

 

[jdtilton]

Re: Notch my transom, Bay extension kit, or transom extension bracket? Help Please

Thank you for your responses. I just put a tape on the transom and the outboard. 28" transom, 20" outboard. It doesn't make sense to me either that New Bay would make something non-standard. The only thing that makes sense to me is: find a 30" shaft motor and space it up 2". Cutting the transom sounds like it will ruin the value of the boat. The Bay Kit only adds 5". I'm not buying two Bay kits at $700 each. That's out of the question.

A Jack Plate might be a good option. But aren't those used to raise your motor from it's standard mount point? Similar to trimming up in shallow water without the angle? Not lower it? If I could find one that didn't have holes in it and had an extra tall transom plate, it would work. Does that even exist?

Now I see why I got such a great deal on the boat. That guy must have known about this issue.