Replacing wood on aux motor mount

[jaymasta]

I have one of the adjustable motor mount bracket for an 8hp honda on my boat, exaclty the same as the one pictured here only the poly part on mine is wood.

http://www.iboats.com/Aluminum-Outb...62464026--**********.230209617--view_id.38297

From research that I have done the wood was probably teak wood. I have looked into replacing it with a piece of teak wood and it seems like the time, effort and cost for a piece of wood that size and to prepare it for the water is not worth the trouble, I might as well just buy a new poly one as pictured above. Anyways I was wondering if I could cut to size 2 pieces of 3/4 inch exterior grade plywood and glue them together with some PL premium or a similar product, paint with a decent exterior or marine paint and use that instead. I have all of these things on hand including a quality exterior primer and marine paint, so the cost for me to do this would be very minimal. One thing I would like to do if I do this is make the mount slightly larger as well, perhaps an inch wider and 3 inchs taller to keep the engine a bit more out of the water. Is there any reasons why I shouldn't do this or am asking for trouble in any way? The boat is trailered so it would be able to dry out after each use and is kept under a tarp whenever its parked.
Thanks

 

[Andy'sDelight]

Re: Replacing wood on aux motor mount

I don't see why not, as long as you realize you will have to continuously inspect it and probably change it out ever couple to a few years at the first sign of rot.

 

[jaymasta]

Re: Replacing wood on aux motor mount

Ya that wouldn't be a big deal, for a piece of teak wood that thick It would cost about $50 + the oil which might be $10 and then I would need to oil it over a few weeks about 5-6 times, which I have never done before. This is all new to me and from what I have read you can "screw" up the oiling process if you don't let it dry properly. It sounds like to much of a pain in the but, and you need to replace the teak wood every so often anyways. I see many aluminum boats (I have owned one) with a plywood transom that gets wet fairly regularly anyways so I figure why couldn't this one be plywood as well.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Replacing wood on aux motor mount

The plywood will work fine. Just make sure you seal the edges thoroughly with paint. You may have to replace it in a few years, but it's not that big of a job.