Please help - outboard motor mount

[cjdavia]

I saved up some pennies and finally purchased the 2HP 4 stroke Honda outboard. This just might save my marriage!

Can anyone out there recommend a good way to mount it? I am at witt's end!

I currently have the motor clamped onto the reinforced transom, but the traveller and blocks hit the motor and get stuck on it when the boom comes about. In order to clear the traveller, it seems like the motor should be mounted about 5 inches back. I've seen the stationary and the recommended adjustable motor mounts, and I think they can fix this issue.

But mounting the motor further back poses another problem - the motor should be able to lift up to nearly parallel, allowing me to safely trailer into the water and raise the prop when under sail. However if I do mount it 5 inches behind the transom, I can't raise the prop because the head of the motor will hit the transom before it locks into place and STILL be in the way of the traveller. AARGH

Can anyone out there help me? For those of you with adjustable brackets, how far back does it place the motor, and does it allow the prop to be rasied high enough for trailering and saling? PLEASE help! Thanks, Chris

[Reyher]

Chris, I just bought a two year old Mod 3 and a new short shaft 2HP Honda 4 Stroke mounted on a factory installed motor mount that is on the port side of the transom. This configuration works quite well. I experience no problems with it interfering with the traveler or tilting the motor up to the maximum
That being said, I am pretty sure that the factory mount is available from Catalina or perhaps Catalina Direct. I have seen a price quoted some where recently of less than $100. I have needed and used adjustable motor mounts on other boats with a lot of freeboard and I'm not sure that is the best solution in this case. I like to keep things as simple a possible. However, once you clear this little problem,(and you will) you are going to love your motor. Spending the extra bucks is well worth the benefits you will enjoy. I am happy to email you pictures, measurement, try to answer questions, etc. if you are interested. Just let me know!
Chris Reyher

[cjdavia]

Hi Chris,

I didn't realize the newer 14.2s come with a motor mount, boy that would be nice right now.

Of course, just minutes before your post I wound up winning a new adjustable motor mount on ebay... just my luck. I agree that simpler is better but I could not figure out a way to raise the prop without the head of the motor hitting the transom so I was hoping that the adjustable mount could take care of the raising and lowering. Hopefully we can make it work, or I'll put it back up on ebay. I did find an adjustable motor mount at catalinadirect, but I think the mount was for the 22 ft model.

Thanks for your generous offer to help, I am going to take you up on it and make you sorry for offering. I hate to dump all of my research on you, but could you please tell me how far back your mount sits from the transom and also let me know how far down it is from the top of the transom? A picture of your motor and mount when raised would be VERY helpful. I think you can include a picture on your forum post, but if you like you could send it to my email address: cjdavia@hotmail.com

Hey on a separate note I have another question -- do you think the motor is sort of loud? I was under the impression that the 4 strokes were supposed to be very quiet, but I feel like this one is pretty noisy. My wife and I have to talk really loudly to be heard... at least now it is not about the 'best' way to get back to the dock!

Thanks again and hopefully some day I can return the favor. I'll do my best not to ask much more of you!

-Chris Davia

[cjdavia]

The more I learn, the more confusing this project becomes. First the good news: I called Catalina Direct and they do sell a mounting bracket for the 14.2, just like Chris mentionned. They haven't sold one in over 10 years but they do have one in stock. According to the sales rep., the bracket sets the motor about 10-12 inches behind the transom, just like the adjustable bracket I purchased last night.
Now the not-so-good news: My catalina is one of the first off the production line (sail number 253), and it does not have any reinforcement on either side of the transom. It is hollow on both sides.
Clamping the motor over the top of the transom seems ok to me, but now I am thinking that installing a 29 lb motor 10-12 inches behind the transom is going to cause too much stress where the mounting bolts go through the transom. I am wondering if reinforcing the bracket with wood on either side of the transom will provide enough strength. I wish I had an answer for this before I start drilling holes through my baby.
Does anyone have an ideas for me?

Thanks so much, I need a beer!
-Chris Davia

I am confused. In the FAQ's it states that the 2 hp LONG shaft Honda is the best. And yet here I see that you got a short shaft? Is that the 15" shaft not the 20 - and it works OK?

Thanks

[Reyher]

Originally Posted by cjdavia

Hi Chris,

I didn't realize the newer 14.2s come with a motor mount, boy that would be nice right now.

Of course, just minutes before your post I wound up winning a new adjustable motor mount on ebay... just my luck. I agree that simpler is better but I could not figure out a way to raise the prop without the head of the motor hitting the transom so I was hoping that the adjustable mount could take care of the raising and lowering. Hopefully we can make it work, or I'll put it back up on ebay. I did find an adjustable motor mount at catalinadirect, but I think the mount was for the 22 ft model.

Thanks for your generous offer to help, I am going to take you up on it and make you sorry for offering. I hate to dump all of my research on you, but could you please tell me how far back your mount sits from the transom and also let me know how far down it is from the top of the transom? A picture of your motor and mount when raised would be VERY helpful. I think you can include a picture on your forum post, but if you like you could send it to my email address: cjdavia@hotmail.com

Hey on a separate note I have another question -- do you think the motor is sort of loud? I was under the impression that the 4 strokes were supposed to be very quiet, but I feel like this one is pretty noisy. My wife and I have to talk really loudly to be heard... at least now it is not about the 'best' way to get back to the dock!

Thanks again and hopefully some day I can return the favor. I'll do my best not to ask much more of you!

-Chris Davia

If I did this right, here are four pictures that I hope will help you. This is a short shaft motor (I'm guessing that yours is too) and with me in it (230lbs) the antiventilation plate is about two inches below the water surface and is much louder than if it were deeper. There are obvious advantages to having the short shaft model, but the trade-off is noise. No longer than I need to use it, noise is not a problem for me. Honda recommends that the anti-ventilation plate be 5.9 inches below the surface. I believe that is for optimum quietness. If it is too high you will get ventilation or some folks call it cavitation. That is when the prop literally sucks the water down from the surface in a vortex and leaves a void of nothing but air. Then you get a lot of noise and loss of thrust. This is a major issue with water cooled motors, because the water inlet can be left high and dry. The 2HP Honda is air cooled as you know.
If you have questions let me know. I am happy to help!
chris...

[Reyher]

Originally Posted by bets

I am confused. In the FAQ's it states that the 2 hp LONG shaft Honda is the best. And yet here I see that you got a short shaft? Is that the 15" shaft not the 20 - and it works OK?

Thanks

Yep, works great! No problems. If "works best" means quieter, then I can't argue that point. (See my previous post.) Besides, I'm a little hard of hearing anyway!

[cjdavia]

Originally Posted by Reyher

If I did this right, here are four pictures that I hope will help you. This is a short shaft motor (I'm guessing that yours is too) and with me in it (230lbs) the antiventilation plate is about two inches below the water surface and is much louder than if it were deeper. There are obvious advantages to having the short shaft model, but the trade-off is noise. No longer than I need to use it, noise is not a problem for me. Honda recommends that the anti-ventilation plate be 5.9 inches below the surface. I believe that is for optimum quietness. If it is too high you will get ventilation or some folks call it cavitation. That is when the prop literally sucks the water down from the surface in a vortex and leaves a void of nothing but air. Then you get a lot of noise and loss of thrust. This is a major issue with water cooled motors, because the water inlet can be left high and dry. The 2HP Honda is air cooled as you know.
If you have questions let me know. I am happy to help!
chris...

Chris,
Thanks a TON for your help. I see now that I don't need a long 12" mount, this would only add unnecessary pressure to the transom. I like the wide stance of your stationary mount too.
Now I only wish for some comfort that this could work for my old boat with a transom that is not internally reinforced. I wonder if bolting some oak pieces of wood on either side will suffice.
Thanks again, if you ever wind up in Atlanta give me a shout and drinks will be on me... this goes for anyone else that can give me info about mounting a motor on a mod1!

PS. I can't believe how clean your boat and garage are. Good work!
-Chris Davia

[Terraplane]

We installed the same motor mount in the above photos but flipped the brackets so they bolted towards the center, not outer edge of the transom. This made it easier to mount farther to the side, out of the way of the rudder.
l_ _l not this- _l l_
---------
transom

The outer bolts would need to be inside the seat otherwise or the mount would need to be closer to the center. I have a 3.5 hp Tohatsu (way too much power!) and don't think it will cause any problems with the transom. My hull is #1267 but is solid on the port side. I do notice that the propeller is dragging in the water slightly if I'm not careful about staying forward while under sail. I would suggest mounting it as high as possible on the transom for that reason. I have a long shaft model and the short shaft units might not do that. Good luck!

Paul

[Reyher]

Originally Posted by cjdavia

The more I learn, the more confusing this project becomes. First the good news: I called Catalina Direct and they do sell a mounting bracket for the 14.2, just like Chris mentionned. They haven't sold one in over 10 years but they do have one in stock. According to the sales rep., the bracket sets the motor about 10-12 inches behind the transom, just like the adjustable bracket I purchased last night.
Now the not-so-good news: My catalina is one of the first off the production line (sail number 253), and it does not have any reinforcement on either side of the transom. It is hollow on both sides.
Clamping the motor over the top of the transom seems ok to me, but now I am thinking that installing a 29 lb motor 10-12 inches behind the transom is going to cause too much stress where the mounting bolts go through the transom. I am wondering if reinforcing the bracket with wood on either side of the transom will provide enough strength. I wish I had an answer for this before I start drilling holes through my baby.
Does anyone have an ideas for me?

Thanks so much, I need a beer!
-Chris Davia

Wow Chris! You just continue to run into challenges! I did a little research over on the C-25 forum a while back on reinforcing transoms. My old C-25's transom tended to "oil can" or flex. It never gave me a real problem and I sold it before I had a chance to pull it out of the water and fix it. The suggestion I found on the C-25 forum was to use 1/2" Starboard. Starboard is the white plastic-like lumber that works with wood working tools. Its available at West Marine. Laminate a piece where you intend to mount the motor on either the inside or outside of your transom (or both, perhaps) and cement it with 3-M #4200 adhesive or LifeCaulk. I would cover the transom well beyond where you plan to install the bolts and spread the adhesive completely over the surface of the Starboard to help prevent any possibility of crushing your hollow transom. Clamp it snugly while the adhesive is drying. No more than the motor weighs, that should do the trick. I'm sure there are other ideas out there, but that's what I'd do.
Now....go have that beer!!!

[cfos]

You folks have good advice. I just bought a Garelick Stationary Outboard motor bracket for my little Minn Kota trolling motor because iit gets fouled with the traveler when mounted on the transom. Garelick recommends a backing board if the transom is less than 2 inches thick. Of course that assumes a heavy outboard motor.

Now the bad news. With the trolling motor you definitely still steer with the rudder. Therefore the motor has to go to the outside to clear. The Garelick brackets are too big for the lower bolts to come in above the seat so it's back to West Marine to return this birthday present. Guess I"ll have to be less lazy and lift the electric motor off the floor when I decide to use it and rig the oak protectors as described in the FAQ of this site. any other ideas??

My final comment is that I like using the troller. It keeps my time on the lake (Columbus, Ohio) quiet.

Craig Foster

[cjdavia]

Cfos,

I'm having a same problem with my adjustable bracket - the mounting holes will require me to somehow install the lower bolts under the seat.

To fix this I am thinking about mounting the motor bracket to an oversized piece of stainless steel (or wood). Then I'd drill custom mounting holes in the steel to allow me to bolt it down in a location that does not interfere with the seat.

Unfortunately I think my adjustable bracket is too heavy and long for my transom so I am thinking of doing this with a stationary Garelick bracket like the one you have.

I am wondering if we will have the same problem with the factory mount from catalina direct. Chris Reyher, does it look like the lower mounting bolts of your bracket come in above the seat?

-Chris

[Reyher]

Here's a photo of the bolts shown from forward of the transom:

Photo is not showing up.... This forum data base is soooo unstable this morning. I think the server it resides on needs some help....

Anyway, the lower bolts are above the level of the seat.

[cfos]

Thank you for the replies. Your mount is definitely different than the Garelick. Those brackets are least 6 inches between the holes. I'm goiung to try and attach a concept drawing of what I mioght do with oak or another appropriate wood. The Minn Kota is so light, This should be strong enough. I'm not sure about an outboard.
I'm getting some advice from my brothers who are boaters and know woodworking better.

This is my first attempt to attach here, so pardon any errors.

Craig

[Reyher]

Chris and Craig!
If you are concerned about accessing the lower portside mounting bolt, have you thought about using a 4" Screw-In Deck Plate? They are ABS plastic and come in white or black in 4,6 and 8 inch diameters. Place it in the side of the seat near the transom. This would allow you to get your hand and a wrench inside the seat to access the bolt. Add a deck plate storage bag to it and you will have a nifty, waterproof and secure place to put your keys, phone, GPS, wallet, etc. They are shown on page 567 of the 2005 West Marine Master Catalog or you may be able to see it at their website. The part numbers are: Deck Plate -103598, Storage Bag - 6848956. I have installed one, sans bag, in my old Catalina 25 (to access upper gudgeon bolts) and it was very easy to install. Be sure to use a Silicone sealant. I have seen them used as a stash on kayaks as well. Bullet proof!