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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Bracket to reinforce transom

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Tea
Deckhand

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USA
1 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/10/2014 : 13:09:25

I just bought a Catalina 25 and separately a 9.9 hp outboard engine that is heavier than the one currently in use (5hp). I believe I will have to reinforce the transom and I'd like to hear some advices.
Thank you.

Edited by - on

pfduffy
Captain

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USA
317 Posts

Response Posted - 10/10/2014 : 18:33:30

When I performed this project, I also replaced the motor mount. You may consider doing this as your existing mount may not be able to easily lift the new, heavier motor. Catalina Direct has the mount that you will want.

I disassembled the old mount and used the L brackets that were previously against the outside of the hull to reinforce the new mount on the inside of the transom.

Edited by - on

Martin Nelick
Deckhand

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USA
13 Posts

Response Posted - 10/10/2014 : 19:00:24

Reinforcing the transom is never a bad idea. I just used a sturdy oak board approximately 12 x 12" mounted on the inside with longer bolts. I'm sure there are better Materials out there to use, but that's what I had on hand. Take the opportunity to possibly add lockwashers and anything else you can think of to prevent nuts from backing off from vibration.

Like Pat said, check and see how your new motor lifts and lowers on the bracket. Everyone has different preferences.

Edited by - on

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 10/11/2014 : 07:21:40

Your source for project parts is catalinadirect.com
It is a dealer in California and he sells both Catalina made parts and other parts designed for Catalina boats. The motor mounts he sells are by far the best for Catalina 25. The Catalina 25 transom is high off the water so a mount with a lot of travel needed... and an EXTRA LONG SHAFT motor. I hope you bought the right motor = 25" shaft. (Not 20", not 15")

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9013 Posts

Response Posted - 10/11/2014 : 08:16:48

I reinforced by making a "fronting plate" for the outside and a smaller backing plate for upper bolts inside--both out of white 1/2" Starboard polyethylene "lumber." I made the outside plate extend below the bracket to spread the load from its bottom, which is where most of it is. (It mostly pulls outward on the top bolts.) The inside backer can be small and should have rounded corners and edges to avoid sharp pressure points on the hull liner.

Starboard works like very hard soap with ordinary wood tools. West Marine sells it--most stores have it in stock. It isn't cheap, but it's the perfect material for a no-maintenance solution.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 10/11/2014 08:18:40

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 10/11/2014 : 09:11:57

Psst Dave...

Your Stinkpotter post number is getting up there; made me look at one of my old nom de plumes.

Frank Hopper Past Commodore 6776 Pitcairn Island

Did Shakespeare write any more than we? LOL

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 10/11/2014 : 10:00:13

On my C-250 I used an Ikea 3/8" UHMW cutting board (similar to Starboard, but not as hard) on the outside, and 1/4" thick, 2" wide aluminum straps on the inside. I've got a Tohatsu 9.8 electric start on a Garelick mount. You can read about my install [url="http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=17458&SearchTerms=mount,tohatsu"]here[/url], which might give you some ideas (but keep in mind they're different boats).

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 10/13/2014 : 19:07:50

On our 84 C-25, I put a piece of 1/4" starboard on the inside and 1/2" starboard on the outside of the transom when I replaced the motor mount. Was working well when I sold the boat.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9013 Posts

Response Posted - 10/13/2014 : 19:50:03

quote:
Originally posted by pastmember

Psst Dave...

Your Stinkpotter post number is getting up there...

Ya, ya... And then there are my other aliases dating back to the previous millenium... 8 years since Passage... I've probably forgotten more than I knew... Maybe time to fade away.

[/hijack]

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 10/13/2014 19:57:53

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4275 Posts

Response Posted - 10/13/2014 : 20:07:24

quote:
Originally posted by Stinkpotter

quote:
Originally posted by pastmember

Psst Dave...

Your Stinkpotter post number is getting up there...
. Maybe time to fade away.

[/hijack]

Noooooooo!

Edited by - GaryB on 10/13/2014 21:13:08

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3367 Posts

Response Posted - 10/15/2014 : 03:41:32

I bought a SS reinforcing plate from Catalina Direct but it did not fit the outboard mounting bracket holes that pass through to the inside of my transom. I may have the plates somewhere at home but I decided not to use any reinforcement on the inside of the transom but did use a piece of starboard mounted to the outside between the outboard bracket and the transom. I have a heavy outboard (9.9 hp Honda 4-stroke using with the Garhauer 4 spring model bracket). I installed the outboard bracket and the starboard reinforcement back in 2005. So far, there has been no visible deformation of the transom. Everything is just as it was installed back in 2005.

(The photo actually shows my old Honda 4-stroke but after buying my boat in the Fall 2005 and then installing the new 4 spring outboard bracket soon thereafter, I then replaced the outboard with a new Honda in Dec05-Jan06 timeframe.)

Edited by - OLarryR on 10/15/2014 03:49:03

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 10/15/2014 : 14:31:47

When we changed from a 2-stroke to 4-stroke motor on our 1981 C25 the transom actually developed spider cracks around the perimeter of the bracket. The transom also developed a permanent concave bow. I had it reinforced from the inside with fiberglass. Ground off the gel coat on the outside, added a few layers of glass there as well and re-gel coated. Straight as a board, very strong.

Perhaps Catalina took the heavier motors into consideration on the later models. The transom on our 1989 C25 shows no signs of bowing, no spider cracks in the gel coat.

Edited by - OJ on 10/15/2014 15:38:44

capelyddol
1st Mate

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USA
62 Posts

Response Posted - 10/16/2014 : 15:14:46

My boat has a 15HP Evinrude weighing in excess of 80lbs. I haven't tried it on the water yet but it's the same year as the boat (1978) so may well have been bought for the boat when it was new. I'm not sure why as an 8HP or 10HP would have been better (and lighter!). Despite carrying this monster around all those years the transom is unmarked and looks in great shape.
Incidentally, my mount is on the port side of the transom. I note that Catalina changed over to the starboard side at some point. Does anyone know the reason for this change, as presumably there was some advantage?

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9013 Posts

Response Posted - 10/16/2014 : 17:30:15

quote:
Originally posted by capelyddol

...I note that Catalina changed over to the starboard side at some point. Does anyone know the reason for this change, as presumably there was some advantage?

Ease of assembly. Some time around 1983, Catalina replaced the fuel tank shelf inside the port locker ("dumpster") with a dedicated fuel locker in the aft end of the port cockpit seat. (That also allowed the dumpster cowl vents to be eliminated.) The new molded locker made access to the upper inside of the transom more difficult, so to make installation of the motor bracket easier, they moved it to the starboard side. I learned that from a past Catalina dealer--our very own Bill Holcomb. (I might add that I've been on my back in the bottom of the dumpster installing something on the transom, and I fully understand why Catalina did it!)

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 10/17/2014 06:38:44

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 10/17/2014 : 09:17:24

Here is a link to a post in this forum in 2007 regarding my saga to replace my motor mount with a Fulton motor mount for the C-25. The Fulton model mb1810 will work very well, PROVIDED you block it out away from the transom AT LEAST one full inch. One-half inch is really not enough because it has straight lift arms. Do not even consider a Fulton model mb1820. It's vertical travel is too short.
Your best bet is to buy a Garhauer mount from Catalina Direct. Those mounts fit the boat better and you may be able to use the same holes in the transom.

http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=16416

Edited by - on

capelyddol
1st Mate

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USA
62 Posts

Response Posted - 10/17/2014 : 13:24:49

Thanks for that, Dave. I was hoping I didn't need to move my mount to the starboard side. Got enough work to do on the boat without that! Incidentally, if the dumpster's long enough to lie in on your back, why hasn't some enterprising member tried to convert it to a seventh berth? Or, have they? Or perhaps a floating kennel for the dog?

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 10/17/2014 : 16:00:27

If you can get your dog to go in there, more power to you!
Don't need to move it to the starboard side.

Edited by - dmpilc on 10/17/2014 16:03:11

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