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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

O/B engine question:

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AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/23/2008 : 20:46:39

Wouldn't our engines work more efficiently if they were mounted on a transom bracket and extended aft a foot or so? They certainly wouldn't be so constrained mounted as they usually are directly on that narrow transom.

Frank Farmer
Long Beach, CA
aa.diver@verizon.net
http://mysite.verizon.net/aa.diver

PRETTY PENNY
'01 C-250 WK, Hull #558

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 03/23/2008 : 20:56:07

Maybe that's why Catalina offers a fixed bracket as an option...

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 03/23/2008 : 22:08:00

I have to say that I thought this during the discussion of the hard link we had some time ago. My engine is mounted on a Garhauer bracket and is about a foot aft of the transom (maybe a little bit more??) when in the down position. At the beginning of last season, when my boat was brand new (to me) I thought I would be adding the hard link. But, I didn't really encounter any handling problems that I couldn't attribute to my learning a new skill. Once I learned to maneuver my boat into my slip, I really couldn't see the need for the link. I really think it is a combination of the motor being aft of the rudder and tiller steering.

Edited by - on

AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts

Response Posted - 03/23/2008 : 23:21:21

A disadvantage to having the outboard a foot out from the transom is the longer reach down to operate the tilt lever. But with Arlyn's bungee mod and a trip line connected to the tilt lever for lowering the engine, no problemo. Big advantages having the prop aft of the rudder and the ability to turn the engine almost 180 degrees for maneuvering.

Edited by - on

willy
Captain

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USA
422 Posts

Response Posted - 03/24/2008 : 09:55:12

I have just what you are talking about on my boat. It allows me excellent motor steering in both directions. It does require a bit of leaning to tilt up, but that seems to be much less of a problem with my Tohatsu (lighter weight) than it was with the Honda I had before. I can navigate the trickiest of dock entrys or through tight fields of anchored boats at restaurants etc by having the motor tiller in one hand and the boat tiller in the other. I have heard about possible issues from other forum members regarding having more weight further aft but that has never seemed to be an issue.
Willy
check it out....http://www.boatersworld.com/product/366480267.htm

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 03/24/2008 : 11:53:06

This is an interesting subject. I had actually purchased the bracket from Catalina Yachts ($75) a year ago and then returned it because of weight concern. I do appreciate that using the outboard steering controls would be very advantageous. I have worked a a hard link but set the project aside thinking I want to avoid additional compexity/stuff on the boat. It is a complex issue.

The Catalina bracket was stainless steel. It is a beautiful thing.

Anybody have the bracket and a classic Honda 9.9hp? Can you really lower and use the throttle arm? What about the shifter being back a foot?? Is that a problem?

Edited by - on

AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts

Response Posted - 03/24/2008 : 14:33:32

My sailing partner with the same year 250 as mine removed his Catalina bracket and is giving it to me. He removed it due to increased distance out and down to the tilt lever. I'm going to construct an extension to the shifter which will eliminate that problem, and my Arlyn mod to the tilter, together with the Garhauer tilt arm eliminates THAT "problem". I should have the bracket installed next week, pics to follow.

Edited by - on

willy
Captain

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USA
422 Posts

Response Posted - 03/24/2008 : 15:28:33

Randy,
I am pretty certain the bracket I have is a Catalina one too. It's stainless and white starboard? The reason I posted the link to the product at Boaters World was it was the closest thing I could find to my configuration.
As for the Honda question, I had a 2003 8hp long shaft Honda and it was much more difficult to raise then the Tohatsu. My neighbor on the pier has an older (square cowled) Honda 8 and it weighs considerably less.
Just a note, the reason I now have a Tohatsu is because a guy and his wife plowed into my raised motor on the dock and broke the lower unit in half! He offered to buy me a new motor on the spot and I picked the Tohatsu as it was less expensive, weighed less, and had electric start!
Willy

Edited by - on

willy
Captain

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USA
422 Posts

Response Posted - 03/24/2008 : 15:29:55

Oh yeah, the point to that was that while the motor snapped in two, the bracket didn't even bend or loosen!

Edited by - on

frogger
Navigator

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USA
184 Posts

Response Posted - 03/24/2008 : 19:14:32

I have a 9.8 Nissan on the transom, no motor mount, and use Arlyn's soft-link on my 2000 WK with wheel. Works beautifully with no problem with control. All controls are on the wheel.

Edited by - on

zebra50
Captain

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USA
408 Posts

Response Posted - 03/24/2008 : 19:20:41

Frogger, does the motor turn without any problem fully or is there restriction

Edited by - on

kevinmac
Admiral

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USA
732 Posts

Response Posted - 03/24/2008 : 20:28:12

I have the Catalina bracket and a Yamaha T8 with a different solution to the tilt question: power tilt. So to raise and lower my engine I just press a button. Feels delightfully decadent every time I do it.

No problem steering at all, can move the motor fully port and starboard. Have to raise the tiller up and over the rail when turning fully for a starboard turn.

Edited by - on

willy
Captain

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USA
422 Posts

Response Posted - 03/25/2008 : 08:09:25

Kevin,
Wish I would have known about the T8...I just looked on Yamaha's website..I had no idea Power Tilt was available on an 8 HP motor. My wife would have baked me a pie if I'd have bought that!
Willy

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 03/26/2008 : 07:40:37

IMO the transom mounted motor is a good thing even though it provides some limitations on turning. It is helpful to keep in mind that back in the early '90s when the boat was being designed, most sailors were using smaller two stroke motors.

The design advantages of the transom hung motor are significant.

It reduces the plague of most prop spin in rough conditions.
It places motor controls much closer and easier to operate.
The 250 was designed as a trailer sailor and it allowed the motor to be easily trailered on the transom.

Edited by - on

AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts

Response Posted - 03/26/2008 : 16:02:40

"It reduces the plague of most prop spin in rough conditions."

How so? And what difference would 12" further aft make?

Edited by - on

piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 05/19/2008 : 17:01:01

Frank, I know i am a little late but here goes. My 03 has a Honda 8 with transom mount. Once I learned how to get in and out of my slip, I have found it easy to turn and my slip is tight. Getting in slip is much easier and exiting as I have a see wall that I have to content with. But, again with experience I have got it down.
Re the controls, except for the tilt lever, all controls easy to get to. And the tilt lever is by feel so not a big deal.
Overall, I am happy to have transom mount. Some buddies have Garhauer or other mounts and do have problems getting to the controls. I guess since the motor is at least a foot out, you do more bending. That's bad for my back.
Steve A
PS its also easier removing motor with transom mount when time to do annual service! But for me, its still a 2 man job.

Edited by - piseas on 05/19/2008 17:02:33

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 05/19/2008 : 21:33:00

Steve, what annual maintenance do you do? I used to take the Honda 8 off my C22 and take it to the shop. They would charge $75 to "winterize" it. Now I leave my 9.9 Honda on the boat all the time and do my own engine oil, gear oil, fuel filter, general lubing and spark plugs each year. What else is there to do? I sure don't miss lifting the OB off my boat!!

Edited by - on

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2008 : 08:12:08

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Nautiduck
 Steve, what annual maintenance do you do? I used to take the Honda 8 off my C22 and take it to the shop. They would charge $75 to "winterize" it. Now I leave my 9.9 Honda on the boat all the time and do my own engine oil, gear oil, fuel filter, general lubing and spark plugs each year. What else is there to do? I sure don't miss lifting the OB off my boat!!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Hey, Randy,
I want to learn how to do that!

How do you change the oil in the lower unit without dropping tools in the drink or spilling oil?

Do you have a zodiac set up with a plywood work platform or some other way to access the OB? Maybe you have low-level floating docks --- not me.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2008 : 11:26:10

John, I service the outboard when the boat is on the trailer, not in the water.

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JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2008 : 11:30:51

Shoulda known there was a trick!!!

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piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2008 : 18:26:27

Randy, the annual maintenance I take her in for is same you do. Maybe except replacing impeller. However, Piseas II is in a slip all year round. I do not have a trailer. And the marina frowns on draining oil at the slip, in the water.
So I figure, since I gotta remove motor anyway, its closer and easier to take to the shop than my house. But I am open to suggestions.
Steve A

Edited by - on

mjnee
1st Mate

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USA
36 Posts

Response Posted - 05/23/2008 : 08:42:04

I'm looking at the mounting bracket. My biggest problem with my Tohatsu 9.8 4 stroke is I cannot lock the motor in a straight position. The tiller handle hits the captains seat. The motor is always driving the boat slightly to port. I've had some close calls backing away from the dock. If I use the bracket and lift the tiller I'm sure I can turn the motor and or lock it in place but I'm not sure how easy it is to reach the tiller. The other option it to convert the motor with a remote kit, remove the tiller, and lock the motor in the straight position. The conversion kit is $300 and I'm afraid it would be July before I figure how to install it.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 05/23/2008 : 13:18:56

mjnee, can you move the OB over to starboard a little in the transom cutout? How about posting a photo? Others use that same OB so there must be a solution.

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mjnee
1st Mate

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USA
36 Posts

Response Posted - 05/23/2008 : 14:30:17

Randy,
I've moved it as far to starboard as it will go but the tiller prevents the motor from locking in straight. I'll take some pics this weekend and post them.
Mike

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 05/23/2008 : 14:44:36

Wow, that motor must be wide! Many people use the Catalina bracket so that is a fine solution.

Edited by - Nautiduck on 05/23/2008 14:45:05

mjnee
1st Mate

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USA
36 Posts

Response Posted - 05/23/2008 : 15:58:12

I've checked with Catalina and that bracket does not seem to be available. I'm told some were made as a test project but to make them today would fall in the $200 range

Mike

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