Hi
I recently mounted a Tohatsu 6HP long shaft outboard with Sail Drive on my sailboat. It moves my 3 tonne boat very well, but the bracket is all wrong. When I bought the bracket I was told it was rated for up to 7.5 HP but it looks like the spring is not strong enough to counterbalance the weight of 26 kg.
So when I move my outboard from one slot into another, it immediately wants to fall down to the lowest slot and you have to pull hard to keep it higher and then guide it into another slot. But if I were to buy a bracket rated for a higher HP, the spring might be too strong and make it hard to move the outboard into lower slots or the very strong spring might make the outboard jump out of its slots.
When I google brackets, the problem is that they are all rated by HP and not by weight. Also, these brackets might not take account of the extra power generated by the Tohatsu Sail Drive to move the boat forward compared more conventional 6 HP outboards.
Of most concern is that the first time I used it on the water, it jumped out of the slot position it was in and fell down to the lowest slot, although I tightened those locking nuts very hard (this can only be done by hand). The other problem is that the bracket seems to wobble somewhat when using it on the water. Overall it just does not feel right.
Anyone know if there is a recommended bracket for a Tohatsu 6HP long shaft outboard with Sail Drive? There seems to be nothing on their website. Or perhaps someone has the Tohatsu mounted on their boat and has a good bracket that definitely works? Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
I used to have a Columbia 22 with 9.9 Yamaha 42kg - not my decision rather prior owner - a superb outboard but not needed for a 22fter daysailer unless you were in a hurry all the time - and a wide body type bracket was needed - see below photos. It worked well. A "normal" bracket of narrow body aluminium or stainless plate would flap around as you say and soon become bent and knackered. eg see this one which has hp and mass limits but only for a duck pond.
www.mrboats.com.au/auxiliary-outboard-bracket-stainless-steel-4-fully?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7MH68OHViAMVJOgWBR0DchOHEAQYBCABEgKTt_D_BwE
There are wide body brackets on the market which include mass limits - eg see below;
I would be cautious of this one as seems too cheap............
www.mrboats.com.au/heavy-duty-stainless-steel-outboard-auxiliary-moto
This one looks the goods but is spendy...............
www.theboatwarehouse.com.au/motors-parts-inboard-outboard/outboard-mounting/stainless-steel-outboard-motor-bracket-horizontal/?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzM_creDViAMVvMxMAh0z8CEzEAQYByABEgJDufD_BwE
I had a Tohatsu 9.8 at 27kg sitting with one of these from Ebay/Mr Boats: www.ebay.com.au/itm/313331731369?_skw=outboard+bracket&itmmeta=01J8C5CCH6W2SBX5VTAGZT475A&hash=item48f406cba9:g:acsAAOSwGZlkZw2D&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKlJ%2FkLBXj7axJQDq%2FkGH5FksvRxXOlDe1xZwrnKOzJ9F4M%2Bykrje2dXt6vLw75D316Rp5K6lBmr5tuWmQG93uWL1WKfbDxhHqX0ug7JyPUvbBf9t38iGwfxz%2BMNKdujgbJWyiHZtUn6UX6xVSD8j7VzOS4qTcVkc9sAX2YZ1ACdlUFmHH589IiiOip9tbbw2jU%2B1sjQC8xGJDfJLp7WV1UWrIYsWnHJYan9tDe5tAb7gHrZHk%2FdZ6eWQZrUIWrYUNVJzyRONT7QKEkyU0wBVfDFzcie0Pw8HoubD8xM5%2B62wg%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR-TIsYXDZA
and found it quite good. Being over /behind the transom was not ideal, and eventually I cut an outboard well into the lazarette - something not for the faint-hearted, but I'm very happy with the OB and controls inside the cockpit area.
Replacement springs (not stainless) are cheap enough at Bunnings if you need to experiment or replace: www.bunnings.com.au/search/products?page=1&q=extension+spring&sort=BoostOrder
