Forums > Sailing General

Strengthening transom for outboard.

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Created by keensailor > 9 months ago, 28 Feb 2018
keensailor
NSW, 702 posts
28 Feb 2018 5:08PM
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Decided not to sink anymore more money into a 20+ year old raw cooled motor with various problems so intend to replace the 80kg Bukh with a 26kg long shaft outboard on a 27 foot yacht weighing 2300kg. It is a sail drive and there is no other inboard I can use except a Bukh unless thousands of dollars are sunk into changing engine beds etc etc.
I am aware of the downsides of outboards but also aware of the convenience.
Thinking I might need to strengthen the transom with some ply knees glassed onto deck and hull as seen in drawing below. Not sure if this is the best way. Any suggestions welcome re design, materials etc.
I'd rather not create a thread about the downsides of outboards ;-))




blackswan
WA, 45 posts
28 Feb 2018 2:39PM
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I did the same on a 28ft 2 ton yacht. I sikkaflexed a marine ply backing plate inside the transom and used a plastic backing plate on the front with bolts through. I may even have drilled out the boltholes (from the inside without going through the outer glass) and filled with epoxy prior to drilling the actual boltholes.
I also took out the leg and glassed the hole in.
Its been 7 years and I'm very pleased with it. I use a Tohatsu 9.8 2 stroke as its the lightest engine I could get for the power.

keensailor
NSW, 702 posts
28 Feb 2018 6:42PM
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blackswan said..
I did the same on a 28ft 2 ton yacht. I sikkaflexed a marine ply backing plate inside the transom and used a plastic backing plate on the front with bolts through. I may even have drilled out the boltholes (from the inside without going through the outer glass) and filled with epoxy prior to drilling the actual boltholes.
I also took out the leg and glassed the hole in.
Its been 7 years and I'm very pleased with it. I use a Tohatsu 9.8 2 stroke as its the lightest engine I could get for the power.


Yeah looking at Mercury 9.9, lightest at 26kg. Where do you position your fuel tank BTW

Charriot
QLD, 880 posts
28 Feb 2018 6:19PM
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I have 9.9 Yamaha 4 Stoke on smaller boat. It's about twice heavier, Previous owner implement large
white plastic chopping board as a internal bolts support , have to say, after 5 years no problem
experienced. This engine does not have heavy displacement props. inquire that option , for your boat
is a must. The only problem I experience , when is rough , forget engine, you on your own, cavitation too much.
the well would be better option but can't lift the engine, compromise , limitations, that's life.

FabulousPhill
VIC, 321 posts
28 Feb 2018 7:34PM
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I discarded a 40 year old diesel also, and installed a 27kg Tohatsu M9.8B two-stroke motor on the transom. I have had issues twice with the propeller coming out of the water, when the waves were 2m high, reflected waves and were a short chop, but those conditions aren't common.
My OB bracket on the transom has some 50x19 or so timber, (hardwood timber for a garden picket fence) and it seems fine.

The other thing to get is a high thrust propeller, so the engine revs at the correct RPM to deliver the maximum HP. For my 3500 kg boat that meant the Tohatsu 8.75 diameter, 5" pitch 4-bladed propeller as in the following photos.






I am currently thinking of going back to a diesel motor or making an OB well inside the lazarette area. To avoid the prop coming out of the water when the yacht is see-sawing on such rough waves.

The fuel tank set-up. A 11.3 litre tank, with hose to the motor. It could be a better set-up in future.

keensailor
NSW, 702 posts
28 Feb 2018 8:17PM
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FabulousPhill said..
I discarded a 40 year old diesel also, and installed a 27kg Tohatsu M9.8B two-stroke motor on the transom. I have had issues twice with the propeller coming out of the water, when the waves were 2m high, reflected waves and were a short chop, but those conditions aren't common.
My OB bracket on the transom has some 50x19 or so timber, (hardwood timber for a garden picket fence) and it seems fine.

The other thing to get is a high thrust propeller, so the engine revs at the correct RPM to deliver the maximum HP. For my 3500 kg boat that meant the Tohatsu 8.75 diameter, 5" pitch 4-bladed propeller as in the following photos.






I am currently thinking of going back to a diesel motor or making an OB well inside the lazarette area. To avoid the prop coming out of the water when the yacht is see-sawing on such rough waves.

The fuel tank set-up. A 11.3 litre tank, with hose to the motor. It could be a better set-up in future.


Good idea re prop. Do you have a long shaft outboard and still have cavitation.

FabulousPhill
VIC, 321 posts
1 Mar 2018 12:22AM
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Not cavitation as such. It was more the case of pitching/see sawing in steep short chop and thus losing grip in the water. As the boat leaned forward the prop came out of the water. It is a 28' Compass yacht. So it was not nice waves.
Yes a long shaft OB. Not the extra long version.
I haven't sailed for a year (been too busy) but I had reflected waves off the granite faces coming out of Refuge Cove in Bass Strait, from 10-15 kt SE breeze and swell. After going to the Melb side of the peninsula it was smooth sailing al the way home.

Ramona
NSW, 7740 posts
1 Mar 2018 8:29AM
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Might want to add 80 kg of lead ingots where the engine was after this conversion. Leave the shaft and bearers in place too. If you decide to sell the Bukh there would be plenty of buyers.

BlueMoon
866 posts
1 Mar 2018 5:34AM
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That's good info Phil.
Have you looked at atomvoyages website re making a OB well?, I think the idea would work well on the Compass 28. I have a Compass 28 that I'm trying to sell, still has the inboard diesel, but it's good to hear of one with an OB on the transom.
I did what Blackswan did and sikaflexed in some marine ply inside the transom, of a Top Hat that I converted to OB, I regret it, I should of used thickened epoxy instead of Sika, sika is too flexible I reckon. The knees idea is a good one KS. Make sure you reinforce the transom with some ply first though.
cheers

BlueMoon
866 posts
1 Mar 2018 5:46AM
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On the Top Hat with the transom bracket, I had a long shaft, but had to swap it out for the ultra long shaft, Toehy 9.8 2st, with the 5inch 4blade prop. Too much cavitation going over bars etc, the ULS is very good though, no cavitation yet.
I set the OB bracket as high as I could(tenob bracket, pricey but worth it), as I didn't like the idea of dunking the head of it in the water when the boat hobby-horses. When I'm motoring at full power the bottom of the timber of the bracket where the OB clamps to is 10mm above the water, seems good.

keensailor
NSW, 702 posts
1 Mar 2018 9:09AM
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Ramona said..
Might want to add 80 kg of lead ingots where the engine was after this conversion. Leave the shaft and bearers in place too. If you decide to sell the Bukh there would be plenty of buyers.



It is a sail drive so no shaft, I will be left with a gapping hole in bottom of boat ;)
Not sure I will fill that myself, not sure how to attack that one. I would like to cut the engine bed out eventually though once I was 100% satisfied with outboard.
So will losing the 80kg compromise the original yacht design ? interesting, guess they took it into consideration during design.

keensailor
NSW, 702 posts
1 Mar 2018 9:10AM
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FabulousPhill said..
Not cavitation as such. It was more the case of pitching/see sawing in steep short chop and thus losing grip in the water. As the boat leaned forward the prop came out of the water. It is a 28' Compass yacht. So it was not nice waves.
Yes a long shaft OB. Not the extra long version.
I haven't sailed for a year (been too busy) but I had reflected waves off the granite faces coming out of Refuge Cove in Bass Strait, from 10-15 kt SE breeze and swell. After going to the Melb side of the peninsula it was smooth sailing al the way home.


thanks Phil, some great info there!
I'm getting more confident.

keensailor
NSW, 702 posts
1 Mar 2018 9:13AM
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BlueMoon said..
On the Top Hat with the transom bracket, I had a long shaft, but had to swap it out for the ultra long shaft, Toehy 9.8 2st, with the 5inch 4blade prop. Too much cavitation going over bars etc, the ULS is very good though, no cavitation yet.
I set the OB bracket as high as I could(tenob bracket, pricey but worth it), as I didn't like the idea of dunking the head of it in the water when the boat hobby-horses. When I'm motoring at full power the bottom of the timber of the bracket where the OB clamps to is 10mm above the water, seems good.


great info thanks BlueMoon!

MichaelR
NSW, 862 posts
1 Mar 2018 9:57AM
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KS, I have a Top Hat 25 that came with an 8HP 4 Stroke with a standard shaft, on a bracket over the transom. The previous owner changed to the 4 stroke, but didn't realise it wouldn't fit in the well, so he re-fitted it to a transom bracket.

After a few days out I noticed the transom flexing. Careel Bay Marina's shipwrights soaked some 12mm marine ply, cut to shape across the lower transom. They epoxied up the original holes and re-drilled, bolting the bracket lower down so that, like BlueMoon, the head is just above the water.

We've had the boat for 9 years this year, had the standard 3 blade prop all this time. Until mid last year when I couldn't reverse thrust enough to hold off hitting a jetty in a 30knot Northerly. I got the Solas 4 blade and haven't looked back. A corts nozzle would make it even better, but time and lacking in skills to make one..... The only bar I've crossed is Lake Macquarie, twice each way. There was some cavitation, but not enough to worry. In short chop you get a little here and there as well, but I've also motored from Norah Head to Careel Bay in 2 metre swell with no wind and got home fine. We go between the harbour and Pittwater a couple of times a year as well, so it's not just all bay sailing.

Mine is also a pull start and has no morse control, but I don't really need it. On a Compass, it may be worth converting the diesel cables and key system to an electric start so you don't have to reach over for controls.

Ramona
NSW, 7740 posts
1 Mar 2018 6:01PM
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keensailor said..

Ramona said..
Might want to add 80 kg of lead ingots where the engine was after this conversion. Leave the shaft and bearers in place too. If you decide to sell the Bukh there would be plenty of buyers.




It is a sail drive so no shaft, I will be left with a gapping hole in bottom of boat ;)
Not sure I will fill that myself, not sure how to attack that one. I would like to cut the engine bed out eventually though once I was 100% satisfied with outboard.
So will losing the 80kg compromise the original yacht design ? interesting, guess they took it into consideration during design.


I would be removing the prop. Remove the engine and rebuild at your leisure. Use the outboard as a temporary measure.

keensailor
NSW, 702 posts
4 Mar 2018 11:20AM
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My transom has a fair curve in it running horizontally and I need to epoxy a ply backing board to it for strength. There is about a 10mm gap in the middle of the ply board when I sit it up against the inside of the transom. Here is my plan;

- find best position for bracket and drill holes through transom and ply backing board
- using an epoxy resin with some filler (Epiglass HT450) to give it a very thick consistency. Now plaster the back of the ply with a thick coat (>10mm) of the epoxy and position board in place. Temporarily secure with bolts. Epoxy should squeeze out link vegemite between two Vita wheat biscuits ;)
- using epoxy and some biaxial cloth cover an area which is about 150mm bigger than the ply board and glass to the transom. Maybe repeat a second time.
- have a stainless plate the footprint of the outboard bracket made up with rectangular piece welded on for the later attachment of a knee which will be epoxied the hull.
- finally bolt bracket through the ply backing plate and SS plate.
- now the boat sinks with the extra weight ;-))

what do you think Seabreezers!





twodogs1969
NSW, 1000 posts
4 Mar 2018 12:37PM
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You are in Jarvis Bay lots of short sharp chop.
You are going to get cavitation.
Why don't you look at utilizing the hole from the sail drive to make it a well some how.

keensailor
NSW, 702 posts
4 Mar 2018 2:27PM
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twodogs1969 said..
You are in Jarvis Bay lots of short sharp chop.
You are going to get cavitation.
Why don't you look at utilizing the hole from the sail drive to make it a well some how.


Planning not to have too much cavitation with the cavitation plate being 300mm below water line and thrust angled down into water slightly. But I think it may be an issue at times.
Building a well around hole from saildrive did cross my mind but I don't think there is enough clearance for top of motor under galley entrance.

Ramona
NSW, 7740 posts
4 Mar 2018 5:28PM
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I would like to hear a bit more about the Bukh.

keensailor
NSW, 702 posts
4 Mar 2018 9:01PM
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Ramona said..
I would like to hear a bit more about the Bukh.

These are some of the issues with the motor only having been reconditioned by bukh Taren point four years ago.
A small channel has been burnt into the block face where the head gasket blew. There is movement in the flywheel whilst piston is still, you can see an imprint of exhaust valve in top of piston. The head has been machined and surface still looks pretty chatty.
I could go ahead and get barrel machined, replace the big ends etc etc but at the end the day it is a 20+ year old raw water cooled motor. These are some pics of already machined head, piston and block face.








twodogs1969
NSW, 1000 posts
4 Mar 2018 9:16PM
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Rather then wasting money on a rebuild that adds nothing to resale value. Have you priced a replacement?

keensailor
NSW, 702 posts
4 Mar 2018 9:39PM
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twodogs1969 said..
Rather then wasting money on a rebuild that adds nothing to resale value. Have you priced a replacement?




The only replacement is another "reconditioned" motor from bukh for 6k like this one.

twodogs1969
NSW, 1000 posts
4 Mar 2018 10:05PM
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Why can't you go a cheaper Kubota based?

keensailor
NSW, 702 posts
4 Mar 2018 10:12PM
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twodogs1969 said..
Why can't you go a cheaper Kubota based?


It's a sail drive. Would have to change engine bed at very least.

twodogs1969
NSW, 1000 posts
4 Mar 2018 10:29PM
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What I am getting at is it will ad value to your boat.
Diesel inboard is much better then an outboard bolted to the ass lifting out of the water.
Worth looking into new mounts is going to be easier then filling the sail drive hole.
Keep in mind if you do look at Kubota based the same wanker at tarren point is the beta dealer .

fishmonkey
NSW, 494 posts
4 Mar 2018 11:13PM
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twodogs1969 said..
Keep in mind if you do look at Kubota based the same wanker at tarren point is the beta dealer .


what's the story with that mob?

twodogs1969
NSW, 1000 posts
5 Mar 2018 1:11AM
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I had a bad experience with him.
Others from our club have used him several buying beta's off him while they are happy with the motors I think everyone has had a drama with him and shorty workmanship.

keensailor
NSW, 702 posts
5 Mar 2018 5:40AM
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twodogs1969 said..
What I am getting at is it will ad value to your boat.
Diesel inboard is much better then an outboard bolted to the ass lifting out of the water.
Worth looking into new mounts is going to be easier then filling the sail drive hole.
Keep in mind if you do look at Kubota based the same wanker at tarren point is the beta dealer .


The beta saildrive is 15k, already enquired about that. And to convert to drive shaft plus motor would be 15k. Regardless of what motor you have in these 80s boats the value is decreasing yearly anyway.

keensailor
NSW, 702 posts
5 Mar 2018 5:44AM
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fishmonkey said..

twodogs1969 said..
Keep in mind if you do look at Kubota based the same wanker at tarren point is the beta dealer .



what's the story with that mob?


I would avoid them at all costs. Surely there are other alternatives if your not locked into bukh. Nanni is pretty good isn't it.

Ramona
NSW, 7740 posts
5 Mar 2018 8:30AM
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keensailor said..

Ramona said..
I would like to hear a bit more about the Bukh.


These are some of the issues with the motor only having been reconditioned by bukh Taren point four years ago.
A small channel has been burnt into the block face where the head gasket blew. There is movement in the flywheel whilst piston is still, you can see an imprint of exhaust valve in top of piston. The head has been machined and surface still looks pretty chatty.
I could go ahead and get barrel machined, replace the big ends etc etc but at the end the day it is a 20+ year old raw water cooled motor. These are some pics of already machined head, piston and block face.









20 years old but a real marine diesel. Mate is a marine diesel enthusiast. He is away up in Nth Qld at the moment buying a diesel. I'll forward this page to him for his opinion.
To me there is no choice. If I owned a Bukh I would be buying my parts from the UK agents and using the PBO forums for technical assistance.

keensailor
NSW, 702 posts
5 Mar 2018 9:25AM
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Ramona said..


keensailor said..



Ramona said..
I would like to hear a bit more about the Bukh.




These are some of the issues with the motor only having been reconditioned by bukh Taren point four years ago.
A small channel has been burnt into the block face where the head gasket blew. There is movement in the flywheel whilst piston is still, you can see an imprint of exhaust valve in top of piston. The head has been machined and surface still looks pretty chatty.
I could go ahead and get barrel machined, replace the big ends etc etc but at the end the day it is a 20+ year old raw water cooled motor. These are some pics of already machined head, piston and block face.










20 years old but a real marine diesel. Mate is a marine diesel enthusiast. He is away up in Nth Qld at the moment buying a diesel. I'll forward this page to him for his opinion.
To me there is no choice. If I owned a Bukh I would be buying my parts from the UK agents and using the PBO forums for technical assistance.



Yes, I would be interested to hear what he thought.
The DV10 LSME is not really in the same class as the famous lifeboat 24HP upright one, but rather something that has been adapted from an Italian farm engine design.



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"Strengthening transom for outboard." started by keensailor