Hi, I need some advice please. I have a 1980 27 Catalina with 15 Johnson ob which fits perfectly in the lazerette. Due to the rudder shape the motor cannot be corretly trimmed down and under power the boat squats badly, flooding the lazerette and almost covering the lower part of the outboard. Also comfortable cruising is only 4kts. The question is, if I notch the rudder to correctly trim the motor will it cruise at a higher speed without flooding the lazarette or squatting. There is ample power available from the 15hp. I look forward to your replies. Thanks Cosmo
C27 o/b motor trim
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Did that
Same problem on my 27 with 15hp Johnson. I had the rudder notched at the last haul out, and now the OB sits all the way down (not tilted). Have not noticed an appreciable difference in the "squatting". The problem is really not squatting, but the low lazarette mount for the OB, and the bigger sternwave at higher speeds. After 15 years owning this 27, I've just learned to live with it. I motor at about 5-5.5 knots, the lazarette fills, and the stern wave reaches to just below the bottom of the powerhead. About 10 mos of my year is spent in freshwater, so I probably have less long-term problems than if it were in saltwater. For the month or two each year I am in saltwater, I religiously flush and hose down the motor after each time it's been run, and open the motor's cover and lightly hose down the powerhead as well. I seem to need to replace the electric starter every 3-4 years (it needs it right now), and know that I'll get about 10 years of life out of the overall motor before it needs to be replaced. I'm about 7 years into this motor, and it runs like a top, except for now needing the electric starter, about $200 and a morning's work if I do it with the motor on the boat. Replacing this motor will be difficult when it's needed, given that there are no more 2-strokes in California, and a 4-stroke won't fit.
Same problem on my 27 with 15hp Johnson. I had the rudder notched at the last haul out, and now the OB sits all the way down (not tilted). Have not noticed an appreciable difference in the "squatting". The problem is really not squatting, but the low lazarette mount for the OB, and the bigger sternwave at higher speeds. After 15 years owning this 27, I've just learned to live with it. I motor at about 5-5.5 knots, the lazarette fills, and the stern wave reaches to just below the bottom of the powerhead. About 10 mos of my year is spent in freshwater, so I probably have less long-term problems than if it were in saltwater. For the month or two each year I am in saltwater, I religiously flush and hose down the motor after each time it's been run, and open the motor's cover and lightly hose down the powerhead as well. I seem to need to replace the electric starter every 3-4 years (it needs it right now), and know that I'll get about 10 years of life out of the overall motor before it needs to be replaced. I'm about 7 years into this motor, and it runs like a top, except for now needing the electric starter, about $200 and a morning's work if I do it with the motor on the boat. Replacing this motor will be difficult when it's needed, given that there are no more 2-strokes in California, and a 4-stroke won't fit.
Rudder & transom
Was it worth notching? I don't know, it's doen now so I'm stuck with it. I can't remember what it cost to have the yard do it, probably a couple hundred buck with cutting, fairing and epoxying. It is maybe a little better, but I think the improvement isn't enough to warrant doing it, certainly not is you're going to pay somebody like I did. I did not strengthen the transom. Here's another idea, at the bottom of the page in the link is a couple of pictures of a stainless bracket behind the opening in the lazarette to mount the motor on. And the people who made it are fairly close to you (Sidney, BC) And that Booth Rudder he has is pretty cool, if you ever need to replace the rudder, and as I recall it's not real expensive, maybe $600+/-?
Was it worth notching? I don't know, it's doen now so I'm stuck with it. I can't remember what it cost to have the yard do it, probably a couple hundred buck with cutting, fairing and epoxying. It is maybe a little better, but I think the improvement isn't enough to warrant doing it, certainly not is you're going to pay somebody like I did. I did not strengthen the transom. Here's another idea, at the bottom of the page in the link is a couple of pictures of a stainless bracket behind the opening in the lazarette to mount the motor on. And the people who made it are fairly close to you (Sidney, BC) And that Booth Rudder he has is pretty cool, if you ever need to replace the rudder, and as I recall it's not real expensive, maybe $600+/-?
Transom Upgrade
Hi Peter, Thanks for the information. I am going to strengthen the inside of the transom with 1/4 ss plate. The next haul out in Feb Mar I will either notch the rudder or replace with a booth. The booth redder was put on another Cat27 in our marina. I helped with the installation. It was very easy. The owner swears by the amount of improvement it has made as well as his new Yamaha 9.9 HT 4 stroke has fitted in the lazerette with only a small cut away. Stephen
Hi Peter, Thanks for the information. I am going to strengthen the inside of the transom with 1/4 ss plate. The next haul out in Feb Mar I will either notch the rudder or replace with a booth. The booth redder was put on another Cat27 in our marina. I helped with the installation. It was very easy. The owner swears by the amount of improvement it has made as well as his new Yamaha 9.9 HT 4 stroke has fitted in the lazerette with only a small cut away. Stephen
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