Catalina 27 transom, o/b motor

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Apr 30, 2008
16
Catalina 27 (Standard Rig; O/B; Dinette Int.) Santa Barbara Harbor
Noob powerboater crunched my Catalina 27 (outboard model) transom pretty good at the slip a couple weeks ago. Took out my existing motor mount, which was bolted to the filled in transom. The boat is now in the yard being repaired (after too much hassle with the insurance company, but that's another story).

Question is, should I go back to an open transom or keep the cover and rebolt on a new motor mount? I've been searching the archives extensively but can't seem to find much consensus. For now, the fiberglass fill-in has been removed because the backing was to be replaced.

My current outboard is a 2 stroke 8hp Suzuki that could fit in the opened transom--the boatyard is encouraging me to go this route, saying it would protect the motor, better balance the boat, and allow gas fumes to vent away. But I was pretty happy with the external mount on the filled-in transom--easily could tilt the motor up & out of the water, had a bit more storage in the "wet locker".

I'd just be happy to hear any suggestions, since I can essentially go either way right now.
 
Sep 6, 2007
324
Catalina 320 Gulfport, Fl
I like the external mount.

When I had my H-23, I liked being able to tilt the motor out of the water to reduce drag, also never had a problem with balance. Make sure they put on a mount to handle a heavier 4 stroke. When the time comes to replace the motor, you'll like the extended range that comes with the 4.
 
Apr 30, 2008
16
Catalina 27 (Standard Rig; O/B; Dinette Int.) Santa Barbara Harbor
C27 Forums....

...the C27 Assoc forums seem to have little life left. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong place; I'll keep poking around.
 

Joe

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Jun 1, 2004
8,220
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
chris........

I agree with you about the C27 website. Lots of information but not much of a place for discussion. I haven't seen anything new there for years. Anyway, my vote is to restore the original configuration, for the reasons given by the yard. If you don't like it you can always change it back to the motor mount.
 
Apr 30, 2008
16
Catalina 27 (Standard Rig; O/B; Dinette Int.) Santa Barbara Harbor
open transom....

Thanks Joe, for the suggestion (and confirmation about the C27 assoc website).

Is your C27 outboard with an open transom? Any problems with this setup? I mean, it was how it was designed, right, so...?
 
Jun 3, 2004
145
Catalina 27 Stockton CA
Open transom

Hi, Chris,

I have a '74 with the open transom, motor in the lazarette, and I really like it. The OB is a 2000 Johnson 15hp 2-stroke, LS electric start. The motor tilts all the way up so the lower unit is out of the water. This required a small hole cutout to lazarette cover, and then fabricating a cover for the hole, as the motor cover on the 2000 Johnson is a little larger than prior motor I had in there, an 86 Evinrude 9.9. (See photo - apologize for how dirty it looks; I took the photo BEFORE I cleaned the compartment). The 15hp is a little overkill, a 9.9 would have been fine, and would burn less fuel.

I have remote controls and a remote starter switch, which makes it really easy to control underway. It is pretty easy to get to the motor for service while underway. I once changed the plugs when 2 miles off the coast when one fouled. I have 2 fuel tanks, each holding about 8 gallons, giving me about 12-15 hours motoring if I'm careful (about 1.2 gph at 5.6 knots). I would prefer a 4-stroke than the 2-stroke, but when I bought the motor, there were none available that would fit. When I need to replace it, I'm planning on taking a look at the Tohatsu 4-stroke 9.8. It is quite a bit smaller and lighter than most 4-strokes, and I think it might fit. A friend has one for his dink, and I plan to ask him if I can borrow it for a weekend to see if it will fit.

The only bad feature I see on the design is that the motor mount sits very low in the well. When motoring at 5+ knots the sternwave is bubbling along right at the bottom of the powerhead, so I get corrosion issues when I'm in saltwater because things like the electric starter get splashed. I've replaced the starter twice in 8 years, at about $200 per, but it's an easy job to do with the motor on the transom.

Peter
 
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