Hi all, we have an O'day 23 Mk II. The transom was rotted, and we've rebuilt it. It was a rough job and I want to make sure the outboard motor mount is properly reattached. We have a Garelick outboard motor mount with wedges that we're going to rebuilt/reuse, but with the wedges the transom and the motor mount aren't parallel. If we bolt perpendicular to the motor mount, then when the bolts exit inside the transom they are at an angle. Is this an issue? I've attached my "engineering diagram" to show the issue. Garelick's instructions say to drill holes perpendicular to the transom, but also to use wedges, this seems incompatible. I've found a few posts that show pictures of the motor mounts from the outside, but can't seem to find pictures from the inside. The previous owner simply used a big piece of starboard/plastic and tightened until it all crushed/compressed, but this doesn't seem like a suitable backing plate material.
After more brainstorming/consulting with friends I'm considering something like that following image. Replacing the angled metal that attaches to the transom (or wedges) with a triangular wedge. Or perhaps there is a more adjustable motor mount that comes that way already?
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I contacted Garelick and they sent this article, for anyone else curious. The recommendation appears to just be 1/2" thick plywood as a backing plate, where you drill out a suitable bevel for the washers to sit in (last photo in the article attached). Thanks to anyone who saw the post and pondered it!
I've seen large rubber washers (like ones used for swaybars) used in other applications to accommodate an angled part with a bolt running through it. It might reduce some vibrations as well. Lots of engines use rubber or synthetic materials for motor mounts to absorb shock, vibrations, etc so this idea doesnt sound terribly far fetched