My wife and I recently purchased a 1987 C25 already outfitted with an antique motor mount. The installation is on the right side of the rudder as you face from stern to bow. The motor mount is extremely difficult to raise/lower due to age (wooden mounting board on unit). The boat also came equipped with a 1998 Johnson 9.9 hp longshaft motor. My desire is to replace the existing motor mount with a newer, easier to use model. I checked the existing installation and found the mount bolted directly to the transom. Also, I checked the connecting bolts on the inside of the transom and found no back plate support. I read that a back plate should be installed if the transom is less than 2" thick (not sure how thick my transom is). Also, the bolts are extremely difficult to access, especially the lower right bolt which is actually below the built-in holding area at the rear of the berth. Where is the best place to mount this type of unit on the transom where accessing the bolt nuts is a bit more practical; what mounting unit should I purchase for this Johnson outboard; how much of a vertical range should be on the new motor mount...any additional info would be greatly appreciated for a new C25 owner with very little sailing experience...thanks
