What are the pros and cons of the old original motor mount? I'm thinking about keeping it as I rework my 1973 22' Oday. The fact that it keeps most of the weight of the transom seems like a good system to me. The aft collar end is broken where the retaining bolt goes through, I called D&R marine, but they don't carry the old mount anymore.
Old original motor mount... 1973 22' Oday
- Thread starter hp18carr
- Start date
- Status
I don't understand what you mean by it keeps the weight off the transom; isn't it attached to the transom?
Regardless, the cons of changing the original are that any new mount will likely require a modification of the spacer block (that angled piece of fiberglass); its unlikely that a new mount will have the bolt holes in the same locations. So you will either have to redrill the spacer block (and the transom), or fashion an adapter plate so you can mount the engine bracket on the adapter, then mount the adapter to the spacer block. Also, if you are going to buy a new outboard, its very unlkely that the OEM bracket can accommodate a four stroke engine (they don't make new two strokes that small anymore). Although the OEM bracket might have been rated to handle an engine that weighs as much as a small four stroke, it wasn't built to handle the extra torque generated by a four stroke. That, plus the inevitable decline of the original bracket's strength would make me very nervous about keeping it if I were going to buy a new outboard.
The pro's to keeping it: you don't have to deal with any of the above.
But if the thing is broken (I admit I didn't follow your description of the problem), you may not have a choice.
Regardless, the cons of changing the original are that any new mount will likely require a modification of the spacer block (that angled piece of fiberglass); its unlikely that a new mount will have the bolt holes in the same locations. So you will either have to redrill the spacer block (and the transom), or fashion an adapter plate so you can mount the engine bracket on the adapter, then mount the adapter to the spacer block. Also, if you are going to buy a new outboard, its very unlkely that the OEM bracket can accommodate a four stroke engine (they don't make new two strokes that small anymore). Although the OEM bracket might have been rated to handle an engine that weighs as much as a small four stroke, it wasn't built to handle the extra torque generated by a four stroke. That, plus the inevitable decline of the original bracket's strength would make me very nervous about keeping it if I were going to buy a new outboard.
The pro's to keeping it: you don't have to deal with any of the above.
But if the thing is broken (I admit I didn't follow your description of the problem), you may not have a choice.
I don't have a photo of the old mount system just yet, but I'll try to get one this weekend. If you have not seen one firsthand it maybe hard to picture. The main attachment or anchor point is at the end of a @ two foot long pipe section (running back toward the Bow), not directly on what I consider the transom (the aft most section of the sailboat) The broken section maybe repairable... hopefully. I was curious as to why I've seen so few of the old mounts still around on older 22' Odays that must have had them at some point? If anyone out there still has an old Oday 22' motor mount collecting dust I would like to know. 
I suspect that you've seen so few due to the brackets wearing out and breaking from age, corrosion of the aluminum castings in a saltwater boat would eventually weaken them. I think O'DAY switched to a stainless-steel version before changing to the later lifting style brackets.
One disadvantage for some people will be the limit of no more than 6HP on those original brackets, also (and I really prefer fixed-height brackets.... but..) I've always felt that those old brackets were located too low on the transom for my taste, not sure how safe from a dunking the powerhead of the outboard will be.
Here is a comment from Robbie Pierce, a former VP at O'DAY. "OD- 22 Outboard brackets - Caution when exceeding 6hp. Some of the early brackets were made by Schaefer Marine, and broke at the weld joint. They were black anodized aluminum tube slid inside another transom tube."
Pictures below! Note that these were used on the early 27s as well! Somewhere I have pictures of one of those brackets removed from someone's boat, if I find them, it will better show the construction.
One disadvantage for some people will be the limit of no more than 6HP on those original brackets, also (and I really prefer fixed-height brackets.... but..) I've always felt that those old brackets were located too low on the transom for my taste, not sure how safe from a dunking the powerhead of the outboard will be.
Here is a comment from Robbie Pierce, a former VP at O'DAY. "OD- 22 Outboard brackets - Caution when exceeding 6hp. Some of the early brackets were made by Schaefer Marine, and broke at the weld joint. They were black anodized aluminum tube slid inside another transom tube."
Pictures below! Note that these were used on the early 27s as well! Somewhere I have pictures of one of those brackets removed from someone's boat, if I find them, it will better show the construction.
Attachments
Sunbird
Thanks for the additional information and photos, the comment from Robbie Pierce is right on the money. My 1973 22' looks to be a fresh water sailboat, but I have no way of knowing the size motor used. The relatively small inland lake I'll be sailing on will not require much hp. I have a 4hp on hand, but it is a four-stroke and I'm sure to heavy for the old motor bracket in its damaged condition. At the end of the day with my hp necessities at the lower end I just may repair the old bracket as best I can and go with a much lighter electric motor.
Thanks for the additional information and photos, the comment from Robbie Pierce is right on the money. My 1973 22' looks to be a fresh water sailboat, but I have no way of knowing the size motor used. The relatively small inland lake I'll be sailing on will not require much hp. I have a 4hp on hand, but it is a four-stroke and I'm sure to heavy for the old motor bracket in its damaged condition. At the end of the day with my hp necessities at the lower end I just may repair the old bracket as best I can and go with a much lighter electric motor.
I have a 74 with the old style mount run a 1975 johnson 6 hp two stroke on it . I purchased the boat last year and use it on keweenaw bay on lake superior Ive been in 4 or 5 foot swells with no problem and no danger of swamping the motor .
Sorry for how dirty things look, but this old 22' has been sitting for a while. I've already removed all the collar bolts, at first thinking the collar was a different piece... oh well needed to remove them anyway to facilitate some type of repair on the cracked collar. All this section will be cleaned and painted in the coming days.
- Status