Outboard capacity

[jnolan]

I have a 1977 22 ft O'Day sailboat with a 8hp mercury outboard engine. I have not sailed this boat yet. The motor is attached to a lifting mechanism. Will the transom be able to handle the weight of the motor? I guess it weighs about 80 pounds.

Also, I have not been able to find a drain plug (boat bought at auction). Is it possible there is not a drain?

thanks for the help!

 

[Joe11688]

If the outboard is a two stroke engine which requires a mixture of two cycle oil and gasoline, then the chances are that the outboard transom bracket is strong enough for this engine. If on the other hand the outboard is a four stroke engine you may want to check and make sure that the bracket is built for these engines which have a tendency to be heavier and develop more torque than the two strokes. Sailboats of this size normally have what is known as a self bailing cockpit. Any water that comes into the cockpit will normally run right out through a hull fitting in the bottom of the stern because the cockpit floor is higher than the water level. There is a hose under the floor near the stern of the boat for this system that should be checked for cracks or openings caused by old age.