The outboard mount on my O'Day 23 is finally kaput. It had become impossible to raise the mount from the cockpit because the springs had completely failed, and the lower struts started to shake. In removing it, I found that the angled fiberglass mounting block on the transom appeared to have some significant cracks on its hidden face. From the outside, it looks and feels solid, but from the back it looks like it wants to come apart into big pieces. However, it feels very solid on the back as well. Has anyone else seen or experienced this? Should I use this mounting block with the new motor mount? If I don't use it again, does anyone have a suggestion for a particular mount that fits the 23?
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Mike -
Outboard motor mounts can be a pain in the neck sometimes, but imagine how much tougher it is to replace the mounts on an inboard! Watched a friend go through it this winter, along with a new engine. If the mounting block is suspect, toss it. You may be able to rebuild it into something strong, but why risk it? There are tons of mounts out there. Measure the amount of play in your current mount and buy something similar. I like Garhauer's mounts, and have had good sucess with the one on my boat. Some mounts can be adjusted for the angle of the transom, but you may need to build a spacer to stand the engine away from the boat a bit. I would use Starboard or similar HDPE building material. You ought to be able to find it at Lowes, Home Depot, or failing those, West Marine. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
Outboard motor mounts can be a pain in the neck sometimes, but imagine how much tougher it is to replace the mounts on an inboard! Watched a friend go through it this winter, along with a new engine. If the mounting block is suspect, toss it. You may be able to rebuild it into something strong, but why risk it? There are tons of mounts out there. Measure the amount of play in your current mount and buy something similar. I like Garhauer's mounts, and have had good sucess with the one on my boat. Some mounts can be adjusted for the angle of the transom, but you may need to build a spacer to stand the engine away from the boat a bit. I would use Starboard or similar HDPE building material. You ought to be able to find it at Lowes, Home Depot, or failing those, West Marine. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
Outboard Motor bracket
I had a Garelick (sp) aluminum motor mount that I had repaired (it was rated for 120lbs) (new bushings, bolts, etc). Would recommend an upgrade. I switched to a Yamaha 4-stroke 9.9 and heard of too many motor bracket breaks allowing the engine to go for a swim. I upgraded to the new Garelick heavy duty 40 hp. rated bracket and had to retrofit the fiberglass angled mount piece. Mine is in good shape - not cracked or anything. Would recommend making sure its in good shape and repair if necessary. Its fibreglass with some sort of resin filling. I replaced the thru bolts and put in wood wedges (w/ several coats of West system epoxy) on the inside of the transom because the bolts do not come thru flush. Very important. The orig. owner bent the bolts to make it fit with no wedges - O'day design flaw! I used oversized fender washers (recommend several per bolt). Also, had a 3/8 stainless plate fabricated to hold to mount the wider motor mount bracket plate to the fibreglass wedge on the transom.
I had a Garelick (sp) aluminum motor mount that I had repaired (it was rated for 120lbs) (new bushings, bolts, etc). Would recommend an upgrade. I switched to a Yamaha 4-stroke 9.9 and heard of too many motor bracket breaks allowing the engine to go for a swim. I upgraded to the new Garelick heavy duty 40 hp. rated bracket and had to retrofit the fiberglass angled mount piece. Mine is in good shape - not cracked or anything. Would recommend making sure its in good shape and repair if necessary. Its fibreglass with some sort of resin filling. I replaced the thru bolts and put in wood wedges (w/ several coats of West system epoxy) on the inside of the transom because the bolts do not come thru flush. Very important. The orig. owner bent the bolts to make it fit with no wedges - O'day design flaw! I used oversized fender washers (recommend several per bolt). Also, had a 3/8 stainless plate fabricated to hold to mount the wider motor mount bracket plate to the fibreglass wedge on the transom.
Motor mount replacement
Mike, I upgraded the outboard on my O'Day 20 from 4 to 10hp just last week. The used motor I purchased came with a heavy duty bracket with different bolting dimensions than the existing bracket. This also required modifying the mounting block. After several go-arounds on configuration, material, etc., and conversations at the boat yard I determined that the mounting block is nothing more than a spacer. Rather than pay the boatyard $$$$$ to design and fabricate a teak wedge, I went home and make one on the table saw out of oak. Drilled it, sanded it, 3 coats of polyurethane, caulked very thing with 3M 5200 marine sealer and bolted everything together with stainless steel bolts. It looks and works just fine. Hope this helps. Tom
Mike, I upgraded the outboard on my O'Day 20 from 4 to 10hp just last week. The used motor I purchased came with a heavy duty bracket with different bolting dimensions than the existing bracket. This also required modifying the mounting block. After several go-arounds on configuration, material, etc., and conversations at the boat yard I determined that the mounting block is nothing more than a spacer. Rather than pay the boatyard $$$$$ to design and fabricate a teak wedge, I went home and make one on the table saw out of oak. Drilled it, sanded it, 3 coats of polyurethane, caulked very thing with 3M 5200 marine sealer and bolted everything together with stainless steel bolts. It looks and works just fine. Hope this helps. Tom
Tom's Probably Got the Better Solution
If your motor mount block is not in good shape, I'd recommend Tom's solution. Mine was in good shape so I upgraded using the stainless plate. My mounting block has the resin filling, as I indicated, and was pretty well glued to the transom. If yours is the same, might have some difficulty removing.
If your motor mount block is not in good shape, I'd recommend Tom's solution. Mine was in good shape so I upgraded using the stainless plate. My mounting block has the resin filling, as I indicated, and was pretty well glued to the transom. If yours is the same, might have some difficulty removing.
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