First time boater

[sparkie67]

After reading some of the other Q, i don't feel as dumb as i thought, my Q, I have a 14ft. lowe I plan on putting a mariner 25 on it,: DO i need to put a piece of wood across the back to attach the motor to?

 

[62 ROYAL SCOTT]

Re: First time boater

Hell-o sparkie ,what is the boat rated for as far as h.p.? And also what is it made of? [the boat ]

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: First time boater

IF the transom is solid (ie, not rotten) and IF you are not over powering the boat - then you shouldn't have to add anything above and beyond what came from the factory.

 

[lncoop]

Re: First time boater

What they said, and you definitely need to verify your boat can handle a 25. Most fourteen footers can't. If it's a wide one that's a different story.

 

[109jb]

Re: First time boater

As far as I know, Lowe only makes pontoons and aluminum boats. To answer the OP's question, you should not need to add anything to the transom for mounting the outboard. That is if it still has everything that came from the factory.

 

[southkogs]

Re: First time boater

I have seen wood added to a motor mount simply to act as a bit of a "pad" to protect the transom surface. Lot's of folks used to do that on the old aluminum hulls.

 

[sparkie67]

Re: First time boater

it's rated for a 20 hp. it's made of alum.

 

[sparkie67]

Re: First time boater

Thank You, the transom is solid.

 

[lncoop]

Re: First time boater

it's rated for a 20 hp. it's made of alum.

You know it's rated for a maximum hp of 20 but you plan to use a 25 anyway? Better beef up the transom, otherwise you (or the next owner) will have issues down the road.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: First time boater

You don't need to reinforce to go from 20 to 25 IMO. However, there are only 2 things on this forum that are set in stone, and one is not to go over the plate rating on a boat (the exception being pure racing in controlled situations by knowledgeable boaters).

We have a 14' wide body Lowe jon boat at our hunt club. We ran it with a 20 or 25 (don't remember; probably 25) and found it was too much power for inexperienced boaters--we often turn the young boys loose in the small boats. With one person, even an adult, it was scary fast. When the motor died for other reasons we down-sized to a 15 which was a better fit. So consider who will be using it.

It is, however, typical to put a 3/8 " or so plywood pad to protect the aluminum, especially on the outside. Some use a thick rubber pad. Do not clamp onto lumber that size as it may split at the clamp and you lose your motor. And on that note, be sure to tie the motor to the boat (run a line from the motor down to the transom brace; leave 2' and tie your plug to it.)