Question from a newbie

[MortenH]

Hello.<br /><br />I have a boat that have been converted from inboard to outboard engine, and the engine is now mounted on a bracket. My only problem is that I am not able to tilt the engine out of the water, the top of the engine hits the back wall of my "splashwell" <br /><br />So, I wonder if it is a difficult task to cut out a bit of this wall (all glass, no wood) and use fiberglass to move the wall and make it steeper.<br /> <br />I have never done any fiberglass work before.<br />(I had never done any work on an engine, but that didnt stop me from successfully rebuild my old merc)<br /><br />How is the best way to do this. The image shows part of the splashwell and the top of my engine.<br /><br />

<br /><br />-M-

 

[SiggiJo]

Re: Question from a newbie

Working with fiberglass is not difficult and there are tons of info on this forum and on the net in general on that subject. My concern would be the structural aspect as this could affect the transom strength, and although your motor is mounted on a bracket, obvisously it is still carried by the transom.<br /><br />Have you tried removing the cowling and see how far the engine will tilt without it (carefully). If you have some dead space between the engine and cowling, perhaps you could modify the cowling instead of the boat??

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Question from a newbie

You can modify the wall of the splash well easily, it looks like all you need to do is cut out a section in the middle. You don't need to cut it all the way to the top, just enough for the motor fit (tilted) into it. Once you get it cut to the shape you need, you can make a piece to fit around the motor. Or just leave the hole there and use a piece of trim around the edge.

 

[MortenH]

Re: Question from a newbie

I am just thinking, maybe it will be a good idea to just cut in the vertical corners of the well, and in the bottom, and just push the loose piece a few inches in, and just fill the gaps with fiberglass? I will not touch the lower part of the transom, and the top of the transom, where the ventilation opening is, will also not be touched. So I guess that the strenght of the transom will be good enough. Maybe I must use some wood to strengthen the parts that I cut in. I have checked the cowling, and I have nothing to gain by modifying it. The top of the cowling sits on a metal frame that is impossible to modify - there is less than one inch clearance between the frame and the flyweel.<br /><br />-M-

 

[Bondo]

Re: Question from a newbie

It Looks like it would be Less Work to move the Jack Back...........