Wedges?

JOFO17

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 23, 2002
Messages
158
I took a 115 off of my 18' cuddy yesterday. It had wedges behind it. I've never seen these used before. Should I put them back on when I bolt on the 140 I plan on installing? What are they for and are they needed?
 

Joe Reeves

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Feb 24, 2002
Messages
13,262
Re: Wedges?

If when you say "wedges behind it", you're saying that the engine has tapered wedges installed between the transom brackets and the boat transom........

Wedges of that sort are needed on some engines/boats to compensate for the angle of a transom. Various boat manufactures in the past did manufacture boats whereas the outboard engine could not obtain the proper angle of attack.... the wedges solved that problem.

You don't say what year the 115 or the 140 is BUT to my knowledge, their angle of attack setup has always been the same.... so I would assume that the wedges should be reinstalled.
 

boobie

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 5, 2009
Messages
20,826
Re: Wedges?

As said above, put them back in as wedges were used to compensate for a boat problem.
 

F_R

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jul 7, 2006
Messages
28,226
Re: Wedges?

Wedges are also used to compensate for a curved transom. Rarely seen these days, but it happened in the past.
 

JOFO17

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 23, 2002
Messages
158
Re: Wedges?

Thanks for the feedback guys. The 115 was an 85 vro, and the 140 is a 78. I agree they are basicly the same. The hull is an 85 Manatee. I was thinking that with the added horsepower I may not need them. Boobie.............What do you mean by a "boat problem"?
 

boobie

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 5, 2009
Messages
20,826
Re: Wedges?

The transom angle may not be right and you can have the mtr tucked all the way in and the mtr will still blow holes in the water on a hole shot. Back in '78 Terry Bass boats had that prob and we had to put wedges on every one we sold.
 

itsaboattime

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 4, 2007
Messages
791
Re: Wedges?

HUH....Learn something new everyday.
I'm assuming these wedges are metal? Aluminum?
Boobie.....did Terry Bass not figure there would be a problem? Kinda defeats the purpose of the transom is an outboard won't work with it..ya know what I'm saying?
Sorry if I'm hi-jacking...this is just intriguing.
 

boobie

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 5, 2009
Messages
20,826
Re: Wedges?

Yes. Terry wasn't in business very long and we quit selling them.
 
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