Outboard mount C 26

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Sat Nov 21, 2009 7:47 am

Hello all, long time reader here, first time posting.
I have a 1978 C 26 we got her about a year a go.
over all it was in good shape, lots of barnys and outboard on last leg.
so as it goes off to the yamaha dealer I went to pick up a new 9.9 high thrust long shaft, mouted it up and quickly found that at 90 deg. down "tilt" the lower unit hit the rudder "the rudder was in the up position, water in canal can be 3' on low tides spots" . trim up till I clear and off on a quick test run I go. with trim set so high the prop wash was only 2 to 3 feet behind the boat an coming up out of the water.
Back at the dock I noticed " larger then before" cracks in the fiberglass OEM mount. And when the outboard was raised it hit the transom and lower unit was only about 1 1/2" out of the water.
So I am building a new mount, the angle on the back of the old mount is alot and lets the lower unit go almost under the boat when trimed all the way down not sure why this is ?
I think its around a 30 deg. angel. Less to me might be better ? the new mount will move the clamp of the outboard out to 12 1/2" insted of the OEM 5 1/2" from transom hope to clear rudder when trimed down "and rudder up" and transom when tilled up and out of the water.
Any input would be very helpfull ! not sure what effect this will have on the boats handling and performance if any.

Thanks Dave

EmergencyExit · Post by **EmergencyExit** » Sat Nov 21, 2009 9:12 am

Welcome aboard Dave ! I wouldn't be surprised if those cracks are in the upper corners of the OEM mount, and if you found there really wasn't much structure left inside the mount. EE's was pretty much down to papyrus flakes and bread crumbs when I sliced the top off and opened it up.

Possibly the reason for the expanded cracks after that run was that with the tilt way up the prop is pushing the leg down, which pulls the head away from the mount and stressed it.

I'm betting the OEM mount was designed with only the OEM Sailor series outboards in mind. I say make the mount that works for your engine and situation, and that is the perfect mount !

mariner · Post by **mariner** » Sat Nov 21, 2009 1:22 pm

try http://www.garelick.com/product.php?pnumber=71091

Chrysler20%26 · Post by **Chrysler20%26** » Sat Nov 21, 2009 11:22 pm

Dave thank you for posting, now please keep them comming. ( mariner ) post, I have that typ of set up on C-20. Thay say not to trailer boats with outboard. So I would not use that on a C-26, not fun removing the outboard every time you trailer.

mariner · Post by **mariner** » Sun Nov 22, 2009 9:48 am

I have never tailored with my out board on. I know that they make "kickers" to hold it in place so it doesn't break the transom but im not so sure about that. think of a 80 lb pendulum bouncing up and down. My outboard bracket is the original from the dealer when the boat was new. I totally freaked out reading all about switching from 2 stroke to 4 and the mounts not working etc. but i decided last season to just attach the new 4 stoke and see what happens...(i needed to get the boat in the water) used it all season, no issues. I was lucky. so now my mantra is if it aint broken..

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Sun Nov 22, 2009 3:24 pm

Thanks ALL for the replys, I went to work on my OEM mount today.
Ill send pic. soon

Dave

Capt. Bondo · Post by **Capt. Bondo** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 10:25 am

I have towed my C22 with the outboard on the bracket, but used a old piece of dock line to tie it up to the stansion mounts to help keep it from bouncing around and unload the weight from the bracket and stern.

CaptainScott · Post by **CaptainScott** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 11:07 am

Welcome aboard Dave! Glad to have ya posting!

Like Capt Bondo, I too tow my C22 with the outboard on. I also strap it to the stern to relieve some of the stress on the stern. I also run straps under the rudder to prevent accidental drops on the freeway!

Scott