Floatation??

RidgeRunner

RidgeRunner

God
I am seriously thinking about adding some floatation to the transom of my center console. I know I am overpowered with the 250XS but it is too sweet to repower and I don't want to give back a hundred hp.

SO

What about a lightweight flotation pod built of fiberglass that would surround my existing bracket??

It would add approx 8" in width on each side of the current bracket, about 19" in height at the transom would put it approx flush with the top of the existing bracket, and it extends back approx 30". My quick calculation has me increasing displacement by approx 180 lbs (at rest trim). While only adding 30 lbs to the gross weight for a net gain of 150 lbs. The entire thing would add near 400 lbs of floatation if fully submerged and will be completely out of the water when on plane.

Lightweight and either styrofoam core or just leave it hollow like the bracket..

Anybody ever tried this?
 
RidgeRunner said:
I am seriously thinking about adding some floatation to the transom of my center console. I know I am overpowered with the 250XS but it is too sweet to repower and I don't want to give back a hundred hp.

SO

What about a lightweight flotation pod built of fiberglass that would surround my existing bracket??

It would add approx 8" in width on each side of the current bracket, about 19" in height at the transom would put it approx flush with the top of the existing bracket, and it extends back approx 30". My quick calculation has me increasing displacement by approx 180 lbs (at rest trim). While only adding 30 lbs to the gross weight for a net gain of 150 lbs. The entire thing would add near 400 lbs of floatation if fully submerged and will be completely out of the water when on plane.

Lightweight and either styrofoam core or just leave it hollow like the bracket..

Anybody ever tried this?
Click to expand...


I'm tryin' to picture how that's gonna work w/that REEL nice swim platform you got on that baby...other that that, the premise sounds good...and yeah, I'd put foam in it...
 
I been snooping around over on the classics site.. there are some nice rebuilds going on. Some of those were built like tanks, I am looking more for an armored cav.
 
RidgeRunner said:
I been snooping around over on the classics site.. there are some nice rebuilds going on. Some of those were built like tanks, I am looking more for an armored cav.
Click to expand...

Hey "Snoopy"...enjoyed the 1:15 spent last night designin' this thing...I think yer on to something..even to the point others could use (and would pay for) down the road...so consider this research & development...prototyping new stuff is a lotta fun...:clap:
 
Did you look at Big Shrimpin's bracket build? You could build something like that to add on under your platform. Is your bracket open inside? is it sealed. We're stuffing noodles inside the bracket on my buddies Sea V
 
I didn't see your post Spare, it is sealed and watertight. I have never seen so much as a drop in there when changing motors (as I often do), or when inspecting it thru the drain plug on the bottom. I tried to get a picture of the lower while underway and decided it was too rough to leave the controls and crawl back there. LOL. Suffice it to say, the motor is mounted high. At 40, water is running at least 2" below the cav. plate but rising up fast from there, nearly touching the rear of the plate at the rear. Now I know why she loves trim.. River Ranch 013.jpg

River Ranch 014.jpg
 
Ya know...Spare's got me thinkin'...w/your 'glass skills, why not make your own w/the same flotation characteristics and the same width, depth, etc you'd have by adding to the existing bracket...after it's all done and you know yer happy, sell the Stainless...just thinkin' out loud here...
 
Smokin Joe on another site is building his own bracket on the back of a 24' Wellcraft Nova. His main supports go straight thru the transom and sister up with his stringers. I see it as a superior design. I think I would simply find a lighter motor before I tore into this one again. I can use it as is, the downtime is not something I want to live with.
I priced the Stainless Marine brackets for twins. Ouch.. They are up in price from when I purchased last..
No test time at the lake this past weekend. Too busy chasing go-fasts and the wind was blowing 20+ out of the south. Next time I will get some data and better pics. Never got to talk to the aluminum guru, he was rafted up about 40 boats down the bank. I got called out by Egg Sucking Dog (Seacraft guy), I didn't want to embarrass him.. LOL. Or myself for that matter.. The go-fasts are a tough bunch to hang with..
Looking at a few pictures, I really have a lot of freeboard compared to some. River Ranch 015.jpg
 
Ridge, just an idea. Why not build your boxes to go to the bottom of the hull? You would have even more flotation and that will help with flotation on plane where the normal bracket does not help on plane. Basically a tunnel hull will be created and you will no doubt have a V22
 
Ridge you just posted an idea i had. I was thinking about building my own bracket and extending stringers out the transom and use one layer of 3/4? plywood in the transom to eliminate weight.
 
Definitely similar Randleman. That is to ensure the transom doesn't squat when they hang a heavy 4-stroke back there and it will still pop up on plane.

Jasoncoopercola, I boosted some pictures of the bracket in progress from Smokin Joe. A true work of art IMO. He commented on saving weight from the original.
bracket.jpg

bracket2.jpg

bracket3.jpg

bracket4.jpg

bracket5.jpg
 
Thats about how I expect mine would look. Only change i would make is use the entire 8' rip of plywood instead of 6'. Mine will be the guinea pig for this project if nobody else does it first.

Ridge when i commented about the side flotation boxes next to the bracket, i thought you had a full swim platform across the back. Now that i am on the comp it is clear. I was thinking the platform would hide the top of the boxes and help it all appear as one piece.
 
Still looking at different designs. One would be to 86 the swim ladder and put floatation shells on both sides with a full width swim platform.
I would need to build it around the trim tabs for full effect, like Contender does with their transoms. Lots of work, time and money. I am scared of the one in the middle. Too little time..
 
I know its an elementary drawing but here is my idea.

Bracekt.jpg


What does everyone think?
 
phatdaddy said:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/Johnny_B/Catch 22/DSC00978.jpg

this is a shot of the old style livewells. is this what you had in mind, but filled with foam & a bracket in the middle.
Click to expand...


Yes, only trying to work around stuff that is already bolted in place: bracket, custom swim ladder and a pair of trim tabs. Is that the picure of Big Shrimpins project boat, beforehand?

Spare, thanks for the link to the BS project bracket, I have checked out many times over and have a few pictures saved for reference.
 
ridge, that's just a shot of an old aquasport i had(the photo,not the boat). that was state of the art in livewells in the 70's. when the boat was stopped, water would flood in & when on plane only drain down tothe holes. really only good for live shrimp and a few pinfish
 
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