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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Outboard Mount Weight Limits

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Kper
Captain

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USA
417 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/03/2015 : 06:51:47

It looks like the original Seahorse 9.9 is going into retirement. Due to a bad shoulder I spotted a used Suzuki 9.9 four stroke with power trim/tilt but I have one concern. My original Catalina mount has only one spring and, in an effort to keep from drilling new holes in the transom, I was considering a new 4 spring mount from CD. My issue is the 4 spring mount is rated up to 115 lbs and the Suzuki is spec'd at 123lbs.

Is this detrimental?

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 01/03/2015 : 09:20:17

I think you will find that if you replace the current mount with a 4 spring mount from CD, you will not need the power trim/tilt. A Tohatsu/Nissan 9.8 hp 25" shaft motor without power tilt weighs 92 lbs. and works well with the 3-spring mount. On a 4-spring you might have to push down to lock it in place. with power tilt, the Tohatsu/Nissan 9.8 weighs 108 lbs.
I had a Suzuki 2 stroke 9.9 with elec. start on a 1 spring mount, probably the original mount, and didn't like it; motor rarely worked without a lot of effort starting it, replaced it with the Nissan 9.8 hp 4 stroke 25" shaft elec. start and loved it. I also replaced the mount. BTW, the prior owner had rigged up a block & tackle to the stern pulpit to help raise the motor. In the short term, you might try that.also
You might ask CD if the construction is the same on the mounts they sell, i.e. is the only difference the number of springs. If so, your present mount might suffice with the addition of power trim/tilt. I'm assuming that if you go with power trim/tilt, then you will not be lifting the motor up manually to get the shaft out of the water.

Edited by - dmpilc on 01/03/2015 09:34:42

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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4035 Posts

Response Posted - 01/03/2015 : 10:12:58

There is a little misconception on what the power trim/tilt does. It doesn't lift the motor vertically out of the water. It only tilts the motor slightly for trim or tilts it all of the way for full tilt. You will still have to pull the motor up manually out of the water. I would go with the four spring mount from CD. It has the same footprint and lift(travel) as the one you have so there is no drilling of new holes or clearance issues . The only difference is that they added more springs. You can adjust the new mount for the weight of the engine by simply popping one of the springs off of the bar to make it a 3 springer with the option of putting the spring back on later as the springs get weaker from use or for a heavier engine in the future. Since lifting the engine is your problem with the bad shoulder I would get the 4 springer and just an xtra long shaft motor without the power tilt to keep the weight down. This should make it easy enough to raise the motor for you. Once the motor is up tilting it isn't mandatory. I sail often this way and yes the prop will drag a little when heeled on the engine side but its not that big of a deal. If you do have to tilt the motor maybe one of these would help.

Edited by - on

Kper
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417 Posts

Response Posted - 01/03/2015 : 11:08:02

The rubber bushings on my current mount are shot. Are the bushings and springs available somewhere? I haven't been able to locate replacements. If they're available then maybe I can simply add springs to my current mount and apply the savings to a Tohatsu or Nissan.

The Suzuki wasn't my first choice but the tilt feature intrigued me. My current 25" Seahorse sits about 4-6" in the water, in the slip, in the up position without tilting and tilting that sucker is something the admiral couldn't do - too heavy and too far aft to reach. My belief is the easier it is to sail the more interest she has to sail.

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islander
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USA
4035 Posts

Response Posted - 01/03/2015 : 11:53:30

quote:
The rubber bushings on my current mount are shot. Are the bushings and springs available somewhere? I haven't been able to locate replacements. If they're available then maybe I can simply add springs to my current mount

If your mount is the the same as the ones from CD then the answer is no. I believe they have bronze bushings and the springs are put on the frame and then the frame is welded together. The only way to replace or add a spring (if you could buy one) would be to cut the frame and re-weld it These mounts are specifically made for Catalina by Garhauer and are only sold by CD or maybe Catalina directly. These mounts also have a 17 1/4" vertical lift, Very hard to find that much in another brand of motor mount. They also have the proper distance from the transom so you don't have clearance issues with the tiller or the hood hitting the transom.

Edited by - islander on 01/03/2015 12:38:20

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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4035 Posts

Response Posted - 01/03/2015 : 13:20:00

Kyle, Are you on a lake? Maybe a 6hp would be an option...

Edited by - on

Kper
Captain

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USA
417 Posts

Response Posted - 01/03/2015 : 17:19:19

quote:
Originally posted by islander

These mounts also have a 17 1/4" vertical lift, Very hard to find that much in another brand of motor mount...

I have noticed other mounts have nowhere near the lift distance as these do.

quote:
Originally posted by islander

Kyle, Are you on a lake? Maybe a 6hp would be an option...

We are one a lake. It averages about 1.5 miles wide by 8 or so long and runs northwest/southeast so it can develop waves at time. There is another C25 here with a 6hp but my concern was electric start. Between my wife and I, it's almost a must and I haven't seen any 6hp outboards with anything other than manual start.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9089 Posts

Response Posted - 01/03/2015 : 22:26:07

This may be heresy, but not being concerned with outrunning any identical boats out there, we often sailed without even lifting the bracket with our Honda. When we were done, it was just a push of the electric starter to point up into the wind and then go home. After all, it's about the same as sailing with an inboard or saildrive that is permanently dragging you somewhat. Back in the slip, I raised the bracket and only had to tilt the motor one notch to get the skeg out of the water--very little effort.

I also considered having the outboard down and ready to be a safety factor, in case of me being the M.O.B.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 01/03/2015 22:28:01

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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4035 Posts

Response Posted - 01/04/2015 : 11:24:30

I keep trying to come up with a solution to your problem but I don't think there is a perfect solution, Not with an outboard. I now think in order to satisfy all of your must have's you need an inboard.

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Kper
Captain

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417 Posts

Response Posted - 01/04/2015 : 17:02:28

quote:
Originally posted by islander

I keep trying to come up with a solution to your problem but I don't think there is a perfect solution, Not with an outboard. I now think in order to satisfy all of your must have's you need an inboard.

Scott, you are spot on. The admiral wants an in inboard with a wheel! On the other hand I like the C25 and with all the work we've done to this one I will hang on with all I have until retirement finds us in a larger one with an inboard and her coveted wheel. She believes if sailing isn't fun then why do it. I can't say I disagree, I just find the outboard and tiller part of the fun. Well, not so much the outboard.

Edited by - on

dmpilc
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Response Posted - 01/04/2015 : 17:20:56

Others here have investigated electric motors. Since you are on an inland lake that is not terribly large, perhaps that is an alternative you might consider until you can move up to a bigger boat.

Edited by - on

islander
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4035 Posts

Response Posted - 01/04/2015 : 18:55:46

Absolutely nothing wrong with dreaming of the perfect boat but sometimes the grass isn't so green on the other side of the fence. Inboards open up a whole new can of worms. Lets see... Risers,Manifolds,Strainers, Belts,Pulleys,Heat exchangers, Zincs.Shafts,Cutlass bearings,Fuel tanks(replacement)Engine mounts(replacement)Shift cables,Water pumps,Winterizing,And the dreaded complete engine replacement. As you can see I've been there and done that. I look at that little outboard as a dream. None of the above and to replace it is a 10 min. job.

Edited by - on

dasreboot
Admiral

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804 Posts

Response Posted - 01/05/2015 : 06:34:04

Had inboards, and they are nice. However, being able to unmount the outboard an put it in the pickup to take it to get it worked on is a big plus

Edited by - on

Kper
Captain

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USA
417 Posts

Response Posted - 01/05/2015 : 08:49:17

I hear what you're saying, Scott, but it's hard to find a 30+ footer with an outboard so it's probably inevitable.

Call me crazy, but... my intention, and I've shared this with the admiral, is to keep Suspended Animation on our local lake for day/weekend duty since the slip is free with my part-time employment there and she can have her big boat on the lakes or wherever for weekly or monthly get-a-ways when that happens. I'm sure that's a few years out anyway.

Edited by - Kper on 01/05/2015 09:08:42

Kper
Captain

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USA
417 Posts

Response Posted - 01/05/2015 : 09:14:47

quote:
Originally posted by dasreboot

Had inboards, and they are nice. However, being able to unmount the outboard an put it in the pickup to take it to get it worked on is a big plus

I have found this to be invaluable, Todd!

Edited by - on

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