On Wed, 07 Nov 2007 08:35:37 -0500, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Wed, 07 Nov 2007 11:02:08 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

I'm not a big fan of brackets though and those look like the kind that
I particularly don't like.

Because of appearance, or structural concerns?

There are advantages to these large bracket setbacks - in effect they
are lengthen the boat which increases performance for any given
horsepower. Cockpit room is gained by moving the engine back and
there is a minor advantage with noise. Looks aren't as important, but
they don't add much to appearance. Mechanically, as long as they are
properly installed with appropriate backing plates, they are fine.

The major problem, in my opinion, is that they change the CG
bow-to-stern and the attack angle coming on and off plane. There is a
lot of leverage with the stern acting as the fulcrum which, again in
my opinion, can't be good for the transom over time unless it's an
extremely well built and connected stern. I have nothing to back the
later up by the way, just an opinion.

Operationally the main problem to me is that they tend to bury out
outboards up to the cowling on take off and coming off plane with the
exhaust ports exposed to incoming water. Back a few years ago, I
stalled a FICHT on a 23 Fish Hawk CC coming off plane because of
exhaust/water problems. On take off, I could actually bury the engine
about halfway up the engine cowling at certain trim angles. I've heard
reports of that happening with other engines, but nothing I can link
to or report on other than my own experience.

In my opinion, which is worth whatever, jack plates can accomplish the
same thing and they are adjustable.