Adding an outboard bracket

Bill Savoie

Bill Savoie

Active member
I'm looking for some advice. My brothers and I have a 22' Sisu lobster boat (mid-1980's fiberglass) that I use as a tender for sea duck hunting. The link above is not to my boat, but it is the same boat with an I/O. It is also used for fishing, diving and and hauling lobster pots under a recreation license. I want to fill in the transom and add an outboard bracket (like a Gil or Armstrong). The boat is powered by a 115HP Evinrude. The reasons are:
1) Quiet the boat
2) Add a work area at the stern of the boat
3) Possibly add a swim/dive bench

I have seen this boat set up as an outboard, with a bracket and with an I/O I was talking with a local boat shop and they claim that I can't add a bracket as the transom isn't strong enough. This sounds like BS to me, but I thought I'd throw the question out here to see what your opinions are. Anyone ever do this? Any words of advice? The manufacturer is no longer in business.
 
A LOT of people have converted I/O boats to OB boats.

Stainless Marine makes outboard brackets for a number of production boats today.

They'll be good people to talk to about your transom requirements.

http://www.stainlessmarine.com/myProducts.cfm?CategoryID=55|Outboard%20Transom%20Brackets%20%2D%20Single

It's not as simple as bolting on a bracket and motor. Think the change in weight distribution, and the ability of the outboard to get clear water for cooling purposes. You also don't want your motor too low back there, it can take a drenching in the rough stuff.

-D
 
Last edited:
Watched them do it on Shipshape...the TV show with the little fat guy. Lots of reinforcement needed since it is a torque multiplier hanging back off the transom. It will be an interesting project. That is a cool boat.
 
Bill,

Those Sisu's are salty looking boats and I have heard very well made.
I've owned 2 Stainless Marine bracketts. The first one was used to convert an I/O Grady White to an outboard. The guy I had do the job botched it and I wound up with a ruined transom. The second one was factory installed on the Grady White I presently own. No problems there but do keep it painted (use a factory recommended primer)and keep an eye on the sacrificial zincs. The bracketts did not quiet my boats at all but were handy when hanging out over the transom working on the motor. You will still need to add a boarding ladder set up as the brackettt doesn't make a good one of those.

Such a big brackett will surely cause your balance points to be different and make the boat much longer. Regardless of those slight negatives I'd have another Stainless Marine brackett installed anytime. Hang on to your wallet.
Best,
Harry
 
I did ask both Gil and Armstrong before I posted the question here. The answer I got from each was the same, "it should work just fine, but you'll want to confirm with your boat dealer". I did find out from them that 22' is at the lower length of what they consider acceptable. I'll need to check around with other boat dealers, but thought I would pose the question here.

Grady-White. What a beautiful boat. If it wasn't for the duck blood, fish guts and damage from hauling lobster pots I'd love to own one. The Sisu will never get you anywhere very fast, but it will handle just about anything you might throw at it. It's a great working platform.

Thanks for your input.
 
Most any of the better lobster types to me are some of the prettiest boats afloat. We used to see a fair number of the Sisu's around Wilmington NC. if I had the bucks I'd have about a 40 foot lobster type to semi live aboard when I retire. Thanks for the comment on the Grady White. Over the last 40 years I've owned and sold many boats and just can't find an overnighter type that is built with better attention to detail and general sea keeping ability.

My boat is the 208 G Overnighter and when it's not in the backyard it's normally on the Chesapeake Bay. My little fishing boat is a Boston Whaler Montauk 17. I may put the Whaler on the block before long to convert into some other "boaty" stuff. My wife refers to everything having to do with fishing or Duck Hunting as "Boaty". She still greets me when I've been hunting with "Did you CATCH any ducks?" Having said that, she is a very good and competitive fisherman in her on right. She hooked and landed a 68 lb. Black Drum on 17 lb. test tackle last summer.

I think you will like the brackett for your Sisu once you get used to it being hung on your stern.

Best,
Harry
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top