Offshore Bracket Question

[backlash442]

Had the opportunity to fish on a 22' Hydra Sport with a 200hp Suzuki mounted on an Armstrong bracket. There is also a 9.9 kicker and 26 gallon bait tank hanging off the back. What I would like to know is it normal for water to come up high on the cowling? Like almost to the top when a swell comes up behind you? Is this "normal" for OS brackets to do? The funny thing is the engine cavitates a lot even though water comes up so high on the cowling. At least it sure sounds like it. Just like when you raise the trim on a motor before you get up on plane.

[Road Rage]

The situation you describe would make me uncomfortable. I do not believe it's "normal" for waves to make it up that high on the cowling of the motor, nor should the motor cavitate... IMO the rig is not set-up correctly.

[Capt. Slick]

I have a offshore on my boat. I thought perpose of it was to lift the boat up when a swell comes (bouancy Bracket)? Have you noticed if it is filling up with water? With what you describe I would definetely figure out what is wrong.Sounds unsafe and could be bad on the motor to get dunked in salt.Good luck and be safe.

[Road Rage]

I'm not sure an Armstrong bracket is bouyancy bracket, I think it's just a cantalever? At any rate, something's not right. It's either rigged wrong, or just too heavy.

[backlash442]

Make me uncomfortable? That's putting it mildly! I told my friend who owns it I'll never go out on it again. Told him it's a p.o.s. Yeah I'm Mr. Diplomatic but we are good friends and I was his Best Man last month. But the boat yeah it's pretty dangerous especially in a following sea. Thing would pitch from one side to the other and you had to do everything to just hold on to the wheel. Trim tabs are the biggest I've ever seen on a boat for it's size but don't do much. Spent about 9 hours on it and I could never get the thing to trim out right. Thank god it wasn't rough.

I'm not sure water would come over the cowling completely but it sure did seem to get high. Well above the where the gasket between top and bottom that's for sure. I believe the Armstrong Bracket is bouyant and there was no water in it as we checked the hatch.

[Tacklebuster]

When I am running pretty hard and I just let off the throttle in the ocean, water will come up 3/4 of the way on the cowling.

I don't have any cavitation problems though and have never had any issue with water getting into the motor.