unbalanced transom

[SandySteel]

On most boats I have seen the main engine gets placed in the center of the transom.
On the boat I am working on I don't have very much transom space. Here is what it looks like from the rear and upside down...
http://mysite.verizon.net/neiwert/luckydevil/Sites-Thumbnails/8.jpg
I would like to get a larger engine in the future (currently 18 HP).
If I were to put a larger engine and center it I would likely have to get a kicker as I wouldn't want to troll with a 50 HP engine.
The problem is that I don't think there is enough space on the cutout to place both if the main engine is centered.
Can I offset the main engine in order to fit a kicker?
Would I be better off getting a kicker bracket?
The width of the cutout is 36"
Total width of the transom at the top is 56"

[sturgn]

How about 2 smaller motors instead on one big motor, you could place them equal distances and it will balance out the boat and when you want to troll just use one motor. This is probably a tiller controlled boat though?

[Woody]

Center the big motor and use a kicker bracket.

[ANDYCOHO]

I have seen C-Dory boats place their main engine off center to accommodate a trolling motor....and for balance as well maybe?

[SandySteel]

Tiller controlled.
Just put the second coat of paint on today.

[pkg40]

How big is that boat? Do you really need 50 hp? - pkg

[Woody]

50hp does seem pretty big. Check out THIS SITE (http://www.uscgboating.org/regulations/boatbuilder/part1/reg33_183_4a.htm) from the US Coast Guard.

It has all the formulas for calculating the maximum horsepower for your boat.

According to the formula provided, you shouldn't have more than 22.33 hp on that boat. (assuming it's 16ft long.)

[Bendman]

Don’t want to let the air out of your sails but 50 seams pretty big to me also. My eyes bugged out of my head when I read that. :bigshock: If you go ahead and put the fifty on it you might want to get some pontoons for the extra weight and a wheelie bar on the back to keep her from flipping over :bigshock: :grin:. No all kidding aside a fifty horse motor will be way too heavy and way over powered. I grew up with a 16’ Valco powered with a 25 horse motor. That’s about all the motor I would have wanted on that boat. Good luck, I'm the same way...always looking for more power :grin:

[SandySteel]

Hmmm thanks for the heads up guys. Always one for safety. :tongue:

The boat is 16' in length and is 5' wide (at its widest part). Meaning it has a factor of 80. It is a hard chine, tiller steering, and is a flat bottom, (at the stern) hard chine boat. So the calculation goes (.5 X 80)-15 So the highest I can go is 25 HP.

This actually solves one problem, I can troll with a 25 and a couple of sea anchors or a trolling plate.

The bummer thing is that with a '57 Evinrude 18 HP engine I can get up on plane with me in the boat. But add more people and it won't.

Anyone think 25 horses will help get it up that much better?

[Woody]

I may be wrong, but I think that most older engines are measured at the engine, not the prop. Plus those old things heavy. With a newer 25 I'll think you'll do just fine.

[pkg40]

A new newer 25hp 2 stroke in good condition should make that boat fly with three folks and fishing gear. A 15 would work fine two, but the 20-25 will likely cost you less used due to the popularity of the smaller motors. Make sure the shaft is matched to the transom height. If your 18hp is a long shaft, that could explain why the performance is disappointing.

[SandySteel]

I have done some research on these boats. It's a Burchcraft 16' Deep Water Fisherman from about 1956. Here is where I got the idea of a 50 HP motor. I think more research is necessary especially regarding what the horsepower rating is now vs. what it was then.

To quote an article from the Seattle boat show 1950.

"With emphasis on the beam,
the 14-foot "Big Fisherman" has
developed what Burch strongly be-
lieves is the modern day answer to
the needs of the sports fisherman
who has found new thrills in open
water fishing such as the lower
harbor off Point Chehalis and in
the lower Columbia river. Termed,
"Rough, Tough and Ready," the Big
Fisherman has been decked over
forward which enables the boat to
stand into rough water. A 62 inch
beam and a 22 inch freeboard allow
for more room than in any previ-
ously built craft of its type. The
reinforced transom stern has been
specially designed for motors
up to 50 horsepower."

All of the salesman hyperbole aside it was the last sentence I was interested in.

My boat has a 77" beam and a 24" transom so it is larger than the 14' boat that is described.

More articles about Burchcraft boats here (http://home.europa.com/~garry/info.htm)

It is a long shaft engine as the depth at the motor mount is 21"