Motor Mount Options for Stern Rail

[sailprincess]

I need a motor mount for my sail boat's stern. The only problem is that the top rail is a 1 1/4" size, which is not 'standard' and only 'Edson' makes a motor mount for this size rail but it is about $350! That is about half the cost of my motor itself so I'd rather get one for a better price or find another solution. Anyone have any suggestions?

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by sailprincess

I need a motor mount for my sail boat's stern. The only problem is that the top rail is a 1 1/4" size, which is not 'standard' and only 'Edson' makes a motor mount for this size rail but it is about $350! That is about half the cost of my motor itself so I'd rather get one for a better price or find another solution. Anyone have any suggestions?

Make one out of wood -- two pieces of marine grade wood routed out to go around the rail, and screwed together.

Save the money -- and you can get a motor davit if you need it, which will raise and lower the motor down to the dinghy for you.

[onestepcsy37]

what rakuflames said.

i also had a problem with off the shelf outboard mounts so i built my own. actually didn't build it, just took some measurements and had a local shop cut a flat piece of stainless steel (could have used aluminum) and drill some holes. then i held the plate to the rails with u-bolts. been working five or more years now.

you didn't mention how heavy a motor. mine is a 40lb 3hp yammie.

[zeehag]

starboard is also a god alternative to using wood.
if you use wood--just use any rot resistant hard wood.

[Robin3]

We had the same problem when the existing and inherited plastic mount split so rather than risk an expensive new mercury 9.9 on a similar flimsy onewethrew more money in the boat pit and bought the Edson one for a tad under $300, expensive but it is well made if not exactly the solid gold construction the price suggested.

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by onestepcsy37

what rakuflames said.

i also had a problem with off the shelf outboard mounts so i built my own. actually didn't build it, just took some measurements and had a local shop cut a flat piece of stainless steel (could have used aluminum) and drill some holes. then i held the plate to the rails with u-bolts. been working five or more years now.

you didn't mention how heavy a motor. mine is a 40lb 3hp yammie.

I ended selling my 4-stroke 6 hp because it was just too heavy for me to manage, and the truth was it was also too big and heavy for my dinghy. If I'd kept it, I would have gotten a davit. Right now I have older technology -- oars.

i kind of like the idea of starboard. I think it would look very nice, but starboard thick enough to do this might be pretty expensive, and it really makes a mess when you cut it,

[onestepcsy37]

rakuflames - that's a pretty big dinghy motor for a hunter 31. friend of mine has a hunter 30 with a hard dinghy that he tows. he's a bit of a tinkerer so his outboard is a fifty year old 2hp eska air cooled that he keeps running like a top - weighs about 20 pounds, i think. he also rows at times....

[Blue Stocking]

My 29 lb 2 hp yella hammer sits nicely on a stern mount ala Rakuflames descriptiom. 2 pcs 3/4" marine mahogany, epoxy sealed and thru bolted.