I have an outboard bracket on the transom to mount a Mercury 9.9. The idea is to be able to lift the motor clear of the water to avoid fouling at mooring and to reduce drag when sailing.

Mine is aluminium and seems flimsy and is difficult to use.

Anyone have any real world experience of these things?

I had good success with one of these from Mr Boats on Ebay: www.ebay.com.au/itm/AUXILIARY-OUTBOARD-BRACKET-STAINLESS-STEEL-MOTOR-UPTO-20HP-or-55KGS-BRAND-NEW/221258468001?hash=item3384084aa1:g:e0MAAOSwKIdc5S9g
I had a 28kg motor Tohatsu 9.8

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FabulousPhill said..
I had good success with one of these from Mr Boats on Ebay: www.ebay.com.au/itm/AUXILIARY-OUTBOARD-BRACKET-STAINLESS-STEEL-MOTOR-UPTO-20HP-or-55KGS-BRAND-NEW/221258468001?hash=item3384084aa1:g:e0MAAOSwKIdc5S9g
I had a 28kg motor Tohatsu 9.8

OB brackets are often rated for h/p and weight. Always go by the weight, and go up a size (or two) if you can. Sounds like you're aluminium one is a bit flimsy and perhaps not up to the job.
FabulousPhill has the answer. I too bought one of these, but I changed the injected plastic plate for a solid timber one - I wasn't comfortable with the way it flexed sometimes out at sea, after that it was no problem. Definitely worth the investment.

I had an older 9.9, weighed 32kg I think.

I sent you an email SunsetSailer

Thanks for the input Phill and Azure. The design of the one on eBay looks similar to this old job I have on a hulk in my yard. Range of rise and fall plus ease of operation from deck are criteria. I will go out to the boat tomorrow and take some measurements and pics.

Weather improved today so some pics

The rise and fall on the bracket from fully up to fully down is 250mm.

When fully up, there is very little room between the bracket/motor and the transom. When fully down it is a very long reach over the top rail of the pushpin down to the motor. operating the mechanism is a PITA

Anyone think there is an obviously better solution for me?

Remote controls for throttle and gear selection. $250 installed?
Apart from that, put the motor in a well.

That was my experience in a Compass28/ Northerner28.
I can add photos after work. groups.google.com/forum/m/#!search/Installing$20an$20outboard$20/compass-yacht-group/4U5qWlntOoo

What boat is it you have?

I installed the same OB bracket on my Folkboat. Unfortunately working out where exactly to locate the bracket, only seems obvious after the installation...its tricky, and usually involves some compromise.

Looking at you photo (with the the engine lowered in the water) it looks like you should of installed the bracket a bit higher.,.. as it looks like the bracket is only half way extended down rather than fully down...are you absolutely sure that's as far as it drops?. I have a Tohatsu 9.8hp longshaft and the bracket is mounted higher.

I also had fabricated and installed two stainless brackets (triangle shape for my boat) for the outboard bracket to attach to...this was mainly due to the angle of the Folkboats transom which would not allow direct fastening of the OB bracket, but also had the effect of pushing the outboard further out. Maybe you could get squarish / rectangular one mades, and have it designed to hold the OB bracket a bit higher...just an idea.

I am happy with the bracket and how it works, it is solid and does the job safely, it more than adequate for our size outboards. However I need to brace / beef up the transom as there is some flex ... the backing pad I put onto brace the transom is not big enough.

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FabulousPhill said..
Remote controls for throttle and gear selection. $250 installed?
Apart from that, put the motor in a well.

That was my experience in a Compass28/ Northerner28.
I can add photos after work. groups.google.com/forum/m/#!search/Installing$20an$20outboard$20/compass-yacht-group/4U5qWlntOoo

What boat is it you have?

Remotes installed and work well.

Well is not viable in my Hull shape and cost would be enormous.

Boat is Koala 24 (Peter Joubert design originally to 1/4 ton IOR)

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Insomniac said..
I installed the same OB bracket on my Folkboat. Unfortunately working out where exactly to locate the bracket, only seems obvious after the installation...its tricky, and usually involves some compromise.

Looking at you photo (with the the engine lowered in the water) it looks like you should of installed the bracket a bit higher.,.. as it looks like the bracket is only half way extended down rather than fully down...are you absolutely sure that's as far as it drops?. I have a Tohatsu 9.8hp longshaft and the bracket is mounted higher.

I also had fabricated and installed two stainless brackets (triangle shape for my boat) for the outboard bracket to attach to...this was mainly due to the angle of the Folkboats transom which would not allow direct fastening of the OB bracket, but also had the effect of pushing the outboard further out. Maybe you could get squarish / rectangular one mades, and have it designed to hold the OB bracket a bit higher...just an idea.

I am happy with the bracket and how it works, it is solid and does the job safely, it more than adequate for our size outboards. However I need to brace / beef up the transom as there is some flex ... the backing pad I put onto brace the transom is not big enough.

Motor is fully down as you can see handle of notched bar next to engine mount handle.

Yes, fabricating a stand-off bracket is worthy of thought. This would give more room for operating the bracket and also allow full tilt of the motor lower down

The problem is not so much the bracket, but rather the overall geometry of the boat and motor. Looks like the best situation would be with an ultra-long shaft outboard with forward controls. Tohatsu used to make one, but I am not sure if they are still available.
Getting rid of the "princess" seat would also make access easier.
Is there an existing inboard, or at least shaft and stern-tube?

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Yara said..
The problem is not so much the bracket, but rather the overall geometry of the boat and motor. Looks like the best situation would be with an ultra-long shaft outboard with forward controls. Tohatsu used to make one, but I am not sure if they are still available.
Getting rid of the "princess" seat would also make access easier.
Is there an existing inboard, or at least shaft and stern-tube?

No, there are really only two problems. The flimsiness of the existing bracket and the fact it is too close to the transom and difficult to operate. The engagement of the motor with the water is fine and I have forward controls. I mostly sail (race) single handed and the "princess" seat (hadn't heard that term before) is a great spot to keep occasional guests out of the way.

No inboard although engine beds were part of construction but the cost of fitting and inboard and all that goes with it is way out of the budget.