Replacing outboard bracket pad?

Murv

Murv

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And it's approximately 35mm wide.

But marine ply is only available in 18mm thickness from what I can make out. Is it simply a case of mounting 2 pieces back to back and if so, would they need to be glued or sealed together? just thinking that water will stay tapped between the two pieces and accelerate rot? or, am I just thinking about it too much?

Or, is there a better material to use?
 
Yes, you need to glue two pieces of 18mm ply together, but at least it means its easier to do the counterbores for the bolt heads in one and the clearance holes in the other before you glue them. Bearing in mid that these pads do rot, it doesn't demand best quality ply but should ideally have epoxy coating to protect it. Might as well make two while you're doing it and have a spare ready!

Rob.
 
I did as suggested above. I glued two pieces of ply together . Holes bored and counter bored as suggested too

I varnish it from time to time to keep the water out of it. I tie a bucket over it in the winter to keep the winter weather from it.

I made it ages ago, 20+ years probably, and still as good as new but if I were to make another tomorrow it would be from solid teak ( old laboratory bench top) because that is what I have to hand

Take the opportunity to adjust the size if appropriate .. the reason I made the new board was to make it a little larger.
 
A nice piece of hardwood will do the job.

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You do not need to sink the heads in as long as there is clearance for the engine bracket. This leaves less routes for water ingress. Allso you can get away with thinner timber.

I sealed the top end grain of this one with tape and epoxy.

Really hurt when I clamped the engine to it!
 
Nigel_Ward said:
A nice piece of hardwood will do the job.

ResizeofKIF_0485.jpg


You do not need to sink the heads in as long as there is clearance for the engine bracket. This leaves less routes for water ingress. Allso you can get away with thinner timber.

I sealed the top end grain of this one with tape and epoxy.

Really hurt when I clamped the engine to it!
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That is a beautiful piece of timber, and I think that if I had a piece that nice and actually had to use my outboard in anger, I'd end up just holding the motor in the water rather than risk damaging the finish on the wood :D
Nope, much as I love my '68 Seagull, I think that ply is more than good enough for it :D
 
rob2 said:
Yes, you need to glue two pieces of 18mm ply together, but at least it means its easier to do the counterbores for the bolt heads in one and the clearance holes in the other before you glue them. Bearing in mid that these pads do rot, it doesn't demand best quality ply but should ideally have epoxy coating to protect it. Might as well make two while you're doing it and have a spare ready!

Rob.
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duncan99210 said:
I have a bracket made from a bit of 18mm ply found on a building site (been used for concrete shuttering). Slathered it with loads of coats of varnish and it's holding up just fine at the moment - no sign of deterioration so far. I'll put a bit more varnish on it before we sail in the spring.
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Chaps, can I just clarify here, I was assuming I'd need a marine ply but does that mean that I can just use external ply if it's slathered in epoxy?
I have no objection to using marine ply if needed but it's obviously very pricey in comparison.
 
Murv said:
Chaps, can I just clarify here, I was assuming I'd need a marine ply but does that mean that I can just use external ply if it's slathered in epoxy?
I have no objection to using marine ply if needed but it's obviously very pricey in comparison.
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Exterior ply should be adequate. It uses the same adhesive as marine ply but the specs for the plies, voids etc is not so strict.

Some exterior ply is rubbish ...... the original box on my camping trailer was fine. The larger one I made from cheap exterior ply is delaminating

My dinghy is exterior ply and thats now over 30 years old



Dunno what the stuff I used for the outboard bracket is. Its a bit I picked up off the wood pile at the boat yard. I figured if it had been lying there for a couple of years and looked OK it would be OK
 
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Yeah, just go for it! It'll be a doddle. Of course, even poor exterior ply will last a good time if it's sealed with epoxy, but may be weaker than some good stuff. On the other hand, the original is probably specced to way beyond your actual needs and you really should have a lanyard on the engine - I tie mine onto the pushpit rail, just in case.

Rob.
 
Bobobolinsky said:
Thickened epoxy, glue up two pieces of 18mm
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Yes, but I'd sand the gluing faces first in case there's any release agent on them and paint them with thinned epoxy 5 minutes before applying the thickened epoxy to make sure it soaks into the gluing faces. Probably not absolutely necessary but safer...

Boo2
 
Outboard bracket board

Yes I have been there and replaced mine in my case with 2 pieces of wood bolted and glued together.
Just remember the epoxy will deteriorate in the sun. In my case it went milky white and powdery. Not ea real problem except for the purists who like a nice looking boat. (well I like it I always just don't achieve it)
olewill
 
Watch out for "exterior" or WBP ply when you buy a piece. I went through 9 half-sheets before I found one that hadn't de-laminated somewhere significant. Some were obvious round the edges, on some the void was in the centre but so big you could make it "slap" by shaking it. Even the one I carefully selected had a void in it. I bought it from a timber merchant as nothing at my local B&Q or Wickes was good enough, although they did quarter sheets, which would have done my job nicely. I epoxied hardwood strips round the edges and treated the finished article with three coats of Sadolin It's coming off this winter (five years on) for a rub down and re-coat.
 
Why not use plastic chopping board and glue/bolt two bits together to give a suitable thickness.
Cheap as chips and will not rot. Comes in a selection of colours too. The O/B clamps will not damage the varnish either.............;)
 
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