What fasteners for outboard well

[Snowgoose-1]

The outboard well is great but I have nearly had a mainsheet round the propeller and lost some screws and tools also. I have designed a plate which will cover the well with the outboard still in. The plate is about a3 paper size. It needs to be quick release in case I need to get the outboard out quick. I can get my hand in the well reasonably but the plate will be submerged by about 5 inches. The infill will still allow water to circulate ok. Thankyou

 

[William_H]

If it is as I imagine a plate sealing the outboard well near the hull surface with a cut out for the leg to pass through. You will need to have a poor seal so that water can escape from the engine as you say. Presumably the engine intake will be below the plate. So I imagine stainless steel or ali angle metal about 2cm permanently mounted each side of the well. You would drop the plate onto the angles and attach with screws. Self tapper, tapped holes or better Dzus fasteners. (quarter turn to release) Used a lot on aircraft. Perhaps there is a GRP ledge anyway. In which case tapped screw hole is best. Assuming GRP is solid.
Or perhaps pieces of long wood from near the top of the well that are held in place by further angles and a way of tensioning them to hold the plate down. Wedges even? Or just make the plate heavy and rely on gravity. (add lead)
All sorts of options. good luck olewill

 

[Seajet]

Judging by your username, you could have asked me at the Anderson Owners Association ! Please PM me to swap e-mails and chat.

The idea is to remove the engine and stow it when sailing in clear water, and fit a fairing plug so as to give a drag-free hull; I have spare fairing plugs.

People have tried fairing plugs with the engine in, none of them allowed sufficient cooling and I've said before, sailing an A22 with the engine permanently in is like flying a Spitfire with the wheels down '.

Please PM me, Andy.

 

[fredrussell]

I have a boat with an outboard well, and whilst I have yet to lose something down the well I realise it is only a matter of time. When I get round to it, which obviously will be a day or two after something priceless is lost down there, I intend to use some tough nylon 'scrim' netting that can be quickly attached to small hooks mounted around well enclosure.

 

[Seajet]

Whatever one says or does, an engine half lifted onto the cockpit sole out of a well is a damn sight safer place for tools or humans ( let alone weight distribution ) than dangling over the back with a transom bracket ! :ambivalence:

 

[Snowgoose-1]

If it is as I imagine a plate sealing the outboard well near the hull surface with a cut out for the leg to pass through. You will need to have a poor seal so that water can escape from the engine as you say. Presumably the engine intake will be below the plate. So I imagine stainless steel or ali angle metal about 2cm permanently mounted each side of the well. You would drop the plate onto the angles and attach with screws. Self tapper, tapped holes or better Dzus fasteners. (quarter turn to release) Used a lot on aircraft. Perhaps there is a GRP ledge anyway. In which case tapped screw hole is best. Assuming GRP is solid.
Or perhaps pieces of long wood from near the top of the well that are held in place by further angles and a way of tensioning them to hold the plate down. Wedges even? Or just make the plate heavy and rely on gravity. (add lead)
All sorts of options. good luck olewill

Hi olewill

I like your suggestion of quarter turn fasteners. I will have a search to see if I can find them in stainless. Fortunately I do have a ledge that I can easily tap into. Thanks

 

[Snowgoose-1]

Judging by your username, you could have asked me at the Anderson Owners Association ! Please PM me to swap e-mails and chat.

The idea is to remove the engine and stow it when sailing in clear water, and fit a fairing plug so as to give a drag-free hull; I have spare fairing plugs.

People have tried fairing plugs with the engine in, none of them allowed sufficient cooling and I've said before, sailing an A22 with the engine permanently in is like flying a Spitfire with the wheels down '.

Please PM me, Andy.

Hi seajet
it's only a small trailer sailer with no locker that would take an outboard. I Could however use my 2hp motor and hang it on the rail when sailing . It well do 4 knots in flat water. Thanks

 

[Snowgoose-1]

I have a boat with an outboard well, and whilst I have yet to lose something down the well I realise it is only a matter of time. When I get round to it, which obviously will be a day or two after something priceless is lost down there, I intend to use some tough nylon 'scrim' netting that can be quickly attached to small hooks mounted around well enclosure.

Hi Fred
I like the idea of the netting . Why didn't I think of that before when I lost my favourite screwdriver . Last week I managed to lose a halyard bag down there. Thanks

 

[Seajet]

Hi seajet
it's only a small trailer sailer with no locker that would take an outboard. I Could however use my 2hp motor and hang it on the rail when sailing . It well do 4 knots in flat water. Thanks

If she's an Anderson 22 as seems inferred there is at least one, probably two cockpit lockers which will accomodate a standard shaft engine.

'Top Tip' use a rubber car mat to protect the bottom of the locker and a fender to rest the head of the engine on to keep any residual water away from the combustion chamber.