I see the advantages for installing the mount vs just hanging the motor on the transom, so I'll buy it from Catalina Direct for $100. Seems like it would be nice to have a boarding ladder on the other side also. Now my dilemma is that on the version 1 the transom which I'm told is hollow. Another chat mentioned installing a 5" inspection port in the floor that would give access for injecting a filler material to fill the void. Then I could through bolt the accessories properly. Anybody have input on that?
Also will duplicate the battery and power feed setup that you have. The Odyssey PC 680 is a tiny lightweight. How did you fish the cable from front to back under the seat? Was it easy to snag it through the little opening made for the plug?
And have you ever capsized with the motor attached? This boat can be a bit tender in gusty winds, so I'm a bit paranoid about that.
It was so much better with the mount than when I previously just mounted on the transom. When I drilled there was definitely a blocking material in there on the motor side of my boat. I later installed a ladder on the other side.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GDB3PHA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_UpvGyb7CA674D
I did need to put an access port on that side for the install because the ladder actually attaches at the bottom of the transom just through the outer shell of the hull. I've seen access ports added on the top of the seat but I put mine on the vertical surface where your heels would be if your feet are flat on the floor. I used a 6" port and it was perfect.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I0I412C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_WnvGybVN3PRP6
I used a piece of plastic cutting board again as a way to spread to load from the ladder bolts on the inside of the hull. A piece of pvc house trim would work too.
For the wiring I think I fished a piece of rigid wire or 1/4" pex through the hole and towards the bow. Reaching through the cuddy I was able to grab it, tape the wire to it and pull it back through.
Never capsized with the motor but I would recommend some sort of tether in case the motor was to come loose. I know someone who dropped their electric motor off their mount and into 10' of water. He got it back a while later and dried it out. Apparently it still worked fine.
Caution about the use of plastic cutting board for the doubler.
Most plastic cutting boards will crack apart under compression of a bolt. The bolt and washer will tend to make the plastic deform, stretching the hole. Then its just a matter of time before it breaks apart. Suddenly the motor or ladder mount has no support and the blots slide back , sawing the holes open. (maybe a little... maybe a lot)
Inspect the doubler on a regular basis. You should be able to see cracking before it fails.
Awesome, thanks for your help! Let me pick your brain a bit more........
1. So my version 1 is hollow between outer and inner skins. Need to find out how and what to inject to fill the void. And would need to attach the ladder first.
2. I'm about 185 lbs and in pretty good shape for a 63 year old. Is it fairly easy to board using that ladder? In addition to being a great feature for recovery after capsizing, it also would be nice to jump in on a hot light air day to keep cool!
3. After my first 3 outings last October I can say that the Capri is a fast boat but also requires vigilance with the helm and weight shifting on gusty days. As an experianced sailor I will not be afraid to go out because it's too windy. Will be 90% singlehanding and I predict there will be a day when I capsize. To deal with this situation I plan on:
a. Roller furling/reef points to adjust sail area as needed.
b. Make sure the air space inside the mast is sealed so it will float and help avoid turtling.
c. Likewise install that float device (I forget the name of it) on the head of the mast.
4. And just for grins I will contact the Minnkota manufacturer and see what they say about immersion of the motor.
5. The battery manufacturer sells an inline circuit breaker to protect the motor in case the prop jammed. Hopefully also would help if there was immersion of the system.
Thanks!
What about storing the battery & electric trolling motor in the cubby & just take them out when the winds die?I see the advantages for installing the mount vs just hanging the motor on the transom, so I'll buy it from Catalina Direct for $100. Seems like it would be nice to have a boarding ladder on the other side also. Now my dilemma is that on the version 1 the transom which I'm told is hollow. Another chat mentioned installing a 5" inspection port in the floor that would give access for injecting a filler material to fill the void. Then I could through bolt the accessories properly. Anybody have input on that?
Also will duplicate the battery and power feed setup that you have. The Odyssey PC 680 is a tiny lightweight. How did you fish the cable from front to back under the seat? Was it easy to snag it through the little opening made for the plug?
And have you ever capsized with the motor attached? This boat can be a bit tender in gusty winds, so I'm a bit paranoid about that.
So let's say you keep your battery in the cuddy and the boat capsizes? A 25 or 30 pounder would be like a loose cannon! My 1986 Mod 1 has a pair of wood upright supports between deck and hull which I plan on using to secure the sealed box I will build. I decided to trade off extra running time in favor of lighter weight.
Advantages are:
1. Easier to build an enclosure that will assure nothing breaks loose in the event of a tipover. The 680 weighs 15 lb, the next size up is 26 lb, don't know how well an upright would like that resting on it.
2. Easier to lug it around and set it in the box.
How much does your battery weigh? How did it behave when you went over?
Ok, I've been reading about paddle drills. You know, battery powered hand drills. I've watched some vids on YouTube about them. Demos show pushing around rubber rafts, canoes, kayaks, aluminum fishing boats, a 2 person paddle boat. Depending upon which boat, (water resistant) the weight of the boat, etc. You may get around 30 minutes of power per battery. Walmart online sells the prop assembly. (Course you use your own drill & Battery) Sells for around $34. Sure would be cheaper than an electric trolling motor & a heavy marine battery. Anyone tried this method? Check out some YouTube vids & Google some reviews. Sure would be nice to propel a Catalina 14.2 off the water when it becomes windless!
I'm going to give the battery powered hand drill with the prop attachment sold on EBay a try first. But it's cheaper at Wal-Mart for $34.00. I'll keep 2 battery packs in the boat. I'll keep 2 each, 56" paddles @ $20.00 a pair delivered on EBay. A couple of YouTube vids pushing a rubber raft, canoes, & kayaks with no problem. Given the cost of an electric trolling motor, marine batty, motor mount, the weight, hassle of putting the equipment & taking it out of the boat. It's worth a try. Check out some vids on YouTube of this drill prop.I think the issue would be removing/replacing motor off the mount and storing it while underway. As a singlehander it's hard enough to do all the boathandling work on this tender little boat as it is. Under dicey conditions I could end up in the drink along with the motor!
There are plenty of discussions on motor mounts, but I just thought I would add this one since I just installed my motor mount yesterday. The various other threads were helpful as I decided how I would go about the task. Previously I had been simply mounting the motor on the transom, but as others have found, there is interference with the running rigging. I reversed both brackets to allow me to move the mount a little further from the rudder. This eliminated the rudder contact, and I still had room on the mount to fit the Minn Kota. I believe turning both brackets inward can sometimes be too tight for some larger motors/engines. I used all six mounting holes to spread the load as much as I could, and added a square of white plastic as a spacer on the outside for the same reason. This was basically made from a white kitchen cutting board that's about 1/2" thick. I discovered that I do have blocking within the transom of this boat. As you can see, I previously installed a power socket close to the motor. My battery sits inside the cuddy.
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