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Is it okay to use thrust brackets on the bottom of the transoms? Like the ones from http://www.btmco.com/Thrust_Brackets.html? Does it work to make a thrust bracket out of an extra piece of plywood and glue/screw it to the transom?
Hi Ben,
Some people do use the Brown Manufacturing thrust brackets. Because I did not carve out my transom my motor sits very close to the bottom of the transom and I would not have room for the Brown bracket. I almost punched a hole in the transom when I first started running the boat, so I made a 1/4 inch aluminum plate to protect the hull. I guess it serves the same purpose as the thrust bracket. It really takes a beating, so I am not too sure that plywood would hold up sufficiently.
Hi Ben, welcome to the CCWBRA! Rich Faulkner and I actually worked with Alan Brown several years ago to get him to build some CCWBRA specific stuff. We gave him a boat and the pre-1979 and post-1979 OMC motors so he could spec out the thrust brackets. I’ve run it on HotToddy for the past 5 years and like it a lot. It allows me to get the angle of the lower unit exactly where I want it without hitting the transom, and I feel it maximizes thrust in races.
The key, though, is that you also need the aluminum pivot piece installed on the motor’s lower unit to have a smooth, full turning motor. I just noticed in the photos on the btmco.com site that you can’t see it, but Alan Brown should be able to machine it for any OMC motor you have. And Rich or I should soon be dropping off a new Tohatsu 6hp 4stroke to Brown so he can machine pivots for the Tohatsu. (BTW, that is the HotToddy and my 8hp Evinrude in the photos, so I should be getting royalties!)
I also like it as I don’t through bolt the motor to the transom in races, rather I tie the lower unit to the transom with a line through two eyebolts in the transom…I don’t like through hulls in a cocktail boat!
I’m not sure too many other guys use the thrust bracket, maybe thinking of added weight, although I don’t believe that makes any difference.
Feel free to reach out to me directly with any questions. I’ve been racing since 2010, built the HotToddy from plans, and race a lot. I’m not a much of motor mechanic, but can help with steering, race thoughts, boat setup, etc. We split time between FL and MD, so I’m not near my racer now, or I would send you pics of the bracket/pivot.
Todd Steffes
Commodore Emeritus
610-306-0026
Thanks for the reply Todd. Really appreciate it. We’re having a hard time finding motors here in Texas so we’re thinking we’re going to get the Tohatsu 6hp 4strokes, but we’re a little worried because we’re all big guys – 240lbs to 290lbs. Will the 6hp be fast enough or should we start looking for 2 stroke 8hp motors (I’m told the 4stroke 8hp motors are too heavy)? Back to the Transom thrust bracket question, I guess we just need to wait and see how much spacing we have between the motor and transom; then get something manufactured that fits? What’s the “aluminum pivot piece” installed on the motor’s lower unit, you mentioned? Is this something we need to add to the new Tohatsu motors? If you have a picture or somewhere that shows what it is, that’d be great. We’re a little new to boating and this whole experience with outboards, but we can’t wait to start racing.
Thanks,
Ben
I’ll see if Rich Faulkner can send a pic of the pivot piece from one of his OMCs. Unless Alan Brown has access to a Tohatsu, I don’t think we would have one available yet. As for location, is sits just above the cavitation plate on the front of the lower unit and i perfectly rounded so it pivots smoothly throughout the turn in the white plastic piece on the thrust bracket.
See my answers to your 6hp vs 8hp question on the forum. But, I would say yes on the Tohatsu 4 stroke 6hp, then definitely look for 8hp 2 strokes as well.
Ben,
Ditto Todd’s comments on the 6hp Tohatsu. You won’t have any trouble getting on plane and once on plane you will get plenty of speed out of the motor.
Per Fred’s comments, I reinforced my transom with a 1/4″ aluminum plate. I spoke with Fred about this before my build and decided to not carve out my transom, so I have the full depth of the transom plus the aluminum plate. So far no cracking after 4 years of CCWBRA racing. Here is photo that was just after finishing the build and before I tried to punch a hole in the transom when shaking the boat down with Fred Allerton, Tom Kerr and Steve Brendlinger! After shakedown I added a 1/4″ aluminum thrust plate and sawed off the forward part of the upper cavitation plate.
Ben,
I don’t use a Thrust Bracket but I may be the closest person with a race ready boat. I live in Memphis but I boat on the Tennessee River. We are considering a race in September, or at least a gathering. Take a look at Pickwick Lake, TN and let me know if you are interested. We have two boats committed and a very strong possibility of a third (TK finish your Boat). Others have shown interest and this is without any advertising of the event.
I have 8 motors and I’m willing to share if that is an issue.
Chris Norman
Regional Fleet Captain (a lot of States, very few Boats)
BTW I race in the Heavy Class
Hi Chris,
Yeah, my in-laws live in Memphis. We’d be happy to come join you guys in a race. I bet we could even get all four of us from Wylie to come. Our clc boat kits don’t ship until March 28th. We have a goal to have them built by July 4th but we’re really not sure how long they will take for us to build.
I did find an engine for mine already. I bought a 1985 Evinrude 2 stroke 8hp motor. It’s in pretty good shape but I want to replace the impeller before I try firing it up. Forrest King found a Suzuki 2 stroke 8hp motor. He started his up and it ran great. We’re all big guys so we’ll be racing in the heavy class too. We’re trying our best to find 2 stroke 8hp motors.
We’ll try to be race ready before September. Keep us posted if you do set up an event. I have kids in school so it’ll be hard to find time off in September but we’ll see if we can make it work. Do keep us posted.
Thanks,
Ben
September race in Memphis? I’m in. I also have a child in school, but weekends are free except Sept 21/22. I think we will have our boats built by July 4th, but I’m not sure how competitive we may be for a Sep race. We might be those guys who just show up and eat bbq and try to keep up…
Chris, Pickwick Lake Race sounds fantastic… Team Walker is pretty much on schedule and plan on our first race to be the Nationals … I’ll be in contact with you and any help I can do on my end please let me know … TK
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