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Author Topic:   Engine Mounting 13-foot Whaler

greg7445 posted 01-15-2004 09:01 PM ET (US)
Need some help mounting my new 40-HP Mercury on my 1973 13-foot Whaler. My old motor was a Mercury 50--way too big for the boat. The new holes don't line up with the old holes. I'm just looking for some ideas. Thanks, greg
adaps4 posted 01-15-2004 10:54 PM ET (US)
Bob's Machine shop jack plate. You should be able to use some of the holes, and patch the others- Motor will mount to plate no problem.
Bigshot posted 01-16-2004 11:42 AM ET (US)
Old 50 have turn screws? If so fill the holes and redrill or use a jack plate.
greg7445 posted 01-16-2004 10:55 PM ET (US)
My old Merc has four screws that go through and turn screws that mount to the inside of the transom, but don't go through. I want to be able to mount my new motor with out drilling new holes. If a jack plate will work-that's great. I just don't know which one to get. There is so many models. My new motor has power tilt and trim, so I don't think that I need a hydraulic jack plate. I see manual ones, but I don't know how or if the holes line up? Do I need to drill new holes? I really don't want to! Please help!!!
jimh posted 01-17-2004 12:25 PM ET (US)
Modern outboard motors are made with mounting holes that conform to a standard layout. If you have a transom that has been drilled with a non-standard hole layout, I recommend you fill the old holes and drill new holes in compliance with the standard engine mounting template that was provided with your new motor.
I don't understand your description of the mounting arrangement of the older engine. It was common for older outboards to be fastened to the transom using a clamp arrangement in contrast to the now-standard technique of through bolting the engine to the transom.
To repair the old holes, you should use plywood filler plugs, not dowel rods, tapped into the existing holes and perhaps glued in place, too. The plug length should allow room on each side for filling in the hole with some thickened resin/mat mixture. Finish off the holes with a top coat of color-matched gel coat.
On some older Boston Whaler hulls the transom was designed for a 15-inch shaft length motor. This makes installation of modern 20-inch shaft engines more difficult. If you have this additional problem you should research for articles discussing this; there have been a number of them that will provide you with good advice.

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Author	Topic: Engine Mounting 13-foot Whaler
greg7445	posted 01-15-2004 09:01 PM ET (US) Need some help mounting my new 40-HP Mercury on my 1973 13-foot Whaler. My old motor was a Mercury 50--way too big for the boat. The new holes don't line up with the old holes. I'm just looking for some ideas. Thanks, greg
adaps4	posted 01-15-2004 10:54 PM ET (US) Bob's Machine shop jack plate. You should be able to use some of the holes, and patch the others- Motor will mount to plate no problem.
Bigshot	posted 01-16-2004 11:42 AM ET (US) Old 50 have turn screws? If so fill the holes and redrill or use a jack plate.
greg7445	posted 01-16-2004 10:55 PM ET (US) My old Merc has four screws that go through and turn screws that mount to the inside of the transom, but don't go through. I want to be able to mount my new motor with out drilling new holes. If a jack plate will work-that's great. I just don't know which one to get. There is so many models. My new motor has power tilt and trim, so I don't think that I need a hydraulic jack plate. I see manual ones, but I don't know how or if the holes line up? Do I need to drill new holes? I really don't want to! Please help!!!
jimh	posted 01-17-2004 12:25 PM ET (US) Modern outboard motors are made with mounting holes that conform to a standard layout. If you have a transom that has been drilled with a non-standard hole layout, I recommend you fill the old holes and drill new holes in compliance with the standard engine mounting template that was provided with your new motor. I don't understand your description of the mounting arrangement of the older engine. It was common for older outboards to be fastened to the transom using a clamp arrangement in contrast to the now-standard technique of through bolting the engine to the transom. To repair the old holes, you should use plywood filler plugs, not dowel rods, tapped into the existing holes and perhaps glued in place, too. The plug length should allow room on each side for filling in the hole with some thickened resin/mat mixture. Finish off the holes with a top coat of color-matched gel coat. On some older Boston Whaler hulls the transom was designed for a 15-inch shaft length motor. This makes installation of modern 20-inch shaft engines more difficult. If you have this additional problem you should research for articles discussing this; there have been a number of them that will provide you with good advice.