posted 06-02-2009 09:11 AM ET (US)        

I launched my new boat yesterday and found out that the ropes with stainless clips that attach to the bow eyes will hit my tilted-up engine at high tide - potentially cutting the ropes. the problem is the stern eyes are very close to the engine and not spread apart like they were on my 1998 outrage 20.

short of installing a second set of stern eyes I am struggling for ideas. one is to add a stainless spreader bar attached to the two stern eyes between the outboard and the transom to get the connection points farther outboard of the tilted up engine.

if anyone has any other ideas I am all ears.

I presume it is solid material between the transom and rear quarter seat compartments