Armstrong Bracket

[Jaymar]

I have a '95 Adventure 20. Has anyone had any experience with extending the transom mount for the motor by adding an Armstrong Bracket? Did the boat handle any better or worse? Is there any advantages?
Thanks

 

[DennisG01]

A bracket always helps increase performance.

There's going to be more stress on your transom, though (leverage). Be sure your transom is solid... and highly consider adding some interior reinforcing/bracing.

Now... how much slack do you have in your steering cable... shift/throttle cables... battery wires.... etc? Meaning, there may be more work to do than you are originally thinking.

 

[seasick]

It depends to an extent on what motor you hang on the back. The hull was designed for a lightish 2 stroke. Changing over to a 4 stroke may add 100 or more pounds which can push the stern down. A bracket with floatation can offset that extra load. A bracket without flotation will be worse
If you have a 2 stroke (or one of the lighter 4 strokes) and the ride is good today, a bracket will probably have a negative impact on ride and handling

 

[Jaymar]

A bracket always helps increase performance.

There's going to be more stress on your transom, though (leverage). Be sure your transom is solid... and highly consider adding some interior reinforcing/bracing.

Now... how much slack do you have in your steering cable... shift/throttle cables... battery wires.... etc? Meaning, there may be more work to do than you are originally thinking.

I am repowering with a new 225 Mercury 4 stroke and I planned on converting from Teleflex to hydrualic steering anyway. My transom seems to be solid as best as I can tell, no flex, no soft or hollow areas. Thanks for your reply.

It depends to an extent on what motor you hang on the back. The hull was designed for a lightish 2 stroke. Changing over to a 4 stroke may add 100 or more pounds which can push the stern down. A bracket with floatation can offset that extra load. A bracket without flotation will be worse
If you have a 2 stroke (or one of the lighter 4 strokes) and the ride is good today, a bracket will probably have a negative impact on ride and handling

I am repowering from a 200 Mercury 2 stoke to a 225 Mercury 4 stroke. The Armstrong Bracket is a large aluminum bracket with a large hollow floating box in front of the motor that is supposed to be added floatation. A guy on a YouTube video of another CC boat said that this bracket didn't change his performance speed at all or handling, so I'm not sure it's worth the expense and effort. Thanks for your reply.

 

[seasick]

I am repowering with a new 225 Mercury 4 stroke and I planned on converting from Teleflex to hydrualic steering anyway. My transom seems to be solid as best as I can tell, no flex, no soft or hollow areas. Thanks for your reply.

I am repowering from a 200 Mercury 2 stoke to a 225 Mercury 4 stroke. The Armstrong Bracket is a large aluminum bracket with a large hollow floating box in front of the motor that is supposed to be added floatation. A guy on a YouTube video of another CC boat said that this bracket didn't change his performance speed at all or handling, so I'm not sure it's worth the expense and effort. Thanks for your reply.

I am not sure why some )) say that addng a bracket will always improve performance. Maybe I am missing something.
The bracket can add floatation which can help compensate for the extra motor weight. It does that by increasing the wetted surface area, the parts of the hull that are in contact with the water. All else being equal, increasing the wetted area will increase the drag. That can reduce the performance of the hull. If on the other hand your hull without a bracket and with the new motor will sit low in the back and up at the bow, the bracket may help but what it will do is possible make better a situation you created by mounting a heavier motor

 

[DennisG01]

Being further back/off the transom provides more leverage for the mmotor against the hull. Lift is increased to increase both hole shot and also allows the boat to run higher out of the water at speed while the engine still stays in clean water since, although it's slightly higher in relation to where it was on the transom, it still has good water since the water rises as it comes off the transom.

Maybe I shouldn't say "always" - if it's not installed correctly... or someone doesn't take into account rasing the engine... then it wouldn't be better.

Regardless if you think the transom is solid, it still a really, reall good idea to reinforce the transom.

 

[Jaymar]

I am not sure why some )) say that addng a bracket will always improve performance. Maybe I am missing something.
The bracket can add floatation which can help compensate for the extra motor weight. It does that by increasing the wetted surface area, the parts of the hull that are in contact with the water. All else being equal, increasing the wetted area will increase the drag. That can reduce the performance of the hull. If on the other hand your hull without a bracket and with the new motor will sit low in the back and up at the bow, the bracket may help but what it will do is possible make better a situation you created by mounting a heavier motor

Your reply makes sense and confirms what I have seen others say in their reviews on YouTube about this bracket. As best as I can find via Google, and Google never lies, my old 200 2-stroke weighs 406 lbs, and the new 225 4-stroke weighs 475 lbs. It doesn't look like a significant weight gain. Given the data so far, I am inclined to pass on the bracket and just install my new motor. I appreciate you sharing your wisdom and advice regarding this question. Happy Boating.

 

[DennisG01]

To add more info based on real-life experience... I've been on the same hull as mine (same engine) without a bracket and there is noticeable difference. Other's results may vary - but assuming everythig is installed correctly, there should be a general benefit to a bracket.

 

[DennisG01]

A bracket, although it's an extra "wetted surface", would also help with hole shot since it's acting sort of like a trim tab. The wetted surface "drag" would be less influential than the extra lift that's provided.

 

[Sardinia306Canyon]

Your reply makes sense and confirms what I have seen others say in their reviews on YouTube about this bracket. As best as I can find via Google, and Google never lies, my old 200 2-stroke weighs 406 lbs, and the new 225 4-stroke weighs 475 lbs. It doesn't look like a significant weight gain. Given the data so far, I am inclined to pass on the bracket and just install my new motor. I appreciate you sharing your wisdom and advice regarding this question. Happy Boating.

If i where you i would mount the new engine and do some tests as the weight difference is not that much.
Should you wan't to know it exactly and can drop the loaded boat for a hour or two and add the extra weight on the transom, add some 10 lbs more just for a safety margin.
Then verify if and if so how much the transom sinks deeper and if the scuppers are still above the water, if transom sit only a bit deeper and scuppers are above then install first engine only.
If under real life conditions with a loaded boat the extra weight creates serious problems then you can add later the Armstrong floatation bracket, if needed.
You may can shift some heavy gear to the bow area to correct the extra weight on the stern, that usually works well and does the trick inexpensive.

I would consider a bracket only if
Engine can not tilt up totally as cowling is too high, but this matters only for slipped/moored boats
The extra weight make the boat so stern heavy that even with shifting weight the ride quality is shitty and/or ventilation issues may occur, in this case a positive floatation bracket
Chris

 

[Jaymar]

If i where you i would mount the new engine and do some tests as the weight difference is not that much.
Should you wan't to know it exactly and can drop the loaded boat for a hour or two and add the extra weight on the transom, add some 10 lbs more just for a safety margin.
Then verify if and if so how much the transom sinks deeper and if the scuppers are still above the water, if transom sit only a bit deeper and scuppers are above then install first engine only.
If under real life conditions with a loaded boat the extra weight creates serious problems then you can add later the Armstrong floatation bracket, if needed.
You may can shift some heavy gear to the bow area to correct the extra weight on the stern, that usually works well and does the trick inexpensive.

I would consider a bracket only if
Engine can not tilt up totally as cowling is too high, but this matters only for slipped/moored boats
The extra weight make the boat so stern heavy that even with shifting weight the ride quality is shitty and/or ventilation issues may occur, in this case a positive floatation bracket
Chris

I agree about doing some weight test. My latest research shows a 61 lb difference between the two stroke and the new four stroke engine. I appreciate your response. Thanks

 

[Jaymar]

A bracket, although it's an extra "wetted surface", would also help with hole shot since it's acting sort of like a trim tab. The wetted surface "drag" would be less influential than the extra lift that's provided.

I have seen only reviews showing no differnce on the hole shot with a bracket but I will try out the new motor first then I can always add this later. Thanks

 

[Jaymar]

To add more info based on real-life experience... I've been on the same hull as mine (same engine) without a bracket and there is noticeable difference. Other's results may vary - but assuming everythig is installed correctly, there should be a general benefit to a bracket.

I appreciate your advice. thanks