OK, so after many different tests of mounting, over pulpit, then under, then under with a wedge, then maybe remove pulpit, I finally just
kept it simple stupid and went over the top.
To clarify things;
Normal mounting has you angle the motor toward the gunnel. On a CC that keeps it out of your walking path. On a walkaround, generally there is a seat on the foredeck.
The 265 express has a relatively flat foredeck so it is possible to lay the motor straight back. That keeps my walking path to the bow clear.
Tilt angles; The top of pulpit is angled upward slightly. The bottom of the pulpit is severely angled upward. To mount to the bottom, you would have to wedge the motor mount to flatten the angle.
The motor is very long. even a small angle puts the stowed position of the motor head below the base. It hits the deck. Flush to the bottom of pulpit, the drop is about 1" per foot. Not doable...
I flirted with making a plywood/fiberglass wedge and mounting to the bottom of pulpit so the motor is level with the deck. I made a qick template of a wedge to see it in my brain.
The entire mount would have to be farther forward than if mounted over the top of the pulpit. Also the pulpit narrows as you go forward.
Also, mounted below, the entire thing will
hang on the bolts.
I had a rectangular plate made 3/8" aluminum 25.5"x 13" (could simply be 26 x13. I made it 1/2" short to accomodate possibly moving forward under pulpit.)
The part with the motor that hangs out is 13x13.
Eventually I decided to KISS and go over the top where there is much less angle and wedge the motor with washers if necessary.
This was the easiest way to get it done. I was by myself with a 55 pound motor. Having the weigh on top of the pulpit with a knee on it until I clamped it. The nI could wiggle it to the best position and drill down thru plate and pulpit and put a bolt in. 3/8-16 x 3.5" bolts
Mounting on top kept it close enough for the 48" power cable to reach inside the cabin. PERFECT!
I drilled hole for wire thru solid glass in bow, not the cored deck.
I mounted a box with a 60A breaker switch (MRCB). I had exactly enough 6awg left from my winch project to get from the new 36v battery to the box. PERFECT!
I will clearly mark the wire 36Vdc and the winch wire 12Vdc so someone in the future doesn't do something stupid.
Mounted the 36v 100 Ah LiFePO4 and its charger in "the refrigerator space". I moved the Water heater 120v AC power line to the space with a GFCI outlet
2 strap tie downs and a 2x3 across the top for good measure
Did all the setup and software updates with Remote unit and Active Captain and connected to chartplotter GPS1242Plus
I am able to launch and stow as mounted but getting it to latch when stowing is tricky. I may need to add washers to wedge the angle up just a hair
I still need to mount the Shaft stow bracket to the deck. That keeps the thing from wobbling when you are running.
When the motor is stowed, the plate is solid. When the motor is deployed, there is some flex in the aluminum plate. I may add a piece of aluminum L bracket. I'll have to see how it looks on the water, in use.
I will reinstall my Powerwinch300 after sanding and painting it.
I pulled off a lot of extra anchor rode and anchors and chain from the water heater space that I hope I will no longer need.
I have end caps for the railing. Will post pix of how I clean that up.
