How to reinforce dive plate?

[Speedfreak95]

I have an extension and dive plate on the back of my boat and I'm getting a little playnof it it. I'm going to re tighten the bolts and want to put another type of bracket to infringe the dive plate so they are more sturdy any ideas? Also is there a plastic or something I can put in the lip of the plate since it is bent steel basically the lip seems to be like an anchor and catches water making the bow raise. If I could direct the flow down feel like the boat would plane better

[mshugg]

The best way to direct water flow down would be to add trim tabs.  Almost every bracket made has the lip, and it doesn't cause problems.  Are you certain that your bracket is mounted at the correct height?

As for the play, what is causing it?  Have the bolts backed off?  Started to pull through the transom?  Is the transom getting soft?  A motor on a bracket has a long lever arm, so it exerts a lot of force.  The only truly safe repair would be to identify the problem and correct it.

[Capt. Bob]

Agree with MS.

If you're going to run a bracket on that hull, trim tabs will allow you to get the most benefit from it. Also, as he stated, running a bracket successfully requires that it be installed and set up properly.

PS... what is meant by "dive plate"?

[Blue Agave]

If you are having problems planing off the issue is more than likely the propeller. If anything the bracket and dive platform should force the bow down when planing off.  What are your top RPMS at wide open throttle?  Is the motor mounted at the proper height?  If so the cavitation / ventilation plate should be visible when on plane.  Does the boat porpoise?

[Speedfreak95]

As far as the install I bought the boat with everything done to it. I've had 2 mechanics look over it and they've told me the bolts have just became loose to re tighten them and my transome is rock solid. I also have an aluminum plate on the inside of the transom. After I tighten all the bolts I wanted to add another bracket from hull too dive plate to give a little more support. (Sorry if my terminology is a little incorrect)

[wingtime]

That bracket/dive platform should be plenty strong on it's own if it's installed properly.  I would assume it should have about 20 bolts holding it to the transom.  The platform and bolts should be sealed to the transom with 5200, then a bead of 4000UV around the entire platform.  The bolts should have locking nuts on them to prevent them from loosening up.

[Speedfreak95]

Honestly the plates are connected to the extension by 4 bolts and 4 bolts to the transom it's a 3 piece platform. Thanks for the info got to fix a few things and I will remove platforms reseal and tighten bolts. Should I hand tighten them or any idea of a torq spec so I don't over tighten and mess up the transom?

[mshugg]

I had a proline with a similar arrangement, a bracket with separate bolt on swim platforms.  It was solid.  If your transom is in good shape, you shouldn't need to worry about damaging your transom.

Standard practice would be to use 5200 to seal around bolts and bed the platforms.  Snug everything up, but do not completly tighten.  Wait 24 hours to allow the 5200 to cure and create gaskets.  Then go back ighten every bolt completly.

[Levi]

Motor looks WAY low cavitation plate should be about 3 inches above the bottom of the hull as a good starting point go up from there until it blows out too much and then drop it an inch it will be a totally different boat once you get the motor height right right now you're pushing too much water with the motor's foot.

[Speedfreak95]

Levi I noticed this myself but never wanted to tackle it until I got my house. Gonna have a buddy come over with an engine hoist this week. Do I need to put 5200 to mount? Or since it's on the engine bracket I'll be fine without it

[Blue Agave]

Do not use 5200, use 3M 4000

[Levi]

Try raising it up a few holes on the motor mount. Also my bracket has two sets of bolt holes so don't go pulling bracket off yet if yours has two sets of holes you should be able to get about 5" of lift.
Best way to raise the motor without an engine hoist:
1)Support the lower unit skeg on a floor jack.
2) Remove the top two motor mount bolts on the bracket.
3) Loosen the bottom two motor mount bolts until you get some wiggle room but don't go crazy.
4)Jack up the floor jack and line it up with a higher set of holes and reinstall the bolts
5) Retorque the bolts