Transom Pod or hull extension whats best?

[jswd32]

Hi All,

I have finally found someone who can close off the transom on my 250XF and design a transom extension pod, but he has given me two options!

The first is a traditional pod with swim platform assembly that can be bolted on. The 2nd is to extend the hull from the keel outwards. He's going to build in a door through the transom, which I like.

I'm looking to hang a Suzuki 250 fourstroke on it and I know there are benefits of additional flotation, but not sure which option would be best.

His aim is to make it look like it cam out of the factory like this, which I'm excited by.

TIA

Jonathon

[jswd32]

Anyone?

[dbiscayne]

How much $$$ do you want to spend? If thats not influencing the decision I'd go with option 2, extension pod, as long as your confident he can build it right, strong enough and looks right.
Using a 'traditional pod' or bolt on pre-fab'd engine bracket takes the work out of not only the fiberglass and paint but also the engineering of the pod.

[RickK]

X2 on the bracket - Armstrong makes flotation brackets that go up to 36" (could be made deeper?)

Edit: The bracket is the easiest but make sure you're not offsetting the designed Center of Gravity and extending the hull does the same thing.

[jswd32]

Hi dbiscayne & RickK,

As I am over the pond in the UK where no one makes Transom pods off the shelf, bespoke is the only option. I had a quote of $3200 for shipping on top of the purchase price of $3800 for a transom pod. That was also before Tax @20% & 3.5% import duty on top.

The guy has designed his own speedboats, worked in R&D design team for Princess boats & built rescue boats for Danish Sea Rescue.  He said loves American boats as they build better hulls for use in the Atlantic! Something to do with the type of ground swell. I am in Cornwall which is the closest part of the UK to America and am right on the Atlantic.

He is fully aware of not upsetting the hulls centre of gravity as you stated RickK, which is good to know. He thinks it will take a month of his time to build but is estimating circa £4000 ($5020). It would be cheaper he noted to go with a prefab design, but I was really interested in how you guys go about it as you are far ahead of the UK on the whole Extension pod thing. As you can imagine, compared with the cost of Importing just a bolt on pod, this is very attractive.

I did have one further idea, in that if in the future I feel the need for more power than a single Df250, would it be wise and not unsightly to have him engineer the ability to bolt a single outboard at 25" shaft standard position, but then also build 2x additional engine mounts, which are slightly higher to compensate for mounting a 25" as twins? Just thinking of future proofing as it will be a fixed design once made.

Cheers

Jonathon

[jswd32]

Any thoughts?

Thanks

[RickK]

If you want to see a hull that was extended I watched this thread for a couple years. You can learn a lot.
https://forums.iboats.com/threads/hull-extension-in-progress-with-pics.231766/

[jswd32]

Thanks Rick, That's a mega thread but really interesting!