[Rhodes22-list] Reply to Mark Putnam about Motor Mounts

Tue Nov 7 08:52:34 EST 2006

Mark,

Take a few pictures to a rig guru or repair facility in the DC area, maybe in Annapolis, and see if they have any experience or ideas.  Stan has top mounted hardware for linkage, hence easier access for adjusting from within the boat.  A linking arm should be possible which would attach at the bottom frame at the back of the motor rather at the top of the cowling.  More difficult to reach but more sturdy.  

Ed's ref to backing plates might be food for thought for anyone, especially those with the rudder/motor linkage - are you totally confident about the connection of rudder to transom?  I think I will fortify mine with an aluminum backing plate if I add a connection arm to the motor.  What is the cost of a cautious approach?

Art

-----Original Message-----
>From: mputnam1 at aol.com
>Sent: Nov 7, 2006 8:29 AM
>To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
>Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Reply to Mark Putnam about Motor Mounts
>
>Ed,
> 
>This is a good story and a good lesson ... I won't make the same mistake now.  Thank you for passing it along ...
> 
>I'm not worried about my engine falling into the deep ... I just like my tiller-engine linkage and don't want to have to deal with repairing a cowling that's been snapped off the engine because of the torque of everyday use.  I'd guess the addition of the linkage has voided some portion of the engine warranty, which is fine with me ... but if I could figure out how to put additional "clips" (or some other type of securing devices) around the perimeter of the cowling, I'd be happier ... that's all.  I'd be even happier if I could figure out how to do it without having to pull the engine off the boat (that's currently in the water), I'd be even happier.
> 
>- Mark
> 
> 
>-----Original Message-----
>From: ekroposki at charter.net
>To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
>Sent: Tue, 7 Nov 2006 7:58 AM
>Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Reply to Mark Putnam about Motor Mounts
>
>
>
>Mark:
>
>
>    The issue I ran into was a broken motor mount.  This is the second time I
>have experienced this.  The first time was on my Rhodes 22.  There, the
>solid back plate cracked and bent.  I was going to replace it with a piece
>of oak.  Solid wood was used on Stan?s earliest versions of his motor
>mounts.  
>
>    My motor mount was an early version and not the current model made.  At
>Stan?s recommendation I went to the plant with my broken piece and found a
>matching piece from a boat just brought in for recycle.  Stan emphasized
>?plastic? was the best material.
>
>    The problem that occurred Sunday was not on my Rhodes.  In the rebuilding
>process of my project boat, it was recommended by my cadre of experts to
>replace the backing plate of the motor mount.  After discussing what to
>replace it with, it was thought that multilayered plywood with the ends
>sealed would work.  I just happened to have a piece of plywood truss (2 1/2"
>thick) the right size.  I fully coated the whole thing and the ends twice
>with epoxy, then painted.
>
>    Wood truss is not equivalent to wood.  If you are building or buying a new
>house do not accept construction with this new truss material.  While rigid
>it is strong, but obviously cannot take any bending or flexing.
>
>    After backing out of my slip and shifting to forward, the board snapped. 
>It was a 95 % clean break.  I have my motor attached with a security cable. 
>The security cable is a big fat super strength affair.  It kept the motor
>and broken mount from falling into the water.  
>
>    In summary, if you ever have to replace your motor backing plate on your
>Rhodes, order the replacement from Stan.  If you have to create a backing
>plate for another brand, do not use wood.  Use HDPE or similar plastic type
>material.  And consider as Captain Rummy does, fabricating an additional
>metal backing layer for strength.
>
>    Mark, quit worrying about things breaking and exceeding the torque.  Those
>things will happen, so what?    When such events occur, you learn to deal
>with the challenge.  It does not take a college degree to learn to deal with
>adversity. 
>
>    Even if you were out on the water and the motor fell into the deep, I
>believe that even you would find it in yourself to sail back to shore. 
>Maybe even scull your way into your slip.    
>
>Ed K
>Greenville, SC, USA
>Addendum:  ?Any damn fool can circumnavigate the world sober.  It takes a
>really good sailor to do it drunk.?  And this was not said by Captain Rummy,
>but Sir Francis Chichester while loading his boat with gin.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>mputnam1 wrote:
>> 
>> And I'm predicting he never will ... because then the story would be in
>> the archives for all time.  Ed would no longer feel free to bark out his
>> all-purpose "go look in the archives" for fear some new member might
>> actually stumble upon it ...   :-)
>>  
>> - Mark 
>>  
>>  
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: R22RumRunner at aol.com
>> To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
>> Sent: Mon, 6 Nov 2006 11:34 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Elle's Motor Issues - ask Captain Crawford
>> 
>> 
>> Yes, but Ed still hasn't fessed up about his weekend experience. 
>>  
>> Rummy
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>> 
>
>-- 
>View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/Elle%27s-Motor-Issues-tf2579321.html#a7217863
>Sent from the Rhodes22 mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
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