Hi Guys,
I'm having a few issues with parts compatibility.
The Stainless Marine stand-off bracket has a flange across the top which is hitting the Seastar front mount helm cylinder. The only way I can see this working is to have a local machine shop cut around 1 in off the top of the bracket. This should give the clearance I need.
It's easier to see what I mean in the pics below. I've put a line across where they'd cut - roughly in line with the bottom of the empty bolt holes.
This will also allow me to straighten up the power trim pipework and leave enough room to run the jack plate hydraulic hoses - both of which go under the cylinder.
Question is whether I'm going to significantly weaken the bracket by doing this? It's a pretty heavy duty item and would still have a lot of material left.
In an ideal world I'd actually like to drop the engine by one more hole but can't see there being enough clearance for the steering if I do this.
The alternative is to switch to side mount steering but I'm reluctant to spend another chunk of cash if it can be avoided!
Any advice appreciated.
In terms of mounting height, I am currently setup with the prop shaft around 3/4 of an inch above the hulls. If I could come down one more bolt hole then the propshaft would be parallel with jack plate all the way down.
Skaters etc of similar size are setup with propshaft around 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 inch above the hull bottom. They're obviously lighter and slightly more top speed orientated. Unfortunately there is very little setup info around for this hull so I'm having to compare to anything else single engined of similar size.
The jack has 5in of travel so going up is not a problem, more a question of being low enough to give good holeshot and handling in rougher waters.
Oh and in case you're wondering, it's a Ringcat 22.
James
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