I am mounting a 55 pound riptide with a quick release plate on my 17ft Carolina skiff and was looking for some opinions on the best way to mount it. I am going to have to use a starboard spacer either way but was just curious as to which yall think would be sturdier.
I can mount it with the plate mounted back off of the lip and would probably not have access to the bottom side of the front bolts but could use the isolators if I needed to.
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Or I could mount it like this where I am able to mount the front 2 bolts through the lip and then would have to use the isolators for the back 2.
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17 Carolina Skiff
60 Johnson
Minn Kota requires 1.5" I think it is between the shaft and the rub rail. So measure with the motor deployed. It’s going to be difficult with the way the front deck is uneven. You can use hard rubber spacers between the mount and deck to even out the mount. Careful not to torque down the through bolts too hard and warp bend thru mount crooked as it will be difficult to install and remove the pin.
I would shim it out with treated plywood or starboard to keep it level. That decking on the skiff is thin I would place a 12"x 25" piece of 3/4" treated plywood under the deck and bolt it thru it!
good luck!!
I planned on using starboard to level it out. Thanks for the tip on putting a backer.
17 Carolina Skiff
60 Johnson
Yakker, I went with option #2 above and it’s been working well for 8 years now. If I remember correctly, I believe option 1 would have kept me from being able to put the motor down without hitting the lip on the bow.
I didn’t use any backing, but I did you some large SS washers on the bottom side.
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
Edit: I didn’t see Bayfisher’s reply until I replied. Forgot to mention, I did use a hard rubber spacer also as he suggested. Figured it would work as kind of a shock absorber as well as adding some needed height to the starboard.
I’ve got some scraps of white starboard laying around in my shop, mostly 3/4" & some 1/2". If you need a piece or two, let me know. I’m sure I’ve got something that’ll work for you.
Bob Van Gundy
Marine Designs,Inc.
Custom Aluminum Fabrication
803-727-4069
Well, if it were me, I’d build a mold around that deck area and cast a flat and level fiberglass shim plate. Like this.
Then clean it up and paint it…
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
Showoff!!!
Larry, If I had your skills I would do it that way too… LOL
That really looks nice.
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
FS90 Suzuki