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Hey guys....always wondered if there is any discernable difference with respect to speed, fuel efficiency and planing characteristics if you compared two equal boats (same make, model and engine) where the only difference is one has a notch (or cut-out) transom and one has a bracketed transom.
Obviously, the bracket offers better protection if your drifting or anchoring (which I do a lot) but the notch transom allows water that comes over the bow to escape faster and would prbably be more maneuvarable and have a better turning radius than the bracketed transom. What about speed, fuel efficiency and planing characteristics?
__________________ Maycraft 2300 Pilothouse with Honda 225 4-stroke
Obviously, the bracket offers better protection if your drifting or anchoring (which I do a lot) but the notch transom allows water that comes over the bow to escape faster
The 'benefit' of being able to clear water fast with a notch transom doesn't help if you're drifting. In a short chop, if you take a serious wave over the transom, that next one will be there before you can get the engine started to try and get the first one out.
Something to keep in mind if you drift a lot.
My rule #1 when designing my transom was keep the water out of the boat.
All things being the same- it's a center of gravity issue and the boat will need a longer garage. Being a Maycraft with lower dead rise, cavitation will be less a potential problem, as in none.
Scupper issues would be my biggest concern with Maycrafts having any weight put aft with them.
Obviously, the bracket offers better protection if your drifting or anchoring (which I do a lot) but the notch transom allows water that comes over the bow to escape faster
The 'benefit' of being able to clear water fast with a notch transom doesn't help if you're drifting. In a short chop, if you take a serious wave over the transom, that next one will be there before you can get the engine started to try and get the first one out.
Something to keep in mind if you drift a lot.
My rule #1 when designing my transom was keep the water out of the boat.
Ken
Ken, I learned the above-warning the hard way...see pics in my galery for a shot of my old T-Craft that sank while we were drifting for stripers when we took a huge wave over the transom....bilge was overwhelmed and water couldn't exit out before we were under in less than 2 minutes.
I'm guessing that planing speed and fuel efficiency aren't really affected by a bracket, huh?
__________________ Maycraft 2300 Pilothouse with Honda 225 4-stroke
Obviously, the bracket offers better protection if your drifting or anchoring (which I do a lot) but the notch transom allows water that comes over the bow to escape faster
The 'benefit' of being able to clear water fast with a notch transom doesn't help if you're drifting. In a short chop, if you take a serious wave over the transom, that next one will be there before you can get the engine started to try and get the first one out.
Something to keep in mind if you drift a lot.
My rule #1 when designing my transom was keep the water out of the boat.
Ken
Ken, I learned the above-warning the hard way...see pics in my galery for a shot of my old T-Craft that sank while we were drifting for stripers when we took a huge wave over the transom....bilge was overwhelmed and water couldn't exit out before we were under in less than 2 minutes.
I'm guessing that planing speed and fuel efficiency aren't really affected by a bracket, huh?
I imagine you'll get a number of responses on this, but my take is that you *could* get a bit more efficiency and slightly lower planing speed with a properly setup bracket. The thing is there are so many other variables - like boat balance, hull design, props, etc.
I think that a boat with a braket would be alittle faster and better mpg's at cruise , but a boat with a motor on a notch transom would have a lower planing speed and better hole shot. The biggest difference i think you would see is with balance, the bracket boat would be more ass heavy and be more prone to porpising.
I think that a boat with a braket would be alittle faster and better mpg's at cruise , but a boat with a motor on a notch transom would have a lower planing speed and better hole shot. The biggest difference i think you would see is with balance, the bracket boat would be more ass heavy and be more prone to porpising.
I believe this can be offset with a good set of Trim tabs and having a platform that helps with buoyancy.
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24' Grady White - SOLD!
13' Boston Whaler
The notched transom is much stronger and it looks a lot better. A bracket is for a hull that wasn't designed or modified for outboards to begin with. The notched transom is needed for outboards boats to allow for a full transom, and still have a set back so the engines can be mounted higher. The notched transom is really needed in more of a high speed application. It actually reduces the length of the running surface.
__________________ 2012 Fountain 38' Open with quad 350 verados
38' Fountain Open with triple 300 optimax
233 Formula CC w/6.2 MPI Horizon
If we're still talking about a notched transom on a small boat (20' or 23') vs. a bracket (look at Parkers--you can buy some of them either way), then the advantage to a notched transom is that on light tackle you can work a fish around the motor if ou have to. Bracketed transoms have the advantage of a full transom, and you're alot less likely to get swamped by a stern wave. I boat in the Chesapeake, and for light tackle I made sure I got a notched transom boat.
Performance was the question, not safety, which is very debatable.
The original Gil bracket (I think) was really designed so people could repower the ill-fated 'Sea Drive'... Back in the day, they also tested them and found the boat performed better with the backet than without. Lifts the motor higher and moves it back into clean water. That testing is also what started the euro transom, as well as the Armstrong Bracket and a host of others. They all put the motor another 15" behind the transom.
I think that a boat with a braket would be alittle faster and better mpg's at cruise , but a boat with a motor on a notch transom would have a lower planing speed and better hole shot. The biggest difference i think you would see is with balance, the bracket boat would be more ass heavy and be more prone to porpising.
I believe this can be offset with a good set of Trim tabs and having a platform that helps with buoyancy.
You only will get buoyancy when at rest, when running the weight of the bracket also drags down the rear. Also running tab kills you efficiency.
The effects of the a bracket are most noticable on smaller boats,around 25' and under.
Being a owner of a bracket, your accelleration is always going to be stern heavy and a bit slower. Bracketed boats need trim tabs. Your reverse will be slower, and less control- the reverse water thrust pushes against the transom. Down swell, you have to trim down as you'll grab air with the prop(s) over the peaks of the swell. But, the first swell to bounce off your transom at drift that would've swamped you in a cutout makes it all worth it. I'd only get a full bracket as well- the dive step feature is priceless. If the boat design permits a transom cutout that has its own protected (gunwale height) self bailing well, I'd prefer it to a bracket for performance reasons.
It would seem there's differences of opinion as to what constitutes a notched transom, I thought the OP was referring to a notched transom as a conventional transom with a cut out to accommodate an outboard , it would seem that propbender is referring to a transom such as his as a notched transom with the running surface relieved below it.
I agree with much of what's been said... brackets can help some boats, some boats are better off without them. I would refer to what propbender has ( for the lack of a better term)as a molded bracket.
Obviously, the bracket offers better protection if your drifting or anchoring (which I do a lot) but the notch transom allows water that comes over the bow to escape faster
The 'benefit' of being able to clear water fast with a notch transom doesn't help if you're drifting. In a short chop, if you take a serious wave over the transom, that next one will be there before you can get the engine started to try and get the first one out.
Something to keep in mind if you drift a lot.
My rule #1 when designing my transom was keep the water out of the boat.
Ken
Ken, I learned the above-warning the hard way...see pics in my galery for a shot of my old T-Craft that sank while we were drifting for stripers when we took a huge wave over the transom....bilge was overwhelmed and water couldn't exit out before we were under in less than 2 minutes.
I'm guessing that planing speed and fuel efficiency aren't really affected by a bracket, huh?
Hey Halkman26,
Took the liberty of posting picture. It doesn't look that rough. Could you describe what happened? Rouge wave or boat wake? Were you hit while everyone was standing in the back?
Both are really just ways of achieving additional setback. My Concept had both.
My Fountain just has a notch but has two channels I assume are there to reduce suction when getting up on plane. This boat is no rocket getting up on plane with any prop, even a small pitch rev4, so I have always assumed there is still some suction as she comes out of the water.
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A bracket also allows a full transom length swim platform and you dont need an engine well to tilt the engine up all the way. This allows for more room in the boat.
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halkman26 - 1/15/2009 7:22 AM
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Obviously, the bracket offers better protection if your drifting or anchoring...?
If you do a lot of anchoring in heavy current, dont even consider a notched transom. Getting the rope
wrapped around the prop could result in the boat sinking in less than a minute if there is a chop
and a heavy current.
Obviously, the bracket offers better protection if your drifting or anchoring (which I do a lot) but the notch transom allows water that comes over the bow to escape faster
The 'benefit' of being able to clear water fast with a notch transom doesn't help if you're drifting. In a short chop, if you take a serious wave over the transom, that next one will be there before you can get the engine started to try and get the first one out.
Something to keep in mind if you drift a lot.
My rule #1 when designing my transom was keep the water out of the boat.
Ken
Ken, I learned the above-warning the hard way...see pics in my galery for a shot of my old T-Craft that sank while we were drifting for stripers when we took a huge wave over the transom....bilge was overwhelmed and water couldn't exit out before we were under in less than 2 minutes.
I'm guessing that planing speed and fuel efficiency aren't really affected by a bracket, huh?
Hey Halkman26,
Took the liberty of posting picture. It doesn't look that rough. Could you describe what happened? Rouge wave or boat wake? Were you hit while everyone was standing in the back?
'
There were four of us fishing in the back of the old T-Craft when a 30'ish cruiser blew past us and swamped the transom. The bilge kicked on for a few seconds (this was a non-self bailing boat) but almost immediately, it was clear that the water was NOT being kicked out fast enough and water started seeping in over the transom...well I tried to start the engine and two of my three friends started bailing with 5 gallon buckets....I got the motor cranked once, but then it just completely shut off as did the bilge...I think the battery box got wet)....luckily, there was another boat about 25 yards away and I blew my emergency whistle and they rescued us all.
A funny story about the rescue - the two guys bailing got off right away onto the rescue vehicle...my 3 rd friend ran into the cabin to get his new Shimano rod/reel combo that cost almost $1k. Well, the damn bucktail he had on the rod got stuck on the cushions in the cabin and the only thing worst than the abuse I was gonna get for sinking a boat was that I got off the boat before one of my passengers.....in the end, by the time he was rescued, I was up to my neck in water....
Luckily, no one suffered any injuries and, duh, I had a new found respect for the power of water and the safety precautions one must always take.....
__________________ Maycraft 2300 Pilothouse with Honda 225 4-stroke
Halkman26 I had a 23 robalo with a notched transom and that was my biggest concern. I fish the local inlet both in the chanel and on the bars in the small breakers. I took waves over the back too many times{scary}.Never sunk but close. I sold it and I did a 233 formula project boat with a full flotation bracket. I let waves smack my transom now with no worry. Also dont have to worry about Big SF boats throwing a wake into my boat anymore.
As far as efficiency goes, I have a Kencraft 230 with twin 150;s. I ran a stream trip the other day and burned 106 gallons total. Ran same trip with same motors on 2 or 3 different 23-24 deep-v's and average around 115-135 gallons total for same speeds and distance. It seems the bracketed boat is more fuel efficient to me for now. I only have around 25 hours on her so far. I am running lower pitch props as well to get max holeshot and wave control.
Difference Between Notch Transom and Bracket 
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