Typhoon: Bent Motor bracket?

[Jay Bonahoom]

My original bronze motor bracket for the typhoon I recently purchased is bent about 15 to 20 degrees toward the water. Does any one else have this problem? I have been told that it can be straightened but I don't know how. Any ideas on why or how this might have happened?



Bonahooms@excite.com

[sloopjohnl]

are you sure it is original equipment? there have been aftermarket productions that are cast bent to get the outboard deeper in the water to prevent cavitation which is prevalent with the original straight motor bracket.

My original bronze motor bracket for the typhoon I recently purchased is bent about 15 to 20 degrees toward the water. Does any one else have this problem? I have been told that it can be straightened but I don't know how. Any ideas on why or how this might have happened?

[Bill McMahon]

My bracket is also bent, whether or not it's by design I do not know, but it works just fine.



b4usail@aol.com

[Marino Curati]

Mine is slightly bent too and doesn't appear to have been done on purpose. It's bent at the point that the bracket continues over the stern rail and follows the curve. My theory is that the boat was sharply jarred with the OB still attached when being hauled, launched or moved on its trailer. It's only noticeable when the boat is out of the water.

Marino Curati
Ty #74 Snug
Cleveland

[Patrick McCarthy]

The earlier Typhoon's came with the flat motor bracket made by Handy Boat. It has six round holes and has a u shape that goes to the wooden block. The later models had a motor bracket made by Sparten Marine. These are shaped like and A with ears at the end and did angel down to the water. Both are still made however, Handy Boat 207-781-5110 is having a hard time keeping them in inventory. Spartin/Robin Hood has the newer ones and Bristol Bronze also makes the newer model. It sounds like you have the later model like I do. My boat is a 1978 and I think it would take a tremendious amount of force to bend this bracket. I hope this was informative.



pfmccar@us.ibm.com

[Dan Moore]

I have one of the Handy Boat originals (1974). It has no bend to it at all (yet).



ride9618@ride.ri.net

[Jay Bonahoom]

Strangely enough, my typhoon is a 1974 and the bracket is the Handy Boat model with the six round holes. But it has quite a bend in it. And I agree it looks very heavy and hard to bend.

The earlier Typhoon's came with the flat motor bracket made by Handy Boat. It has six round holes and has a u shape that goes to the wooden block. The later models had a motor bracket made by Sparten Marine. These are shaped like and A with ears at the end and did angel down to the water. Both are still made however, Handy Boat 207-781-5110 is having a hard time keeping them in inventory. Spartin/Robin Hood has the newer ones and Bristol Bronze also makes the newer model. It sounds like you have the later model like I do. My boat is a 1978 and I think it would take a tremendious amount of force to bend this bracket. I hope this was informative.



bonahooms@excite.com

[Chip]

I have an original Handy Boat bracket on my '74 and it's bent noticeably, too. It appears to work OK. (Bent, but no cracks, etc.) I have always assumed that it bent from 25+ seasons of supporting the outboard and have occasionally thought of investing in a new one, but haven't actually done so.

Also, I did have to replace the wooden portion of the bracket to which the outboard actually attaches because the wood was coming loose from the bracket itself. New bolts machined through the bracket and attached to a new board and I'm back in business.

***FYI: This repair was done directly at Handy Boat in Maine and they did not comment on the bend in the bracket or suggest replacement.***



chipgavin@alum.colby.edu