pearson 30 engine mounts?

[JayS]

I'm replacing my Atomic 4. When I pulled the old engine I was surprised to find no engine mounts. Engine was bolted directly to the fiberglass bed flanges. Is this normal? Have never seen an engine without motor mounts.
Thanks!

[marthur]

It's a lot more common than you would think : ) If you wish to install engine mounts you will have to modify the fiberglass.

[Mo]

It's OK.

Yes, it's normal to see that. There is very little vibration with the A4 but you should check and esure all fasteners have a good bite. Some people put a piece of angle iron along he top of the wooden rails. Using the same measurements you currently have:
-where current lag bolts went in use a wood drill and make the slot big enough for a nut to fit into.
-measure and cut a piece of angle iron the width of you runner.
-drill two holes each side the exact spacing you currently have for mounting.
-weld two nuts to "underside" of the angle iron so that the nuts are down in the previously widened slot.
-drill three holes laterally trough angle iron and runner.
-bolt angle iron to runner through the side.
-put engine back in and four bolts, with lock washers, will thread through the angle iron and into the nuts you welded on ( the bolt goes down into the same hole as the lags you removed.)
...that will take allot of strain and should the boat knocked down or something along those lines it holds the engine firm.

[JayS]

Thanks Mo, for angle reinforce idea and details. One concern I have is the engine getting raised the thickness of the angle, affecting my prop shaft alignment. I currently have 1/8" bushing in rear, none in front. May not work for my situation without some fiberglass mods, but I will explore it.

[prstack7]

same as mine

Funny how I never even thought about it, but my Pearson 30 is the same: engine attached to fiberglass flanges.

[Loki9]

Yes, that's how my P30 was too; the A4 bolted directly to a fiberglass engine pan with only a few plastic shims between motor and pan. It sure made alignment a PITA.

[ndutton]

Every Atomic 4 powered Newport 30 up until at least mid -1973 was that way too.

[romantic comedy]

My Tartan 34 has the engine lagged to the engine bed. No engine mounts. There are metal shims used to align the engine.

Someday I will make angle alumium mounts. It will be a big job as the beds will need to be reworked.