Part 3, Smuggler 28 - Building a fiberglass outboard bracket from scratch!

I´'m now going over step by step how I build my outboard bracket in fiberglass using composite core material. I walk you through my planning process, building a mould and finally the fiberglass work.
In this series you get to follow me and my journey with my Smuggler 28 Cabin. I bought this boat in order to build a really fun, practical boats for me and my family needs. Everything is done from scratch: inboard/outboard conversion, custom bracket, custom hardtop and custom interior.

[@BrunoMiglietta]

Great video thank you

[@212caboose]

You say you're not good with CAD... I think you did a GREAT job with CAD: Cardboard Assisted Design LOL...

[@mattwilliams8144]

Narrow diameter PVC pipe makes a great material for creating the radius in forms.

[@boatdevoted]

Thanks, that's a good suggestion, I´ll try that next time!

[@BCB-Boats-Media]

Nice work! Im currently doing exactly same kind of project. Smuggler 28 c2 inboard to Outboard conversion with DIY fiberglass bracket for Yamaha F350.
Greetings from Finland!

[@boatdevoted]

Interesting! Looking forward to see your progress and read about the numbers. When do you expect to be done?

[@BCB-Boats-Media]

@@boatdevoted I try to get it on water during next summer but... Lets see 😅

[@docksidemarine4273]

Great work. My only suggestion would have been to mount the bracket higher. To have the cavitation plate at the proper height on the outboard will require it to be mounted higher then the sterndrive was. A 60mph boat ypu have to go up 1" for every 12" you go back. You may have to go 2" or more up to avoid dragging the motor and reducing speed and efficiency.

[@boatdevoted]

Thanks! I very much understand your concern, but the height of the bracket is very much discussed in forums for these kind of boats, so it should be ok. I also have a Seastar jackplate waiting to be mounted, so it will work out fine! 👍

[@docksidemarine4273]

@@boatdevoted ok thats good! So how much higher did you have to go then the stern drive for it to all work out?

[@boatdevoted]

@@docksidemarine4273 If I’m not mistaken, +75cm from lowest point of the transom. These boats tend not like being rigged to high. I never ran the boat with inboards, they were sold immediately. (See part 1)

[@Doubleeaglediaries]

Nice work

[@boatdevoted]

Thanks!

[@botoepfer8588]

I applaud you in this task, I might add you should always use gravity to help you wet out fiberglass cloth, for example, when wetting out fold your material over on itself, wet from the substaraight, fold it to the location where it will live and do the same on the other side. it appears that your trailing edge of the bracket is lower than the part that joing your boats transom ? if so this may act as a trim tab causing a Bow down attitude. Please make sure tiyr boats transon will support the trust of the motor better to address this now rather than later,, LOve the work keep at it ! all the best

[@boatdevoted]

Thanks! It’s a good point (well, both points are…)! I do have my thoughts about the bracket angle, but it should be ok, If not, I just have to fix it next winter. After this project that seams as a small edit.

[@patrickaase]

Hi!
Great work, currently working on a boat myself.
Where did you buy the Divinycell?

[@boatdevoted]

Thanks! I bought mine from Diabgroup.com here in Sweden. Good luck with your project, what is it?

[@patrickaase]

@@boatdevoted currently working on a Argocat 17.
May i ask how much it cost pr. square meter?😁

[@boatdevoted]

@@patrickaase nice boat! Can’t recall, but it was expensive. Didn’t want any wood in the transom and coosaboard was hard to find so this was the solution.

[@Wfrench01]

Could you please give a overview of how many layers of fiberglass you used on different parts of the bracket. I am trying to make something similar for my boat and being completely inexperienced with fiberglass im trying to figure things out.

[@boatdevoted]

Hi! I do not remember how many layers I glassed in, but it’s very important to also use the right fiberglass biaxial cloth and also how you overlap the different sheets to build strength. I most likely used more layers than needed, but better to be save than sorry. Also, if you’re from US, you have coosa board on you local market that works equally well as core material. Good luck!!

[@Wfrench01]

@@boatdevoted jeg tror vi er i nesten samme land 😊
Jeg bruker annenhver glassfiber vev og glassfiber matte fra biltema.
Gikk for kryssfiner istedenfor den du brukte.

[@boatdevoted]

Aha, där ser man! Biltema har en hel del bra prylar men det finns andra leverantörer av polyester och matta med samma eller bättre varor eller priser. Jag har handlat av tex både chemify och dockyardscomposit. Kan rekommendera bägge!

[@yannnick13]

hello, what resin do you use?

[@boatdevoted]

Hi @yannnick13! I use GPX premium polyester laminating resin mainly. Sometimes also resin from Scott Bader.

[@Arnaud58]

@00:47 Why didn't you go till the edge of the bottom?🧐
It would have been stronger and make a nicer water flow. Now you get turbulence in two places...😳

[@boatdevoted]

That’s the way Smuggler boats and Segmo boats are built, and they work great. My other boat is also an I/O conversion, with a similar bracket. It works amazingly well. Let’s cross our fingers and wait and see!

[@glennjaggard7065]

That is really the wrong wood to be using on a boat only got to get a stone chip cracked paint water gets in and Rot the wood that won't last long 5 years at most should have spent money on doing it right unless your selling it off

[@boatdevoted]

Not sure what you’re referring to, since I’m not using wood anywhere.

[@evanescecse]

Should’ve used marine ply not melamine chipboard but good effort though I’m thinking of doing the same 👍

[@boatdevoted]

When just building simple molds its been less expensive for me using melamine chipboard.

[@Ritebowl]

Are these guys serious? It’s his mold you idiots!!!!!!