Auxiliary outboard bracket: Why keep it?

[Roamad]

My C-Dory came with a bracket on the transom to mount an auxiliary outboard (photo attached). I’d like to remove it to tidy up the appearance of the boat. I am not a fisherman so will never need a kicker or trolling motor. But there is a remote chance that someday I may want to mount a small electric outboard there as backup propulsion. Is that reason enough to keep the bracket? Can the wise C-Brat sages offer any other sound reasons to keep the bracket in place?

[Flashyfish]

I would take it off and repair the transom. If you do move to auxiliary propulsion use the recommended mounting system.

[thataway]

I would keep it and be sure it is functioning well. That bracket is a good one, if properly maintained and functioning. It can hold the dinghy motor/also used as a "get home" engine--even if you have a towing service, there can be times and places where you need power to get out of trouble and to safety! A 2.5 hp Suzuki or Mercury outboard will push a C Dory at about 3 miles and our and importantly give it steerage way.

[Tom Hruby]

I agree with Bob. It looks like the bracket is a folding one, so just keep it folded up until you need it. That way it will be out of the way. If you want to go electric you have basically two options. The largest electric trolling motor is the MinnKota 112 that will require a 36V battery. At maximum power it will put out about 1800 watts. However if you throttle it down to about 1000 watts it will move your 22' C-dory at around 4 mph. A 36 V 100AH lithium iron phosphate battery would then last about 3 hours and 12 miles. The second option would be to go with an actual electric outboard such as the Torqeedo or Epropulsion (the most common ones). These run at 48 volts, but your power requirements would be the same. To travel at 4mph you need about 1000 watts no matter what motor you use. I have posted a graph in my album that shows power in watts vs. speed for my 22 ft cruiser.

[thataway]

I agree with Tom. I used the Torqeedo 1103 to push my C Dory 22, 25 and the Caracal Cat--as a "get home motor"--there is no free lunch there, but it will push the boat out of harm's way.

In 2011, the Torqeedo distributer in Australia, pushed a medium sized inflatable boat, with a 160 watt solar array, and a Torqeedo 1003 almost 20 nautical miles in open ocean over a day. The speed would have been sustainable if there had not been overcast, so the panels produced less than ideal amount of current.

[Roamad]

Thanks for the feedback. I think I will keep the bracket in hopes of one day finding a used Torqeedo or Epropulsion as a backup motor. They come up on the used market in my area pretty regularly, so that’s my goal. There are times, also, when it would be pretty nice to have the quietnof an electric outboard.

[DayBreak]