I dont think that little bit of slop you are showing is going to be there when the motor is running and there is tq on the engine.

I suppose if you put some better mounts on and show us a video of the improvement you might be onto something.

You can lift the motor up to the deck by hand on the trailer, but you CANT when the engines running and tq is applied.

Yeah, I might be onto something. LOL

That's why all the Racing motors have different mounts than the consumer motors.

It's there. Look back when your running thru some chop.

Ken, I'm calling BS on YOU being thrown out of a boat going 70! You're boats IDLE at 87mph! Seriously, nice video and explanation. If I ever get one that goes fast enough to scare me, I'll do that job!

thru chop the motor moves up and down, every time the prop loses some grip

Yes ken I know that the racing motors have different mounts... THEY also have more power....

I bet you argue with Stop signs Jeff.

So do you honestly believe the Merc 300 ProXS makes more power than the Merc Racing 250R??

You need one like my old Bullet you rode in that day at Fork! We were flying down the boat lane at 94.

Seriously guys, if this helps one of you from killing yourself it was worth it.

At the very least check your steering every time you go out. There is one small nut holding the steering arm to the motor tiller. If that nut backs out at WOT that boat will do a 180 in the blink of an eye. That's what happened to the college guys in the video above. Mechanical items wear & fail.

Not argue at all. Just using common sense and a little bit of mechanical knowledge to know that video is showing absolutely nothing actually to do with motor mounts or chine.

Youll be able to turn a 250r race motor with better mounts also. Our boats have hydraulic steering its not a mechanical linkage.

If you want to check the motor mounts that way youll need to put in the steering stops. Or better yet and probably the correct way without a google search would be to lower the motor all the way and put a jack under the skeg.

Solid motor mounts will wear more and transmit more vibrations, which we would likely complain about. As it is we get a good amount of vibration from our motors.


If common sense was common everyone would have it.

Busted or worn motor mounts are very obvious. I had a new boater ask me to drive it his boat as it was scary at 25 even this summer. It was instantly apparent. So after teaching him how to load it on the trailer without walking in the lake I grabbed his motor and it rattled around like a pocket full of change.

They had to replace the ramp but my boat was fine.

So Ranger got that going for it.

Bobby, it is unlikely that you will have any handling issues with your boat. Boats with 200 or more HP can achieve speeds that lift the hull free of the water to the point you are literally balancing the entire hull on a small area known as the "running pad". Many boaters have experienced what is called "chine walking" once they get the motor trimmed up running at high speed.

Some boats are more notorious than others for chine walk. Bullets, Allisons, older Tritons, and a few others are known to require driver input once the boat is nearing top speed. If you have never experienced chine walk, it can be a scary thing. There are a number of things that cause it and apparently some folks believe motor mounts are not one of them.

Here is a pic of an Allison bass boat running in their normal attitude. You can see the small amount of running pad that is actually in contact with the water. You are literally flying the hull. It requires a lot of practice but once mastered it is a true feeling of accomplishment.

And since you are new to TFF I will share my stock statement about "Why would anyone need to go 90 mph to catch a fish?"

There ain't nothing about the sport of bass fishing that has anything to do with need my friend.

Sounds like you and I have had a similar experience unloading a boat. LOL

Shoot me a PM and I'll give you my cell so you can tell me all about it.

Ken, I have had 2 Norris Crafts over the years that handled a bit "interesting".

Both were tamed down 90% when the NEW factory Merc mounts were replaced with solids.

And NO .... I didn't notice much in the terms of added vibration.

To those that think it doesn't make a difference, you have no idea what you are talking about.

Or your boat never gets high enough on the pad to realize it.

The interweb NEVER forgets!

https://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/138302/1