bertram31.com

I looked at two 31's today and saw too different ways to set up the engine beds......... your thoughts would be appreciated!

1. The first boat fabricated aluminum mounts that are bolted to original stringers which engine mounts attach





2. the second boat had stringers that appeared to be built up with glass and wood and then engine mounts bolted to that assembly.

The first example is using ramps, which gives you far easier access to the bilge below the engine. See also: Engine Installation in the tips section...

thanks capt pat. i've looked at that engine installation section a dozen times.......amazing what i forget!

Neither one is wrong. Using the aluminum ramps allows more room to get under the engines for cleaning (there are really no service items below the middle of the block on Cummins)

As long as the engine mounts run at the horizontal engine plane both versions of engine mounting are acceptable. You don't want angled engines and flat mounts.

Capt Pat uses the aluminum ramps. Our boat has the more traditional mahagony stringers with mahagony ramps. Don't be afraid of either.

there are really no service items below the middle of the block on Cummins)

Except the pan drain plug or if one has it an oil change kit. Both of which over the years I've had to repair leaks at. Twice had to pull an engine to replace the drain plug gasket due to high/narrow stringer sides.

Just a thought.

Also on some of the newer models a good part of the electrical is just above the pan.

Capt Pat - how far down can you cut a stringer. I guess bewteen the sister stringers and the aluminum cap, you probably added much more strenth to those stringers on Buddy Boy that you removed when you cut them down?

...just askin cause 2 years ago one of the ZF225 trannies went on my boat. These are the same as the ZF 220s but with a 5degree downangle vs 10degrees. ...luckily the ZF guys in Rhode Island found the required parts - but i was almost faced with re-doing my engine beds to accomodate the 220s. ...actually would have worked out as i have room under the front of my engines to lower them the requried amount - but i was certain it would have required lots of "stringer cuttin"

Joe

Joe,

The inboard stringer were left original and sistered at that hieght. The outboards were built up with a 7º angle to complement the 8º down angle of the transmission shaft. No reduction of the original stringers at all...

joe funny you should say that my outside stringers go to 1/2" with zf irm 220 gears.