Lift and bracket. When moving the outboard makes you sail better – VIDEO

What is meant by lift ? Is it a fixed distance or can it be changed? And what is bracket? Can everyone use it or do only racing boats use it? We have answered some of these questions, with 3D animations to visually explain how these adjustments affect sailing in this explanatory video:

Lift and Bracket: what is the purpose of moving the outboard

The position of the engine, that is, its physical location vertically and horizontally, is a variable that can radically change the boat’s performance. If trim and tilt are concerned with the rotation that adjusts the angle of thrust, lift and bracket are two linear movements: the former adjusts the height, the latter the distance from the transom.

The Lift

As the word itself says – literally: lift – “lift” defines how high the engine is mounted relative to the keel line. The basic rule of thumb says that the antiventilation plate (that horizontal fin above the propeller) should be aligned with or slightly above the keel line. If it is too low, the foot is excessively submerged by it. Result? Lots of hydrodynamic drag (drag), excessive splashing, higher fuel consumption and reduced top speed. On the other hand, when it is too high, the propeller is likely to work on the surface, sucking in air (ventilation) and losing grip, especially when turning or in heavy seas. Even worse, if the sea intakes come out of the water, goodbye engine cooling.

Actually, fixing a predetermined height is impossible on a general level: each engine has its own geometries, larger or smaller propellers, and these parameters go to affect the optimal mounting point. In any case, the height may not be fixed once and for all, indeed: there is a device, called a powerlift-a hydraulic sled that sits between the engine and the boat-that allows the outboard to be raised or lowered vertically while sailing. It is an essential accessory for those seeking pure performance, since the costs are anything but trivial.

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The Bracket

The Bracket – literally: bracket – affects the horizontal distance. It is a structure that can be incorporated into the print, or added, constructed of fiberglass or aluminum or steel tubing, which moves the engine further back from the original transom.

What good does it do to move the engine away? Meanwhile, you increase the leverage effect: by moving the thrust away from the center of the hull, you make the boat much more sensitive to the behavior of the engine, whether it is pulling in or trimming. But more importantly, you affect the weights: moving the engine farther back retracts the center of gravity. This can be crucial when designing the boat, or it can provide a great help in the case of re-engineering, when the addition of the bracket allows you to return to an otherwise unrepeatable balance.