Motor Bracket Upgrade to Plastic Board

Outboard Motor Bracket Board.

When acquired, my Capri 22's outboard motor bracket board was weathered but structurally sound.  I unbolted the board, sanded it, and then soaked it with Watco Danish Oil.  The board was reinstalled on the bracket using fender washers for the lower bolts since the original installation showed signs of too much point pressure judging from the dimples on the board.

Refinished Board.

Seven years after refinishing

Seven years after refinishing, the cosmetics had suffered, but the Watco Danish Oil had preserved the integrity of the outboard motor bracket board.

My goal had long been to replace the wood board with the UV stabilized high-density polyethylene plastic board available from Catalina Direct.  As advertised, the board arrived undrilled, so it was positioned on the metal backing plate on the outboard motor bracket and each of the existing holes was traced with a Sharpie marker.  The upper bolts needed to be countersunk, so a Forstner bit was used to achieve the necessary depth, and then the four bolt holes were drilled.  All the existing fasteners were reused in mounting the new broad.

The new plastic board in place.

The height of the board was positioned so the outboard would rest on the board and not the metal backing plate.

The board positioned above the backing plate.