Question about motor wells

[rbgarr]

What is the benefit of a motor well in powerboats? It seems like alot of trouble and expense. In a dory-type hull it makes sense because the transom is so narrow and raked. I can understand how a covered well on something like a Handy Billy might have had appeal when outboards were very loud, but nowadays you can get pretty quiet outboard engines. Is it an aesthetic thing?

[Skiff Junkie]

My understanding is that wells were first invented for work boats, so the fishermen could set or haul in their nets without getting them caught in the prop. There are probably other reasons also. One advantage to the well is that if you have engine trouble while on the water, you can work on it without having to lean over the transom and risk falling out. The only complaints I have about them are that there is a little more engine noise inside the boat, and sometimes it's difficult to maneuver(sp?) the boat in reverse when trying to back into a slip. Both of my boats are well-boats.

[Bill Childs]

Location, location, location. Moving the weight of the ob fwd, closer to the cg, balances the boat more making it handle better and a lot safer. With the motor and crew closer to the center of the boat the stern becomes more bouyant and will handle a following sea or breaking wave at the transom much better.
Most of the swampings I've heard about came over the transom and occured on small boats with an outboard, fuel tank, and pilot too far aft.

[Bill Perkins]

In line with what Bill said , the new 4 stroke engines are significantly heavier than 2 strokes .Extra buoyancy aft of the engine is going to be even more valuable in the future.I would expect to see more wells and fewer transom mounts as the 4 strokes become dominant .

The wells also place planing surface aft of the moter.I watched a bunch of Simmons Sea Skiffs one weekend and they seem to squat less as they slow down than many planing outboards .They also seem to pop up on plane quicker .I think this is due to their wells .

[ 12-11-2004, 11:16 AM: Message edited by: Bill Perkins ]

[Bill Childs]

"I would expect to see more wells and fewer transom mounts as the 4 strokes become dominant."

Me thinks you have unrealistic optimism and faith in production boat manufacturers and the general boating masses Bill P.
I agree with you that motor wells should be seen more with ob powered boats, but the manufacturers will probably build what is easiest and cheapest to make. The boat buyers will buy what they see other people using - that's easier than researching and thinking for yourself.
Unfortunately, safety and what works best will remain secondary issues.

[rbgarr]

A number of fiberglass deep-vee fishing boats being put out these days have sloping reverse sterns leading to a transom platform and motor mount.

See http://yachtworld.com/core/listing/pl_display_photo.jsp?slim=quick&boat_id=1202150&boatname=27%27+Jupiter+27+FORWARD+SEA TING&photo_name=null&photo=1&url=

In the recent hurricanes in the Southeast US it turned out that the hull deck joint at the stern quarter has been a weak spot as far as being subject to damage/cracking (when coming alonside a dock, etc.) and has contributed to sinkings.

[Mike Vogdes]

For me it was a matter of being able to keep my tender tied perpendicular to the swim platform of our trawler. The trawler is 14' wide and the slip is 15' wide, and I needed to be able to tie up the boat without fouling the outboard in the mooring lines. It worked out great.

http://www.devlinboat.com/homebuiltvogdes.htm

The boat got right up on plane and was easy to trim, it was a great little boat.