I am fixing my Pearson Ensign so that I can put it in the water soon. I am looking to put a motor mount on the back. I found some Amazon and not really sure what I really need if someone could make some suggestions.

Thanks,

Michelle Valadez

Michelle-

You have a lot of options, starting with the sort of motor mounts and folding motor mounts found on Amazon and the big bix sporting goods places such as Bass Pro Shops.

Folks here will tell you that two mounts are widely used on Ensigns. The first is a removeable three prong bracket that fits into eyes screwed into the transom. The second is a heavy bronze bracket that rests on the gunwale or, better yet, a sacrificial piece on the gunwale. The end of the bracket rests in jaws set on the after deck.

I am attaching photos of the latter two brackets. The folding bronze bracket is shown in two photos of my boat, Nana (1658). Both types are or have been available from Ensign Spars. I got my bracket from the now defunct Bristol Bronze. I think you can still get them from Spartan Marine.

The issue for me has always been the amount of weight you place on the transom. That area of the boat is strong enough unless you have a massive motor, but I prefer to put the weight on deck. I also think that the bronze piece is classier and more in line with traditional aspects of these boats.

Good luck with your project!

"As far as the 3-prong "race" bracket goes, the original Ensign stern is not designed for the load, especially the push momentum of the lower prong.

It requires some enforcement and should not just be bolted on."

Absolutely. I did not mean to imply otherwise. It is the reason that I am all in for the bronze mount.

Hi folks; I'm new to the nice Ensign website and forum. I see the last comments for Ensign brackets are a bit in the past, but I'd like to renew the topic and ask for some additional comments. Our old Ensign had that beautiful bronze bracket mounted up on the deck, with the two slots fitting into the deck piece. It worked perfectly for decades. But then we purchased a new Suzuki 2 HP motor. It works well, but it's got a head which won't allow it to pivot out of the water when not in use. We're looking for a new bracket. That "3-bolt" version discussed previously is nice and simple, but right now we're focused on a manual-tilting bracket sold by Marine-Tech/Panther. However, per other comments in this forum, we will need to get supporting bolts through the inner surface of the transom. We don't have access ports close to that location, so it's going to involve a lot of digging through "corroded" foam that was packed in there when the boat was built. Does anyone have any experience with the Marine-Tech bracket? And on mounting it? Alternatively, does anyone know where to purchase that 3-bolt version? It's simpler; and its shape tells me we can still pivot our engine. Many thanks in advance. I'm no expert with tools or hardware, so I'm just a messenger for my co-owner brothers. Frank Coppa; fcoppa@nycap.rr.com

Thanks Ward. Yes, it was strange: the new engine has a head too wide to allow the engine to pivot upward enough. I think it would be the same with the bracket you sent. And if the new bracket-project does get too expensive and complicated, we may get another engine. As I pointed out to someone else, the little Honda we had previously purchased fit perfectly in the bracket, but was a terribly unreliable engine. A waste of about $1000+ !

thanks; we'll look into that. By the way, if you are an Ensign owner, what type of engine do you use? Sort of taking a survey, just in case we want to bite the bullet and get another engine.

Mercury, Four stroke, long shaft (20”), 3.5 hp

It is sufficient. I rarely go to full throttle.

I motor out from my marina slip, shut it down and lift it up to sail, and then start it when I need to motor back into the marina (Lake Michigan, Little Traverse Bay, Petoskey marina).

It does not have reverse, and it is too much trouble to swing the motor 180 degrees, so I back out of the slip by hand pushing along the dock, turn the boat and then engage the motor to move forward. Steering is with the tiller.

It would be a problem if it didn't start back up to motor back in, so I might switch to an electric motor someday.

Robert McTaggart

Ensign 931

Bay View, Michigan

Fleet 84

Bud Brown

281.468.6909 cell and text

Excellent points, Bud. We're probably going to avoid the transom route; and either try to modify our current bracket; or get another engine that fits the bracket. Thanks.

Thanks Zeke. With our horrible experience a few years ago with a Honda, we're swearing off that brand for the foreseeable future.

My boat is getting ready to launch after a long restoration. I am attaching a photo showing the bracket on the nearly finished boat that gives you a better idea of the final look. Also attaching a bow on photo, just because she is beautiful!

Okay Thank you.