Howdy!


I am cutting out a outdrive hole in a fresh Transom. What do the pros use? My jigsaw with new blade is only so so. Sawzall is better, but Turning corners is angling the inside. Transom is 2-1/4 thick.


What are the tricks? Blade choices? Use a router with template instead? Fien multi master?

Thanks!

do you have the merc drill jig or are you going to drill and cut without it? cutting the hole can be done no prob but its tought to get the bolt holes straight without the guides. its also very tough to do the tiller reliefs.

Hi,

Actually it is a volvo duoprop on fishing boat. Holes were drilled with a aculign on drill on Transom marked with volvo template

Just trying to use the right cutout tool for a perfect clean straight cut out.

What is your preference to cut out your drive cutouts?

Thanks!

as long as were on the subject of the merc jig heres how I use mine. not sure if anyone else does it this way I came up with this method to ease the cutting process. after you drill all the bolt holes you can rotate the jig and the right bottom drill guide will line up with the lower right corner of the cutout and vice versa for the other side allowing you to pre drill a nice radius in each corner. the slight jog at the mid points on the sides of the cutout can also be done but are not as critical and two of them require the jig be moved down 1.75". heres a couple referance pics to illustrate


with this method it is much easier on jigsaw blades and you just have to connect the dots. my next thing will be an aluminum guide that will allow me to do the cutout with a router and a 1/4" straight shank carbide (thanks for that idea C Spray )

oops posted the above as you were to.

I would use the best jig saw blades you can get and go easy, let them do the cutting but plan on using a couple of them for a hole that size fiberglass is hard on them. I generally go through two for a bravo.

Awesome posts, thanks. I'm thinking the router template would be the cleanest, probably how they do it in production.

Are there any special ways to find Transom centerlines?

How about level? My neighbor leveled his boat from top of engine hatch, I argued that really did not tell him how his drive would be in relation to the bottom running surface of the boat if the hatch was not level exactly with bottom.


Cool site and thanks for reading my stupid questions!

well the way most boats are built I would definitely not rely on the deck being square with the hull . I use the hard chines and the keel for referance and work from there. draw a horozontal line from hard chine to hard chine and find the center then using a square draw your centerline.



oh its not a stupid question besides I been dying to post up the pics of how I use the merc jig


welcome aboard btw, lots of good info and people here.

Dave - by chance, do you have a TRS jig?

Sorry Gris no TRS jig, i only have Bravo and outboard bracket jig.

i used a jig saw with a 4" blade. but before i did any of that i used a 1/2" drill bit to create pivot points in all of the corners. i cut it a little small and then used a file to get my fimal shape.

heres my plug when i was done: