I put a Engine Dive Bracket on my Boat! Was it worth it? {Before & After Results}

I closed the open transom on my boat and added a engine bracket dive platform. This is a full restoration video with results! Timestamps:
9:05 - Before Video of boat with open transom and no engine bracket
9:29 - Old Wood Transom removed from boat
10:50 - New closed in transom with Coosa board
12:12 - Putting on a engine bracket dive platform
12:55 - New and bigger floor hatch to bilge pumps
15:25 - Engine installed and rigged back on to the boat
17:31 - Putting new boat back into water
22:57 - Testing speed with new engine bracket dive platform
29:07 - Does my boat go faster or slower with engine dive bracket?
33:25 - Full overview of new dive platform and closed transom
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This is a full boat restoration video of my Key Largo 236cc where I have been debating for a long time about open transom vs closed transom on a boat.
After closing in my boat transom with coosa board I have to say that I don't think I'll ever go back to an open transom. A closed transom lets no water in and it's a much more dry and comfortable ride. Physically and mentally
Not only did I close in the transom of my boat but I also added an engine bracket. Or a dive platform because it's a huge bracket. Let's just call it an engine dive bracket because it's so big.
You're probably wondering. Is an engine bracket worth it? Will an engine bracket make my boat faster or slower? I do a full before and after review on the performance speed results of adding a engine bracket to a boat.
It did turn out I had a rotten transom so this is also a new transom restoration video. It's a 2 in 1. I close in the transom and install a engine bracket to the South Florida Fishing Channel boat!
I am running a 2020 Evinrude G2 engine 250 HO and I'm happy with the results of the dive platform engine bracket. I was worried the boat might handle weird and different but I think it handles just as good as before and the ride is even better. The bow rides a little higher at speeds under 30mph so it keeps us a bit more dry on rough days.

[@SouthFloridaFishingChannel]

She's back! Ya'll have no idea how much this moment means to me (maybe some of you do lol). But after 6 months of being dry I'm back in business and starting next week the fishing videos will be FLOWING. Thanks everyone for sticking around and helping me get through the tough times

[@jfx257]

Hell yeah, congrats man! Happy you got her back.. Can't wait to see you back out on the water making awesome videos & catching a ton of fish 🤙🏼🎣

[@brianturck274]

I felt every bit of your pain.. I just recently got my boat back on the water after it sitting waiting on another motor for a good 5 months.. nice work.. glad to see you're back on the water..

[@yoanmantilla7503]

Time to go sword fishing

[@lilbigroman2697]

Where the hell can I get a necklace like that??

[@jennifernavas7884]

So pumped💜

[@rileyshane78]

Dude what a good attitude you have. When that trailer stuff starts happening , I loose my mind. Cussing swearing.

[@Anotherdaynparadise]

Being heavily sedated will do that to you. Everything becomes an adventure...

[@waverider5751]

Smoke weed every day!

[@BrianFerraira]

I would have pulled the tag off and said f**k it

[@TylerDavis7384]

Can’t wait for the fishing vids to be back

[@SouthFloridaFishingChannel]

next week!

[@yjad27]

Congrats! She looks great. Looking forward to get back to fishing content. I do highly recommend you consider plumbing those deck drains overboard somehow. Let that cockpit self drain a d not into bilge. Specially since you keep the boat in the water. Any bad rain storm could be a nightmare for you if you’re bilge pump system fails or batteries die.

[@CJFfishingchannel]

Hell yea man.... looking fly AF

[@SouthFloridaFishingChannel]

Thanks man! It's GAME ONNNNNNNN

[@CJFfishingchannel]

@@SouthFloridaFishingChannel hell yea brotha!!

[@scary_scat3924]

You’re really gonna love that higher bow angle when you’re high speed trolling for wahoo.

[@robcip6133]

Nice job...but wouldnt you want the drains in the cockpit to drain out the back of the transom instead of into the bilge well?

[@pawadventures5544]

I was scared to hear how much you paid to get the boat fixed, I expected it to be a lot more than 10K. The deck looks good, glad you got the boat back.👍🏻👍🏻😎

[@riverakers]

You gained so much room and extra flotation when you are anchored on the reef.You also have that full gunnel height at the transom.No more worries about waves coming over the stern! So Awesome!!

[@jasonjackson4715]

Heiko you just showed everyone where you live when you pulled up at your dock after putting it in the water...look at the Simrad bud..I don't want you getting robbed again

[@ziradee]

Fuck that! He ain't hiding. They wanna come - let em come and get fragged!

[@flbowhuntin]

Looks great! The extra room is priceless! Personally, I’d plumb those aft deck drains straight overboard.

[@brendonblue829]

Is there a way to connect those deck drains to the existing drains in those transom boxes?

[@CaptainBobby74]

No kidding was thinking the same thing! I would be so nervous every night it rained. I would be laying in bed just thinking about her filling up with rain water.

[@Fishing_With_Essex]

Alright sweet man! Crazy how fast 6 months went, I feel like I just watched that video where your transom cracked like last week lol. Now go catchem up Heiko! 🤙😎

[@tomhobbies6888]

that 25 johnson should last a life time if maintained properly they are easy to work on and the parts can be had everywhere. Love the vids Later

[@MoonboyTV]

been wondering when we'd see the boat again. glad you got it back for at least half the season. good luck brother

[@SouthFloridaFishingChannel]

Right in time for mini season!

[@diverrite]

Wow, happy for you. Couldn't wait for this vid I new it would be good. My first and only boat is a 24ft Proline CC with a bracket. The brand wasn't that important but I wanted a enclosed transom and a bracket. Congrats.

[@muddydirtclaud4904]

It's a GOOD day in paradise . . .

[@ggstanggt]

PERFECT LOOK,PERFECT FIT, amazing boat!!! Nice video, thanks for the info ,very explicit. Can you please provide Your mechanic info, i have an inboard and i need to do the swap with an outboard. Thank you. Grate job.

[@Lees920]

I'm surprised that they only attached the bracket with single nuts. If it was me, I'd double nut that bracket. Keep an eye out for galvanic corrosion around the bracket bolts. The bracket looks great! You'll love it...especially for diving.

[@lovejetfuel4071]

Boat looks 100x better - I prefer Full transoms, look better and feel more secure

[@nopatience1417]

The deck draining into the bilge is a major mistake you need to replumb those to the outside

[@pearlwhitesti5165]

I was thinking the same exact thing!!

[@gordonginn9229]

Please keep doing your thing I’m 56 and a former paratrooper I got screwed out of my job of 30 years due to a horrible person that used covid19 to let me go to hire younger for less, if I can give you any advice, keep on keeping on I’m a huge fan and you are a great kid and I don’t mean that in a bad way!

[@SouthFloridaFishingChannel]

Thanks man, sorry that happened to you =(

[@brentadamson8373]

Looks like you have some nice toys. Spend a few bucks and get a nice 2500 truck gmc preferably

[@00000005547]

Oh hey I recognize that guy that did your fiberglass work... He gave me an extremely overpriced estimate for doing a floor and I told him to go screw himself. Lol.

[@petermyers479]

The boat looks way more practical with the bracket and the full transom. Well done!

[@scavendishjr33]

May want to consider putting another bilge pump in for the bracket.

[@bb421664]

What's max rpm for that motor? I thought it was 6000. Motor might need to be raised up or swing a smaller prop.

[@harrygumba9774]

ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZ just go fishing !!!!!!!! stop smoking weed!!!!!!

[@battlinbass]

Range rovers are one of the most unreliable vehicles. Lol. Get a truck!

[@georgeniebergall7074]

Invest in a hydrofoil it bolts onto the plates of your outboard engine they work really well they're efficient they'll get you up out of the water quick you will see a big difference with one on

[@xavierboekhoudt70]

allright new content to watch today ✌🏻🍻 back on track Heiko 🔥

[@joezubert3835]

New to the channel 1st video I watched great content. I'll be back

[@rogerheuckeroth7456]

$10K is definitely a deal for all that work. You made out good. Enjoy!

[@lovejetfuel4071]

I wouldn't call it cheap, but relatively speaking, seems like a fair deal

[@A.Matt7]

back down in offshore seas and no water going into your boat...

[@FX-Fishing561]

Robert from deermeat for dinner is going to be in the keys in july. It would be AWSOME to see a vid with you guys again!!!!

[@keelovision257]

They did a collab??? …… an you shoot me a link please

[@FX-Fishing561]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2japKWcd5V2jK8

[@FX-Fishing561]

Here it is awsome vidd

[@CNubel]

Dude, after all that bad luck, I'm glad you're back in the water. Can't wait to see what you'll be hauling up with the newly remodeled boat. To be honest, all that work for 10 G's isn't all that bad. I thought the final price tag was going to be way more than that.

[@asulliv1954]

That’s a beautiful small boat for a young man to have if you don’t mind how much does one like that cost?Motor and trailer too??Good Luck she’s a beauty!!I really hate watching these videos because I am jealous as hell all I have is a 10ft inflatable boat with trolling motor but one day,oh boy one day then I wake up every time!!Thanks

[@SouthFloridaFishingChannel]

Hey man! I have a little over 70k into this boat

[@frankmarullo228]

Congratulations on the return of your boat. !! It must be a good feeling almost like when your first child is born !!!! Now you need to get some fish blood onboard !!!! Can't wait. For a long video on a fishing trip .. THANK you Frank from montana...

[@JoseDiaz-yl9sh]

New engine. Looks great. I think 100it was worth it. Cleaner and a dryer drive. My room in the back of the boat.👍👍👍

[@BaumOutdoors]

What a crazy turn of events in the beginning of the video! Glad you stayed so positive 👍 Bro that boat is awesome! So happy you got everything put together. Looks great!

[@kamrandavis8390]

Good morning Hicko i am happy for you to got your boat back Good luck catch lots of fish and have fun

[@ziradee]

Hey Hicko! LOL!

[@YDvette]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥brother that looks so clean!!! You need to put some rod holders in the transom now . Congrats

[@jjp4119]

Wow. All that for $10k. Enjoy!

[@gbass7328]

Good work and video. I would have liked to see the interior of the transom reglassed down to the bilge and forward, and a jack plate for height adjustability. Trimming the motor out should get you more speed now due to the platform's leverage on the hull.

[@garynoll700]

I like what you did, the transformation is great. I'm a believer if you love your boat spending money to Improve it is nothing compared to what new ones cost. I see you enjoy your boat and that's what counts.

[@soupernerd8975]

Id like to see some sort of backing plate for those bolt heads (inside of the transom) to distribute the load, esp with the added leverage in back. Everything else looks amazing.

[@joserguevara2834]

Nice my friend get theme videos coming

[@davidtseng4903]

Love your channel!! What iPhone app you use for weather forecast before you head out to fishing?

[@SouthFloridaFishingChannel]

I like raindar and magicseaweed and windy

[@gemueseackerlongonly]

Dan is a good guy. Glad you have your boat back, your positive attitude is refreshing. Yeew!

[@markpearson1002]

Can you message me I have a key largo as well and want the same thing done and I’m having trouble finding someone to close the back in and add a bracket

[@SouthFloridaFishingChannel]

Give Tyrone a call if you want someone in Key Largo to work on it. He did this job for me 786.205.9058

[@cphoover11]

Just slap some flex seal on it bro

[@hectorgarcia8997]

Man what were you thinking whit a black cat in your brand new repair boat that is bad luck. Lol just kidding I'm not even superstitious. Just happy to see you got your boat back and looking forward to see you do videos in your vessel again .👍 👌 👏

[@davids7550]

That was about 1/2 the price I guessed. I checked into an Armstrong bracket to replace the existing Gill Marine bracket on mine, but never pulled the trigger. Having the extra floatation with the engine is a nice feature people don't think about too much. I wanted to purchase a twin bracket just for the extra-large floatation chamber on which I would mount my single engine. If possible, I would rather swamp than sink. Nice boat,

[@ziradee]

It feels like you're missing an arm or a leg or part of you cerebral cortex when our boat's are in the shop. People that don't live here in FLA may not understand. Once you have a boat that you can fish with year round it just becomes your life basically. That's probably why more than half the people around here (SWF) have or had boats and or work on boats as charter captains or mates or work at marinas etc. Life would suck without boats down here! Needless to say congrats on getting your 'Daughter" back and congrats on the 14' Grand-child. Your willingness to document everything in life as it happens is awesome dude. I have a what I think is a good idea for a fishing series of video's that would also need some new products in your store if executed. I'll shoot you an email when I have a minute and share the deets. Have an awesome week offshore but watch out for those nasty storms we've started getting already. Tight lines and Bloody Decks!

[@lb7wade518]

Love it!!

[@JackedUpFishing]

Lots of room to work now man!!! Yeeehaww! Let’s GOOOOO!

[@Hitech82]

Runs great. I love the way you closed it in. Now you have an off shore boat my man.

[@dannilaser16]

Oh, hey, look, it’s Jonathan from deadliest catch.

[@MiamiLiving305]

Now That you have the boat come out to Islamorada sandbar Sunday for the 4th of july

[@TEEDOUO]

Which company did the work for you transom & bracket ?? Awesome work, they need a shout out for awesome work..

[@tommanley2025]

Glad to see the boat back and the bracket looks sweet. One word of caution though....In the bilge where you have the bile pumps and whatever the other pump was, you should have double clamps on the hoses. Hopefully, you install the additional clamps before one day, you have a broken clamp and water in the bilge again. Looking to see all the new videos!

[@garynoll700]

You need to paint the heads of the bolts on the transom. They make it look like holes in back. It would add th O the great looks of your boat, you lucky dog living in the keys.😢 I see these videos and want to cry with envy!!!! Have fun.

[@geebroni4118]

When you mentioned the cost, I guessed $18k. Great project and outcome. Think I need to change my leafs.

[@singhs22]

I've missed the boat....and its not even mine 😂 - Can't wait til you catch a giant grouper or something next to this bad boy....maybe even try in the John Boat...that might be epic!

[@margekaralis6127]

Heiko, this video gave us goosebumps. We couldn't be happier for you. Terrific video. Loved the unvarnished truthfulness, you share. ❤yeehaw, come on fishing videos.

[@derekdavis8054]

Wheres the fish now hieko..

[@BullittKid08]

Congrats man! Recently repowered the boat my dad and i fished when i was a kid (02' Tracker TV18); new 90hp mercury command thrust. I definitely can relate to that first ride excitement!

[@lluisr.185]

Hi friend! I'm really happy for you! Things going good! Now it's time to enjoy the rebuild boat amd give us some great fishing videos! 🎣🎣🎣 Cheersss

[@leonardcubit5715]

You need a 4 prop 'blade

[@JohnAvantiBK]

!0K& money well spent. That's a 200K boat lol...

[@lojack5000]

been waiting for this!! I'm gonna share the heck outta this ! like this video!

[@SouthFloridaFishingChannel]

Thanks!!!!!!!

[@mahimahiaddictioncesargonz5445]

Boat outfitter. Lifetime Warranty 👍👍👍🔥🔥🔥🔥 cussa Board

[@kevinboer4848]

Totally worth it dude. Looks way stronger.

[@lovejetfuel4071]

Nothing comes cheap with boating

[@mrfish49el]

You're lucky it was only the transom, I had to redo stringers and transom. Pretty much mud was all that came out.

[@bobcrispycritterrv2706]

Good job with the presentation. $10K not bad for what you got. Now let's go fishing!!

[@lynkpaul33]

Of course it is worth it. I told you to do that. More room aft, safer, more stability and much more benefits.

[@willswoodworks60]

That turned out really nice Heiko...I cant wait for more Fishing Videos...

[@andriessluiter4269]

Hey Heiko, you got some nice boats now. Realy like the transom repair. Cant wait for the fishing adventures.

[@racerex340]

Congratulations dude, I'm really happy and excited for you, I know that the last half year must have been killing you. Here's to an amazing second half of 2021.

[@jimmalloy7279]

Where do you live? Those mangroves look really cool to cruise though!

[@SouthFloridaFishingChannel]

Near John pennekamp in Key Largo

[@jimmalloy7279]

@@SouthFloridaFishingChannel 👍👍👍

[@dannyhatmaker7892]

Buddy that looks awesome can't what to see the big monster fish got from the new boat ! That awesome YALL need get going on catching the fish !

[@fishhunt9874]

Looks good! That big hunk of aluminum was a good investment. 🤙🏼 you may need to give it a little trim tab to get a more top end speed with the transom extension. I have to give my boat a little tab to optimize my ride and I have a full width bracket that is an extension of my hull bottom.

[@zaneellzey1084]

The price for that work sounds like a good deal to me. It looks much better than before and seems solid. I expected a much higher price. Grats!

[@jamesrahn8339]

Happy for you bro

[@UrbanFisherman]

Yes sir 👍🏾

[@Captain_Nunez94]

Bro I am so damn happy you got both your boats running and looking amazing. #FavoriteChannel

[@djmjr77]

Awesome Man!! Sooo happy for you!! Cant wait to see you on the humps, catchin those mahi again!!

[@kohenshlom]

great job man much more space "new boat " the best it ever looked happy for you enjoy it like you know

[@Practically_RL]

Yo u should make more mahi vids recently my dad and I would go out to 350 and just rip there lips the bite has been on 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@sunsaltrepeat7332]

The boat looks great man. My last boat had an engine bracket/dive platform. We loved it. Definitely miss it on the new boat.

[@riverakers]

All I can say is,All Right!!!

[@rustyrooster8956]

Boat looks great 👍. How does it feel out in rough water? Happy for you 👍👍

[@Rockhead81]

HEIKO I Was thinking about Selling my boat today when a man pulled up and offered me cash I told him I'd think about it and took his number welpppp Heiko after seeing how happy you were to get that boat back after 6 months ummmm excuse me sir My Boat isn't for Sale 😅🤘🏼🤙🏽 Love Your Content can't wait for some Mahi Madness Yewwwwww

[@SouthFloridaFishingChannel]

Lolol it's hard to find a good deal on boats these past couple years

[@zerolinefishing]

Looks good, tight lines, 🤙

[@iamremy-kl3xm]

awesome… job well done… not ah bad price for the job!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🎥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@margiebalaurotv1006]

Hillo my new friend 💖 sending now my love and full support your channel now 💖 Godbless 🙏

[@jeffreyspina989]

Hey I love your channel !!!!!! I own a Evinrude engine.......what are your thoughts about the company is no longer around. AND WHAT WAS THE COST OF THAT 250 HO

[@handygreg6354]

Yeah! 👍👍👍

[@moleisrich1]

Penny camp! Went there 40 years ago! Love it

[@southflwildadventures]

So happy for you getting the boat back. Can't wait to see some new fishing videos soon.

[@Slimefollower]

HEY MON ❗️. What do you think your boat, with ALL of the improvements, is worth now ❓ NOT trying to get up in your business, but I’m trying to budget for my new/gently used boat. THANKS and SAFE TRAVELS ‼️

[@michaelkerr5745]

Congrats bud. Bigger and better. Everything for a reason!!

[@maxmayer4006]

TELL ME BUDDY, WHY WOULD ANYBODY WANT TO SUPPORT AND FINANCE YOU IN HAVING FUN AND ENJOYING YOURSELF WHILE OTHERS HAVE TO DO WORK IN STINKEN SHOPS AND FACTORIES, OR STICKY OFFICES OR ON POLLUTED ROADS???????????????????