Inflatable boat owners often face the need to adapt serial models for specific tasks of fishing or recreation. pygmyThis structural element, which is the protruding part of the transcrete or its extension, serves as a reliable support for the installation of an outboard motor, and the understanding of its role is necessary for anyone who plans to upgrade their vessel.
Many newcomers confuse the concept tailbone If the gain is to distribute the load over the area of the inflatable cylinder, then the smokestick is exactly a geometric extension of the plane for the engine attachment. pygmy This allows for motors with greater power than the manufacturer's base boat model, opening up new horizons in speed and maneuverability.
In this article, we will go into detail about why this element is so important, what it is made of, and how to approach the issue of modernization. You will learn about the risks associated with improper installation, and understand whether you should do this at all in your case. Water safety is the number one priority, so the theoretical basis here is critical.
What is a pig and why is it needed on the transom
Fundamentally. pygmy (or "coccyx", as it is often called in the public) is a rigid lining that continues the line of the transom down or up, changing the angle of the outboard motor's suspension. lower unitStandard PVC boats often have a transom designed for low-power motors with a short leg, and installing a more powerful unit requires shifting the mounting point.
In addition, the presence of a blueprint allows you to compensate for the design features of some boat models, where the cylinders have a strong narrowing to the bottom. Without an additional element, the motor can rest on the inflatable parts, which is unacceptable during operation. Coptic Removes the lower unit from the side, ensuring the free movement of the water flow and the operation of the screw without cavitation.
⚠️ Attention: Using a homemade smokestick without considering the boat's load capacity can lead to critical differentiation at the stern. It's not just a matter of comfort, but a real safety threat as the boat becomes unstable on the wave.
Also worth noting is the aesthetic aspect and protection of the transom itself: Metal or plastic linings often take on the impacts on the pier or sand when pulling the boat ashore, preserving the integrity of the main one. graffitiThis is especially true for boats made of thinner materials.
Design features and materials of manufacture
Selection of material for manufacture pygmy The most common option is marine plywood coated with special paint or varnish, a classic solution that is easy to implement at home, but plywood is afraid of constant contact with water and requires perfect sealing of the ends.
More advanced and reliable material is considered composite And it's made of fiberglass, which is molded into the shape of the transom of a particular boat, making it perfect for the body, and it's completely inert to water, it doesn't rot, it's very hard to break. pygmy Usually more plywood, but its reliability is worth it.
- 🔨 Aluminum alloy: Lightweight and durable, but requires high-quality anodic protection against corrosion in salt water.
- 🪵 Tree (Liver/Oak): Used less often, requires careful oil treatment, but looks aesthetically pleasing.
- 🧱 Glass plastic: Perfectly repeats the shape, high maintainability, but difficult to manufacture without a shape.
It is important to bear in mind that pygmy It's not just a piece of board, it's a complex system that has to transfer the traction force of the motor to the entire body of the boat. So the interior that comes in contact with the transom is often reinforced by metal plates or additional layers of fiberglass. AISI 316.
When choosing a material for a smog, give preference to fiberglass if you plan to use it in salt water, since it is not subject to electrochemical corrosion, unlike metals.
Impact on the driving performance and the boat’s differentiation
Installation pygmy And it inevitably changes the hydrodynamics of the boat, and by moving the motor back, we increase the lever acting on the stern, which causes the boat to snooze more than usual when it comes to planing. hydrofoil on lower unit.
On the other hand, the right angle of the billboard allows the boat to get on plane mode faster, and the motor, which is in the optimal position, pushes water more efficiently, reducing the resistance of the hull. Coptic It helps to set the lower unit parallel to the bottom, which is the ideal condition for maximum speed.
But there's a downside to this: Excessive lengthening of the transom can cause the stern to bury in the wave when you're going against the wind, the boat becomes more of a roller. So you need to be clear about the conditions you're going to be operating the vessel in before you're installed. For calm water bodies and rivers with a small current, this is a great tuning option.
| Parameter | No smoke. | Short-core (+3 cm) | Long-cooked (+7 cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attack angle on glossing | Standard. | Optimal. | Over-balanced (needs balancing) |
| Maximum speed | Basic | +5-7% | Depends on the setting. |
| Fuel consumption | Norma. | Downsized. | Increased (due to resistance) |
| Stability on course | Good. | Great. | Reduced |
The main conclusion of the section: The Koptic improves plane output but requires careful balancing of the boat to avoid loss of stability on the go.
Installation technology and transom reinforcement
Installation process pygmy The snails of the boat must be cleaned of dirt, grease and old coatings. If it is a question of gluing the element, a special two-component glue for PVC is used, for example, UR-600 The surface is degreased with acetone or a special solvent.
The combination method is often used to ensure reliability: adhesive joint plus mechanical fasteners. pygmy And the trench drills holes where the bolts with wide washers are placed, and the washers are required so that the bolt head does not penetrate the material of the balloon when vibrating.
⚠️ Attention: When drilling holes in the transom, use only sharp drills and low rpms to avoid melting the edges of the hole and damaging the internal structure of the plywood. Be sure to seal the holes after the bolts are installed.
An important step is to strengthen the contact site. pygmy Often, an additional plate of glass-textolite or aluminum is installed, which distributes point loads from the bolts over a larger area of the transom, which prevents the plywood of the transom from dissecting over time.
☑️ Check before installing the spearhead
Comparison of factory solutions and homemade products
Many boat manufacturers, such as Flagship, Aqua or hunteroffer full-time reinforced transom or optional pyrotic. Factory products are good because they're designed to fit the specifics of the model, they're tested for strength and compatibility, but they can be expensive and the range of angles can be limited.
Homemade options allow you to realize any engineering fantasies. pygmy This is especially useful if you already have a motor with a non-standard leg or you use a boat in specific conditions (such as shallow water), but here comes the human factor: the quality of the execution depends on the hands of the master.
- 🏭 Factory: Quality assurance, compliance with standards, high price.
- 🛠 Homemade: Flexibility of settings, low cost, risk of errors in calculations.
- ⚖️ Compromise: Ordering an individual product in a profile workshop.
If you're not confident, you'd better go with a serial solution. pygmy It can cost you a motor or even cause a water emergency, and homemade designs are only justified if you have experience with composites and understand loads.
The Hidden Risk of Homemade
When you make plywood in the home, you often forget about the end sealing of the layers. Water, when it hits the end, causes swelling and stratification, which is invisible from the outside until the critical failure under load.
Operational rules and maintenance
Anyone. pygmyAfter every trip to the water, especially if it was in a salty environment, the structure needs to be washed with fresh water, which will wash away the residue of salt, which is the main enemy of metal fasteners and adhesive seams.
Before each navigation, you should visually inspect the mounting sites. Bolts tend to weaken from vibration, so they need to be pulled up periodically. Also check the condition of the paint coating. pygmy The plywood signal is for immediate repair.
Keep the boat with the setup python In winter, you can, but only in a dry, heated room, and temperature changes and humidity can lead to warping of materials. pygmy Removable, it is better to dismantle and store separately, wrapping in a soft fabric.
Can I put a penny on a boat without a transom?
Theoretically, it can, but it requires a global redesign of the aft, including sticking a hard transom, and you can't put the engine through the pigeon on the inflatable floor, because the structure won't withstand the load.
Does a piggyback increase the boat’s loading capacity?
No, on my own. pygmy It only allows for a more powerful motor, which may indirectly require a review of the boat's loading to comply with safety standards.
Do I need to register a boat with a peepee set?
If a design change (a piggyback installation) causes an engine power change above the registration threshold or changes the load capacity, it formally requires changes in the documents. In practice, GIMS rarely pays attention to this unless the maximum power for a given length of the body is exceeded.
What is the maximum size of the stainless stain?
A projection not exceeding 10-15% of the length of the boat's current waterline is considered safe, and exceeding this value dramatically reduces handling and requires professional engineering calculations.