Mounting a kicker bracket?

M

Mr. Fisherman

New member
Well I finally got all the parts and plan to install my kicker bracket this weekend.
Should I mount it in the same area I had it on my transom?
If so how do I go about getting the depth and alignment of the kicker right? I thought that if I keep it in the same left to right alignment and adjusted the depth (up, down) so the prop is in the same depth it is when it is on the transom it should be fine. My concerns are the clearance of my main motor when I turn hard over and the connection to my EZ steer via the steering rod.
I don't want to drill 4 holes more than one time. I am also concerned about placing the kicker on the bracket and holding it up with clamps but I may have to try it. Maybe it won't be bad. The durn thing is pretty heavy being as it is a 4 stroke.
 
Ray - if it's heavier than a Honda 8, you got the wrong kicker! Two C-clamps held mine up just fine. Just use heavy duty C-clamps, and not some weenie woodwork things.

Put a chunk of 2 x 4 inside the transon to protect the gelcoat, hold the bracket where you think it needs to be, and clamp it securely with one clamp jaw on the bracket flange and the other on the 2 x 4. Put one clamp on each side of the bracket as high up as you can being sure not to cover the mounting holes. Clamp it tight and hang the motor centered on the motor mount board which you already have secured to the bracket. Let go of it real slow if you are concerned about it slipping, and tension the clamps a little more if it does. Then use a pencil to trace one side and the bottom of the bracket flange. Try your main steering for clearance and check your A/V plate depth. If you need to relocate, figure out which way and how much, then remove the motor and reclamp the bracket in the new location, using your traced pencil marks as a reference. Keep after it until it is perfect. Then mark the easiest hole to get at, or drill right through the bracket hole, and secure the first thru-transom bolt. Check the vertical plumb of the bracket so it looks good to the eye, and then mark the other three holes. If you have a long enough drill, you would do best to just drill right through the bracket mounting holes so you are assured of perfect bolt alignment. If you get one or more holes that don't line up when you're done, take the bracket off and enlarge its holes slightly. Remember to hold the drill at 90º to the transom face (the butt of the drill motor will be tipped downward) so the heads and nuts are square to the glass. Put some sealant - either silicone, polysulfite, or 3M 4200 (do not use 3M 5200) - in the holes and on the bolt shanks. Shove the bolts through, slap some big washers on the inside, and nut the buggers. That's it. Done. You can do it quicker than I typed this post.
 
Thanks Mike. You know me... I gotta talk about it and research it adn measure 6 times before I drill a hole. Well one in the transome anyway.
Thanks for taking the time to post it. Hopefully it will help future kicker mounting brats too. That is kind of why I posted this in the first place :wink: . I didn't need reassurance o radult beverages, no sir. :mrgreen: :beer :cigar
 
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