Re: kicker motor brackets and transom stress

[foot_doctor]

I’m afraid that your bracket is suspiciously weak. The fasteners are too small for my confidence, and the length of the brackets fastening it to the transom are too short from top to bottom. If I were given the task of designing a mount for your kicker, I would include two 1/8 x 1 1/2 inch angle iron brackets stretching from near the top of the transom to near the bottom. The angles would distribute the stress along a greater area. They would serve as mounts for the kicker mount. I would use no less than 5/16 inch diameter fasteners. The fasteners would extend thru the transom and be backed by no less than 1 1/4 diameter washers inside. In order to assure that the kicker would remain mounted, I would trade out the aluminum structure that now supports the engine, for a small wooden transom. The metal is too slippery, and it’s difficult for the transom clamps to initiate a meaningful purchase into the aluminum. The last would be an easily removable strut from the gear case area to the lower portion of the transom. Much like a trailering strut. Just my 30 cents. Have fun boating. R.T.