Model 35 Electric Powered Outboard Kicker Motor Lift - Panther

Package did not include installation manual. Follow-up to iBOATS was not very productive, just a reference to the manufacturer, who then referred me to an on-line site.......no hard copy is available

I recently purchased this product to mount a kicker to my fishing boat. My situation required changing the bracket to the 13" setback configuration. The instructions and diagrams/photos in the manual aren't the best, but it was a fairly straightforward operation. In order to change the configurtaion, the pivot rod is moved to another set of holes, and the actuator must be relocated to another set of mounting holes. What the instructions do not mention, is that in order to perform this change, you will need to drill out the new sets of holes used to mount the CHINESE made actuator, because of the thickness of the coating (paint) that was applied. I did this, and installed the actuator retainer pin into the transom half of the bracket. It was not possible, however, to position the other end of the actuator in the set of holes in the aft half of the bracket, as the transom bracket had so much excess material that it prohibited the swing of the actuator needed to reach the mounting holes. I could have solved this by grinding material from the bracket, but thought that might void any warranty on the unit. I contacted the manufacturer, and they told me that I would have to pay to ship the defective bracket back to them, and they would replace it. I asked of they would reimburse me for the shipping, in that is was new, unmounted, and defective, and they refused. So, in essence, they wanted me to pay to ship their defective product back to them. Be very wary of spending your money on on this company's products. For the price of this item, I did not expect a defective casting, and CHINESE parts. The finish was also disappointing, numerous pinhole defects in the paint, and the castings had not been adequately smoothed prior to applying the paint, with rough chunks of metal protruding on the surface that mounts against the transom. I would have had to gring these off before mounting if I had kept this bracket, which would have destroyed the protective finish. All that you're getting for close to $600 is two aluminum castings, three stainless rods, a CHINESE actuator, and a handfull of electronic controls. NOT WORTH THE MONEY.

I recently purchased this product to mount a kicker to my fishing boat. My situation required changing the bracket to the 13" setback configuration. The instructions and diagrams/photos in the manual aren't the best, but it was a fairly straightforward operation. In order to change the configurtaion, the pivot rod is moved to another set of holes, and the actuator must be relocated to another set of mounting holes. What the instructions do not mention, is that in order to perform this change, you will need to drill out the new sets of holes used to mount the CHINESE made actuator, because of the thucknedd of the coating (paint) that was applied. I did this, and installed the actuator retainer pin into the transom half of the bracket. It was not possible, however, to position the other end of the actuator in the set of holes in the aft half of the bracket, as the transom bracket had so much excess material that it prohibited the swing of the actuator needed to reach the mounting holes. I could have solved this by grinding material from the bracket, but thought that might void any warranty on the unit. I contacted the manufacturer, and they told me that I would have to pay to ship the defective bracket back to them, and they would replace it. I asked of they would reimburse me for the shipping, in that is was new, unmounted, and defective, and they refused. So, in essence, they wanted me to pay to ship their defective product back to them. Be very wary of spending your money on on this company's products. For the price of this item, I did not expect a defective casting, and CHINESE parts. The finish was also disappointing, numerous pinhole defects in the paint, and the castings had not been adequately smoothed prior to applying the paint, with rough chunks of metal protruding on the surface that mounts against the transom. I would have had to gring these off before mounting if I had kept this bracket, which would have destroyed the protective finish. All that you're getting for close to $600 is two aluminum castings, three stainless rods, a CHINESE actuator, and a handfull of electronic controls. NOT WORTH THE MONEY.