why use an auxilery outboard bracket?

[tonyscj5]

I am adding a kicker to my boat and am deciding weather or not to use an outboard bracket to mount my kick, or just mount it on the transom. My transom is wide enough to mount a kicker on, add the kicker shaft is long enough it would be in the water. I think I could hook up a steering rod from the main outboard to the kicker and be good to go. But my mechanic tells me I need the bracket and a steering rod that straps on the outboards above each cavitation plate to work smoothly. I would like to save some cash but want it to work well.<br /><br />So.. what do you all think?<br /><br />thanks

 

[jshoes52]

Re: why use an auxilery outboard bracket?

Do you trailer your boat? I have a kicker mounted on a bracket and I have to mount and dismount the kicker every time I trailer the boat to the water. I just don't trust the bracket holding the motor in place on the bumpy country roads I travel. If it were on the transom, I could mount it permanently.

 

[tonyscj5]

Re: why use an auxilery outboard bracket?

I trailer the boat only a couple times/year. To and from the marina at the beginning and year of the season. Plus a few random trailering for repairs and paint. But not to much. I would not especially mind mounting and dismounting. I am just wondering If there is any other reason to use on besides getting the motor lower enough into the water. My kicker will hit the water no problem, long shaft.<br /><br />thanks

 

[Al Kungel]

Re: why use an auxilery outboard bracket?

If you have sufficient room on the transom and the cavitation plate on the kicker is below the hull then there is no reason to use an auxillary bracket. On the transom on my boat, unfortunately, I do not have sufficient room for the kicker so I had a custom made bracket fabricated. The kicker on my boat is hooked up to the main motor and it steers well.

 

[tonyscj5]

Re: why use an auxilery outboard bracket?

Thanks for the reply, how is your steering hooked up. I have seen both the mounts on the back of the motors lower unit, and the setup using the rod from the steering arm on the front of the motor to the aux motor. The only problem w/ 2nd option is that the kicker is a tiller motor and has no arm to connect a steerin rod. <br /><br />What would you recomend<br />Thanks

 

[roscoe]

Re: why use an auxilery outboard bracket?

"My kicker will hit the water no problem, long shaft."<br /><br />Hitting the water is not good enough. <br />Getting the prop sufficiantly below the hull into clean water is important. As is getting the anti ventilation plate and the water intakes below the water line.<br /><br />Using an adjustable bracket allows you to raise the motor up out of the water, easier than tilting it up. Also allows for changing conditions, keeps the motor low enough in really rough seas.

 

[tonyscj5]

Re: why use an auxilery outboard bracket?

But if my cavitation plate is well below the hull, I dont see the need for the bracket. And I dont mind tilting the motor.<br /><br />Just making sure I am not missing anything.<br />Thanks

 

[TwoBallScrewBall]

Re: why use an auxilery outboard bracket?

If the cav plate is even with the bottom of the hull, you should be good. I would not go more than 1-2" above that line, you might get poor results.

 

[khc1970]

Re: why use an auxilery outboard bracket?

I had a Sheltie with a Johnson 35 plus a Honda 100 (10hp) as aux. They were both mounted on the transome. <br /><br />I had both outboard joined together with a rigging screw(?), the screw is fixed to the spare holes on the steering link bit. I used the main steering to control both outboard, but the manouvability is ok but not as sharp as the main one. There were 2 problems with this setup:<br /><br />1) the screw had to be connect and disconnect everytime I want to use the aux, because neither engine can tilt with it on.<br />2) even with the aux tilted up, the prop housing touching the water (occasionally). If you can't get your aux completely out of the water, make sure you secured it so that it's dead centred and not leaning to either side. I noticed the tilt spring/catch is slightly bent after a few months.

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: why use an auxilery outboard bracket?

So you sold your Sheltie after all, khc?<br />Good for you.<br /><br />And Tony - just make sure also that when you trailer, your kicker has sufficient clearance, and doesn't bounce around too much to strain the transom. <br /><br />An adjustable kicker bracket means that therre is less strain on the transom because the kicker weight remains close to it when the bracket is raised.

 

[gss036]

Re: why use an auxilery outboard bracket?

I use a bracket for my 15 hp Honda. I was going to put it on the transom but the transom was too thick for the mounting bracket. On the down side, if you use a 4 stroke kicker, and tilt it all the way up, you may encounter raw gas from the carb running into the pistons and then drain into the oil sump. <br />I guess it depends on how you are going to use your kicker. I use a remote hydralic steering system for my kicker, that way I can move all over the boat and not be stuck in one position.<br />$$$ is always a concern, so is convience and pleasure in using your boat, you will never see a U-Haul behind a hearse, you cannot take it with you, enjoy life.

 

[jshoes52]

Re: why use an auxilery outboard bracket?

I don't think your kicker's cavitation plate needs to be level with the bottom of the hull unless your kicker will get the boat up on plane. If it just moves it at headway speed, the water level at the transom will be higher than when you are on plane. It's a trial and error task determining the height. Make sure as noted earlier that the intakes are getting water.

 

[JC1933]

Re: why use an auxilery outboard bracket?

Hi Tonyscj5.<br /><br /> Just read your thread on kicker rigging, <br /> I just rigged my kicker with a bent to fit rod that connects to both motors from the front,under the front of my 130 johnson there is a steering bracket with a hole in the tip,the rod connects to this by a larg washer welded to the rod tip, the other end is rigged up the same way and connects under the tiller arm by a plate that i installed a bolt to, this plate that fits onto the washer on the rod end,this is screwed under tiller.works just fine and total cost was $1.37 the washers are left a bit loose so motors can be tilted. hope you are able to understand this discription. have a nice evening. J.C.

 

[Al Kungel]

Re: why use an auxilery outboard bracket?

tonyscj5,<br />Thanks for the reply, how is your steering hooked up. I have seen both the mounts on the back of the motors lower unit, and the setup using the rod from the steering arm on the front of the motor to the aux motor. The only problem w/ 2nd option is that the kicker is a tiller motor and has no arm to connect a steerin rod.<br />The main motor(Merc 115) and auxillary (Yamaha 8 with a tiller) are hooked up at the front. On the Yamaha there is a carrying handle to which I hooked up the steering rod.

 

[Long Shaft]

Re: why use an auxilery outboard bracket?

I removed my kicker today and remembered this post. I mount my 5 hp Mariner on the transom. Over the years the metal disks on the clamps have left some unsightly marks on the transom. A bracket would obviously stop this happening.

 

[Al Kungel]

Re: why use an auxilery outboard bracket?

Long Shaft,<br /><br />To avoid marking up the transom put a piece of 1/4 inch plywood or some other material between the clamps and the transom.