kicker mounting on a fiberglass boat

[kok-head]

i'm hoping to mount a fixed aluminum kicker bracket to my 18' fiberglass boat, the motor i'll be using on it will be a 1980 2 stroke 7.5hp johnson (not sure of weight), someday i might upgrade to an 8hp or 9.9hp 4 stroke motor, and i'm wondering with a lighter 2 stroke or heavier 4 stroke how deep into the fiberglass transom will my lag screws need to go to hold everything tightly? and what would ya'll say the minumum diameter of the screw would need to be?

i searched KFF and couldn't find anything specifically on fiberglass kicker bracket mounting but if ya'll see a thread or have advice let me know, thanks

 

[red]

through-bolt it's an aluminum bracket I had made then it was power coated. Don't use lag screws they won't hold.

 

[AFDan52]

Red , I would use Stainless Steel Bolts and Nylocks on your bracket.

 

[SuperD]

Red , I would use Stainless Steel Bolts and Nylocks on your bracket.

And copias amounts of sealant around each bolt hole between the plate and the transom.

 

[dragonfly]

lots of sealant and I would make a backing plate or at the least the biggest flat washers I could find because even though the 2 stroke is some what light that is still a lot of leverage the transom wasn't made for. so spreading out the load area will be good insurance for a long trouble free life. dfly

 

[SuperD]

I've done an exhaustive search on the internet to see a picture of what the back of your boat looks like but haven't found anything. Can you post a picture of your transom so we can see what you are working with?

 

[kok-head]

I've done an exhaustive search on the internet to see a picture of what the back of your boat looks like but haven't found anything. Can you post a picture of your transom so we can see what you are working with?

ill get one posted soon hopefully, boat is still in storage

my boat's transom is pretty similar to one in this link (2nd boat photo down at the top of the thread) except mine has battery storage on both sides just in front of transom, and since it has the battery storage that should allow me to through-bolt the bracket, if i can through-bolt it ill back it with a piece of steel plate to give it some more surface area, my boat has just enough room on the transom next to the main motor to allow an extremely annoying cramped get-in-the-way-all-the-time space and i've finally had enough of loosening and tighting the motor down each time i want to fish and use the kicker or motor down the lake with the main motor (which is at least 15-20min of silliness each fishing trip)

thanks for the replies

http://www.stripersonline.com/t/547848/lets-see-your-ride/1110

 

[SuperD]

The transom in that photo looks scary thin to me. It might be okay backed with a plate for this 2 stroke but I'd think seriously about reinforcing the entire transom if you ever upsize your main or add a 4 stroke.

 

[kok-head]

The transom in that photo looks scary thin to me. It might be okay backed with a plate for this 2 stroke but I'd think seriously about reinforcing the entire transom if you ever upsize your main or add a 4 stroke.

no doubt, i do remember my transom being a similar layout but i know mine is more sturdy and is rated to safely handle a 150hp motor, but i definitely wouldn't want to rip bolts through the trasom so if i do attempt to mount the kicker ill be careful to do it right

i know Bduck and a few others on KFF have 4 stroke kickers mounted on their glass boats, anyone know if they have all through-bolted their kicker brackets? seems like its the best way to mount them properly

 

[lowe1648mt]

Having mounted a few hundred of those brackets, I'd say use Aluminum, not steel. Make the plate ( for the transom ) bigger than the foot print of the bracket. T he plate on the inside should be at least 1/4 inch thick. I like 3/8 inch. Bevel the edges on the plate so you don't have wires getting damaged by the plate. If possible, put the mounting bolts thru from the inside to the out side. You will need to caulk both inside and out side of the transom. Ground the plate . Make sure the bracket is not too high or too low.
I can't think of more right now. I just take so much as granted after so many. More questions, just ask.