Kicker Mount to Swim Platform weight opinion needed

[bumrunner]

I bought a mercury 9.9 -4 stroke which is pretty heavy (Around 100lbs if not more). I've built a bracket so I can mount it on my boat's swim platform, but I am concerned about the weight when driving the boat in lake erie. I'm wondering if anyone has any experience or opinion on this... I've attached a picture of it for review. Any help is appreciated.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Kicker Mount to Swim Platform weight opinion needed

It looks a little light.

I can't see the bolts holding the top metal bracket to the transom, but that whole area looks under sized. The rest of them look like 1/4-20's, not big enough.


You also probably need to change the angle of the plate the motor clamps to, it looks vertical, it needs to tilt back a few degrees, if it doesn't you may not be able to tilt the motor down enough.

It also looks like you used Starboard, it has very little strength and needs metal backing if its supporting any weight.

 

[bumrunner]

Re: Kicker Mount to Swim Platform weight opinion needed

Thanks for the input. Any ideas on what I can do?

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Kicker Mount to Swim Platform weight opinion needed

Agreed about Starboard. I made a fixed-position standoff/bracket for my electric troller (what, 30-40 lbs?) out of a double layer of 3/4" Starboard scraps, and after a few seasons it started cracking at the edges. I fixed it up by backing the joints with heavy-duty aluminum angle.

With that bracket there, is the swim platform even useable? In other words, would it be reasonable to ditch the platform entirely?

In any case, I agree it looks like you need a stronger bracket, and if it were my boat I'd feel a lot better about it if it were mounted directly to the transom.