Seeking Advice - Kicker Motor Mounting - which side of transom?

[JoLin]

I'm considering buying a kicker for my Pro-Line. It's a 15 hp, 4-stroke Merc with electric start and tiller controls. Running weight would be about 120 lbs.

Every picture I see of a powerboat with a mounted auxiliary shows it set up on the starboard side of the transom. That's going to make things pretty heavy on that side of the boat. There's me and 2 batteries already there. Add the kicker and I have 350+ pounds of weight to starboard, offset only by Linda (who will usually, but not always always be with me) at 120 lbs. to port.

This will be my first season owning a boat, so please let me know if I'm worrying too much about this amount of weight. Starboard mounting would in fact be easier, as I wouldn't need to relocate my swim platform.

Are there good reasons to mount the kicker to starboard, or will port-side mounting work just as well?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Seeking Advice - Kicker Motor Mounting - which side of transom?

i know of no reason, you can't mount of port side.

 

[rndn]

Re: Seeking Advice - Kicker Motor Mounting - which side of transom?

I've seen a lot of boats with the kicker mounted on the port side.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Seeking Advice - Kicker Motor Mounting - which side of transom?

Thanks, guys. Okay, there's no reason that it can't be mounted on either side. Got it.

Now, given the weight differential from side to side, would YOU opt to mount it on the port side, or am I obsessing? If it'll make a big difference in the trim of the boat I'll do it, but I don't know how significant it is on a 21-footer. Mounting to port will mean that I need to relocate the swim platform, and I don't need to "make work" for myself.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Seeking Advice - Kicker Motor Mounting - which side of transom?

Port mount it. When you add the weight of the bracket your up at least another 20 lbs.

 

[crb478]

Re: Seeking Advice - Kicker Motor Mounting - which side of transom?

It sounds like you already have enough weight on the starboard side. Unless you have a tilt in your boat form prop torque then I would port mount it. you might want to take the boat out and try it out with the motor on the transom before you put any holes in it but I suspect you will be fine and better balanced with the weight on the port side.

 

[wbeaton]

Re: Seeking Advice - Kicker Motor Mounting - which side of transom?

Funny, up here I only see port mounted kickers.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Seeking Advice - Kicker Motor Mounting - which side of transom?

I guess it'll be port side. Thanks for the feedback, all. Being a new boater I second guess myself alot, so I appreciate everybody's patience.

I bought the motor this evening, btw. Now it's off to eBay to find a bracket.