Re: Using a kicker to lower engine on 20 in transom
We use a short shaft Mercury 15 hp 4 stroke on a 14 inch aluminum v boat. However the boat has a 20 in transom. We do not want a long shaft engine as we fish in rocky areas and beach our boat in a rocky area. We like the short shaft but the engine gets air well before top speed.
Could we use a kicker bracket to get the engine lower or is that only for a 2nd smaller engine? We are considering the Garelick 4 stroke motor bracket, but are concerned about adding more weight. It seems we would then need tabs to keep the bow down.
I really don't understand why you couldn't use a long shaft and just tilt it up a little for shallow operation and tilt it up all the way to beach it? I don't think a long shaft is inherently more difficult to operate under the condidtions you describe.
Now, I understand if your goal is to simply use the engine you have rather than buy a new long shaft, but functionally, I don't think there will be an advantage.
If you use a kicker bracket to lower the short shaft to the proper operating depth (so it doesn't ventilate), it will be the same depth as the long shaft anyway. Unless I'm misunderstanding something, you'll still have to raise the motor (by lifting the kicker bracket) to operate in shallower water - and you'll still have to tilt it up to beach it... or raise the kicker bracket to full height (which I'm not sure will get the engine out of the water completely anyway).
By the way, I have an older version of the Garelick 4 stroke bracket - it's about 10 years old, so some features are a little different. It works great and will probaby have plenty of capacity for what you're trying to do.
