mounting a kicker motor to a boat?

[mrjigger]

I just bought a 9.9 4st yamaha kicker motor for my boat. my question is how do most people mount their kickers to the boat. Do they just use the cranks and get them as tight as possible, or do they cut the cranks off and bolt the motor straight to the boat much like the big motor? I know bolting to the boat would be the safest, so the motor wouldn't fall off. But I also possibly plan on using the kicker on a different small boat, so I would like it to be fairly easy to remove from my big boat. Any thoughts?

[Surface Tension]

No don't want to cut the cranks off. I just tighten it down and use a safety chain.

[marine_man]

Definately don't cut the clamps off...

I've seen people get by with just clamping it and some people clamping and bolting the motor.

If you plan on removing the motor much I wouldn't bolt it... but if you plan on leaving it on I'd probably bolt it... it keeps the honest people honest and is a better connection than just bolting it.

If all you do is clamp it and you leave your boat outside I'd definately by the clamp lock... you can get them from Master, Sure Lock, etc... that'll definately keep the honest people honest. It's pretty easy to walk off with a 9.9.

marine_man

[mrjigger]

thanks guys. So for the safety chain, do you just drill a hole through the transom, attach the chain to the transom with a bolt? Where do you hook the chain onto the motor?

[LovenLifeGuy]

I have a t8 and used the clamp for the first time out. That first time out I turned sharp and one of the clamps slipped bad and the motor tilted to one side. That was the end of that! I bolted it on and it was simple and now someone really has to work to steal it!

LovenLifeGuy

[bobberal]

BOLT IT ON...

I cannot believe anyone with experience with kickers would tell you just use the hand cranks...They must have never been in waves over 1 ft.