Conference vicki::boats

    re. -1
    
    I had the same motor on my boat and used the hinged bracket.  I had no
    problems with it.  The hinges are spring loaded so you don't have to
    lift all that weight when you want to pull it out.  Those 4-cycle
    motors are heavy aren't they?
    
    Ken

    What is the brand of the bracket?
    
    ...Kevin

    Outboard brackets generally come in two hp capacities, 10hp and
    20hp.  For a 94lb motor, you'll want the heavier one.
    
    Also, they come equipped for fresh or salt water use.  The fresh
    water model has a combination of metals, the salt water one is
    all stainless.
    
    Be sure to get the one intended for your application.
    
    Rick

    And make sure you lock it on if you aren't going to take it home with
    you.
    Wayne

    re -1
    
    Lock it?  It shouid be bolted to the stern of the boat.  I believe
    there was 6 bolts on mine - 3 a side.  If you leave the motor on the
    mount, you might want to lock it to the mount.
    
    Ken

    re: .5
    I think that's what Wayne was referrng to in .4.  The bracket is
    thru-bolted to the transom, and the motor itself should be locked
    to the bracket.
    
    When you consider replacement cost, ease of theft, dollar return
    on that theft, and the difficulty in tracing stolen motors, a small 
    outboard motor is probably one of the most vulnerable items there are.
    
    A thief can literally take a small outboard motor from your boat in 
    10 seconds, resell it for hundreds of dollars, and it's virtually
    impossible to trace since most registrations only have hull serial 
    numbers.
    
    I've just convinced myself to buy a lock for my outboard.   8^)
    
    Rick

    That's what I meant, lock it to the bracket unless the boat stays at
    some remote place unattended during the week,  then I would take it 
    home with me.  A friend had his 9.9 Merc kicker stolen off the back of
    his sailboat a couple of years ago.  He kept the boat on Sebago Lake in
    Maine and only got up there a few times per summer.  Even with the
    motor locked to the bracket, it was only a matter of time before it
    disappeared.  Of course a four stroke weighs more so that might work in
    your favor.   
    Wayne

    	I lost a locked 8 hp auxilliary a few years ago. I used a regular
    bicycle lock which probably took about 2 seconds to cut through with
    bolt cutters. I now have the type that slips over the two clamps. I
    hope that will prove to be more of a deterrent.
    	BTW - I use a tilt type bracket. I don't know the brand name but
    its rated for 150#. I think I got it from Boat US. I used a 25 hp on it
    for a year or two till I finally bought the 9.9 hp I am using now.
    Regards,
    Paul

    I have the "fresh water type, and my (sail)boat has spent 1-2 weeks in
    salt water each of the last 4 years. The rest of the time (8 years) it
    has been in Lake Winnipesaukee. I believe the manufacturer is Eez-In.
    Although I thought that I washed my boat off well at the end of the
    salt water period each year, apparently I did not - or salt water is
    even more destructive to dissimilar metals than I realized.
    
    In any case, there are aluminum spacers on the stainless steel bolts that 
    pass thru the "L-brackets" mounted to the hull, where the pivoting arms
    attach. These spacers also act as bushings for the coil springs that
    help counter balance the weight of the motor.
    
    I decided it was time to disassemble the outboard bracket and attempt
    to stop any salt water damage that had occurred, (after reading .3).
    I found that 3 of the 4 spacers/bushings were split / corroded into 
    3 or 4 pieces. As a result, I am replacing them with pieces of 3/4" pvc
    pipe which have been filled with silica filled epoxy and bored out to
    the required diameter. I will also keep the bracket well coated with
    Boeshield while in and around salt water (2 weeks on Penobscot Bay)
    this summer. 
    
    Those of you who have this type of outbaord bracket should check these
    bushings carefully - you should be able to see them under the coil
    springs without disassembly. It does take about 6 hands to reassamble.
    
    Bill