a kicker on a drift boat question

[SalmonJeff]

I just got a brand new honda 9.9 for christmas!! but I want to mount it on the back of my glass drifter . it wieghs 90 pounds. I am wondering if I should put some sort of reinforcment on the back to help support it ?? any advice would be awesome I dont want to damage my drifter by running a kicker...

[Okie]

There is a thick rubber pad you can buy to protect the drift boat when you mount the engine on it.

I have a drift boat and have used a engine on it, but find it really a problem in steering as a drift boat doesn't have a keel and this makes it slip side ways more than any other boat which makes it difficult to go in a straight line when trolling etc.

Good Luck

[Hookset]

The obvious answer would be contact the manufacturer for recommendations. I've seen older glass boats with a section of wood bolted on the back to protect the fiberglass. My boat is aluminum and I use the rubber pad, it works ok, except the pad is a little thin where the motor bolts contact the pad.

[Captain Kirk]

I used a piece of UHMW on mine.

[The Big Tuna]

Originally Posted by Okie

There is a thick rubber pad you can buy to protect the drift boat when you mount the engine on it.

I have a drift boat and have used a engine on it, but find it really a problem in steering as a drift boat doesn't have a keel and this makes it slip side ways more than any other boat which makes it difficult to go in a straight line when trolling etc.

Good Luck

I agree with Okie. I own a 16' Clackacraft with a 9.9 Honda Kicker and this is what they recommended I get. I did not feel comfortable transporting the boat with the kicker attached so I always transported it in the back of the truck. I never had a problem with slipping sideways.

[wahooguy]

Originally Posted by SalmonJeff

I just got a brand new honda 9.9 for christmas!! but I want to mount it on the back of my glass drifter . it wieghs 90 pounds. I am wondering if I should put some sort of reinforcment on the back to help support it ?? any advice would be awesome I dont want to damage my drifter by running a kicker...

I purchased a metal bracket for my fiberglass Hyde from Hyde Drift Boats in Idaho. It is secured in place with 4 stainless bolts. I have an 8 horse Yamaha on the back of mine. I did put a hydro fin on the motor, which levels out the ride and leads to less water coming over the back. Your drift boat manufacturer should have a bracket you can buy.

[Gopher]

I have a Radon fiberglass driftboat and I had an aluminim bracket made for the inside of the back of the boat. It has side pieces that bolt to the wooden side rails on the boat. Also have a wood piece on the back of the boat. With this much weight on the rear of the boat also watch your tongue weight on the trailer to be sure there is still sufficient weight on the hitch. You may also need to strap the front of the boat to the trailer to make sure it doesn't lift when going over bumps. - good luck and enjoy the new motor

[surfnfish]

Originally Posted by SalmonJeff

I just got a brand new honda 9.9 for christmas!! but I want to mount it on the back of my glass drifter . it wieghs 90 pounds. I am wondering if I should put some sort of reinforcment on the back to help support it ?? any advice would be awesome I dont want to damage my drifter by running a kicker...

Suggest you contact the maker of your particular boat and ask them what they think...

I have been told by Marty at Clackacraft that they strongly recommends not trailering their glass boats with the motor hanging on the transom for much distance, as the weight of the engine combined with the rear end bouncing all towed drift boats are subject to can possibly crack the transom/sides interface.

Best in his judgement to not mount the motor until you have reached the launch destination...

A rubber pad will help protect the finish.