Installing a kicker bracket for a 6hp 4-stroke on a 26X

[bobbpopp]

Our 2002 Suzuki 50hp outboard is having some issues. I got a great deal on a long-shaft 6hp Suzuki 4-stroke outboard, so I ordered the Panther 550407AL / 55-0407AL. It turns out that the mounting plate is 8” wide, and the transom on the 26X starts to curve at around 6”. I already prepared a ½” thick Polyethylene sheet and saw it would not be perfect. I then ordered a Panther 550012 / 55-0012 and the box has “only for 2-stroke outboards, do not use with a 4-stroke” all over it. Walmart sells the Five Oceans FO4204, which should take 2- and 4-stoke outboards.
Questions:
1) Has anyone successfully installed the 8” wide Panther mounting bracket?
2) Is anyone using another bracket for a minimum 6hp 4-stroke outboard?
Thanks!

[NiceAft]

I saw this in the Mods. I have no idea if it still works.
section.https://macgregorsailors.com/mods/index ... em&id=1683

Found this also.
https://macgregorsailors.com/mods/index ... em&id=1001

[Wyb2]

I don’t have a great answer for you, as I’m using the bracket that I’m pretty sure was original on my 25 when it was built in 1986, and have never used a different one.

But that blanket ‘not for 4 strokes’ statement is something between lazy and nonsensical. So they are cool if you mount an 80 lb, 12 hp 2 stroke… but a Honda 2.3 that weighs 30 lbs and probably makes 1/3 the thrust at the prop, is somehow outside the bracket’s abilities? It just doesn’t make sense.

That being said, you’re motor is probably about 60 lbs, so a little under the 80 lbs limit. Being a long shaft, it has a longer lever arm, so will apply more torque on the bracket for the same prop thrust. Is it a high thrust prop? Some long shafts are. That would apply even more torque for the same hp motor.

I might gravitate to a slightly bigger bracket.

[bobbpopp]

Hi NiceAft, very interesting, the no-holes solution!
I did something similar, I made a mount inside the swim ladder. First, I put a 55 lbs eclectic motor on it, which hardly pushed the boat forward. Then upgraded to an 86 lbs Newport with 2x12v=24v batteries. This was fine until last weekend when we got caught with some strong winds and barely made it back to the marina.

[bobbpopp]

Hi Wyb2,
I agree; I searched for "using a 4-stroke on a 2-stroke bracket," but that didn't result in much. I will also order the Five Oceans and see how sturdy it is.

I took some pictures of the transom to show the curve:

[C Buchs]

This kicker mount was on my boat when I bought it in 2015, so I don't know exactly how it was installed, but I hope these pictures help.




You can see that they added a spacer and some sealant to match the curve. I have cleaned up the rust from the cheap hardware. Make sure you use fender washers or a backing plate on the inside.

They cut the liner back a bit to get better access to the inside. I'm sorry, but I don't have a good picture of that.

When I'm going to be somewhere without any other people or help around, I mount an old 15hp 2-cycle Suzuki on it. The only problem I ever had was getting some sway traveling down the highway because of the extra weight on the back and not enough tongue weight. So I had to take the kicker off and store it in the cockpit for traveling on the trailer.

Jeff

[NiceAft]

I hope this helps