Hi,
I have a 12ft Valco Jon Boat that I have been using with a trolling motor. Some of the small lakes that I fish are electric motor only, and the minn kota 55lb thrust works for me at these lakes.
I have recently obtained a used 7.5hp Mercury 2 stroke gas outboard, and I want to mount it properly to my boat, but I am a little apprehensive about drilling two holes through the boat's transom to secure the outboard's bracket to the boat once it's hung on there.
My question is, since I still want to frequent the lakes that are electric motor only, from time to time, should I not drill any holes to secure the outboard's transom bracket to the boat? Should I mount the motor and just secure the bracket clamps as hard as I can manually to the inside of the transom? This would let me remove the outboard when I need to use the boat with trolling motor only.
Also, my transom is in excellent shape, however the outside doesn't have a plywood transom pad like I've seen some boats have, it's just the bare aluminum back end of the boat. Do I need to install a plywood transom pad, or can I just install the outboard to the boat as is?
https://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u191/paulc2k7/IMAG1117.jpg
Any help is much appreciated.
Thanks!
I have a 12ft Valco Jon Boat that I have been using with a trolling motor. Some of the small lakes that I fish are electric motor only, and the minn kota 55lb thrust works for me at these lakes.
I have recently obtained a used 7.5hp Mercury 2 stroke gas outboard, and I want to mount it properly to my boat, but I am a little apprehensive about drilling two holes through the boat's transom to secure the outboard's bracket to the boat once it's hung on there.
My question is, since I still want to frequent the lakes that are electric motor only, from time to time, should I not drill any holes to secure the outboard's transom bracket to the boat? Should I mount the motor and just secure the bracket clamps as hard as I can manually to the inside of the transom? This would let me remove the outboard when I need to use the boat with trolling motor only.
Also, my transom is in excellent shape, however the outside doesn't have a plywood transom pad like I've seen some boats have, it's just the bare aluminum back end of the boat. Do I need to install a plywood transom pad, or can I just install the outboard to the boat as is?
https://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u191/paulc2k7/IMAG1117.jpg
Any help is much appreciated.
Thanks!