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I have a Mariner 40 I will be re-mounting after my 13 sport restoration. This motor was through bolted to the boat along with using the tie down clamps on the motor. Is is necessary to have the bolts secure the motor or will the clamps do the job?
Anecdotal story...I was on a fishing trip a few summers ago at a fly in lodge in Canada. My guide was fighting a relatively new motor on the back of the 18 foot cedar strip--Its the one in my avatar. Well, the clamps were on, but no bolts, the motor started idling really rough, and he was still back there trying to wrangle it when it jumped off the transom and sank to the bottom of the lake. Thank goodness we were only in about 35 feet. They got out the gear and dove for it but had to mark it with a buoy because it was getting late and too dark to haul it in. I left the followign morning, so I am not sure how the retrieval went.
I had a 9.9 kicker on my Montauk. I was going through some very rough water and happened to look back and notice my 9.9 about to walk off the transom. One more wave and the motor would have been in the drink. I should have bolted the motor to the transom as well. Lesson learned!
