Installing Panther lift for kicker

[Do it yourselfer]

Installing a panther lift on a Fisher FX18 which is a fiberglass boat. Is there anything special I should be watching out for when doing this project. How hard is it to install? The moter I have is a 2002 Merc 9.9 4 stroke. Thanks for any help you can give me?

[Big K]

I put mine on a few years ago. Nothing special to look out for, just use the template and make sure it is level. I always do it with one or two people just to have a couple more pair of eyes to spot something I may not see right away.

[brian1785]

Just installed mine about 2 weeks ago with the exact same motor on my fiberglass Yarcraft. I second the idea of having someone else there to give you a hand, but for the most part I drilled 4 holes, filled them with silicone, bolts, washers, nuts, that was it. Im definitely NOT a do it yourselfer so you should not have any problems with this.

[Pitts]

The only problem I had with the install of the Panther lift was I wanted to bolt the kicker to the lift also.
I have a 9.9 Yammy so this may not apply but the Panther lift plate has a cross member (cast aluminum) in it that directly lines up with the holes that are for mounting the 9.9 which prevents you from drilling holes in that area.
I ended up getting a peice of aluminum stock that was the same thickness of the top of the lift plate and about 3/4" thick.
I mounted this peice on the top lip of the plate with countersunk self tapping 1/4" scews to raise the motor up 3/4" to change where the mounting holes will be drilled for the motor and get away from the cross member in the plate.
I also used the screw clamps on another block of aluminum for added support and I locked them in the tight position and used a peice of aircraft cable 1/8" I beleive, with a tamper proof lock to cable the boat and kicker together.
Somehow I don't beleive the motor will come up missing accidently in the near future:)


Pitts

[Done it]

All good advice. Because of the transom setback you will want to have the Panther "extended". Put the Panther hinge pin on the furthest point. You should be able to put on a steering rod that will then fully articulate with the motors without having to take it off.