Outboard Motor Brackets

What Are Outboard Motor Brackets?

An outboard motor bracket is one of the most practical accessories a boater can add to their vessel. Mounted to the transom or swim platform, these brackets allow you to easily raise and lower a secondary or auxiliary outboard motor in and out of the water — without ever having to unbolt and move the engine itself. Whether you're running a kicker motor for trolling, carrying a backup engine on a sailboat, or mounting a small auxiliary outboard on a pontoon, the right bracket keeps your motor secure, accessible, and correctly positioned for optimal prop depth and performance.

Beyond convenience, outboard motor brackets serve a critical protective role. Adjustable mounting brackets keep auxiliary motors at the correct running height, letting you fine-tune trim for changing water conditions and load. When used as support brackets during trailering, they brace a tilted outboard to minimize the engine-rocking caused by road travel. Without proper support, every bump in the road causes the engine to exert tremendous force on the transom bracket, hinge pin, and trim cylinders — and over time, those forces can wear out components or even crack the transom itself.

Types of Outboard Motor Brackets

• Adjustable Transom-Mount Brackets: The most common type, these bolt to the transom and allow multiple vertical running positions so you can set the exact prop depth for your conditions.
• Fixed-Mount Brackets: Simpler and more rugged, fixed brackets hold the motor at a set height — ideal for dedicated kicker or auxiliary setups that don't require frequent height changes.
• Swim Platform Brackets: Designed to mount on a boat's swim step, these allow the motor to be positioned behind the primary transom for cleaner rigging and a more open cockpit.
• Jack Plate / Offset Brackets: These provide a transom setback and vertical offset, making it possible to mount long-shaft motors on shorter transom boats — particularly useful for skiffs, aluminum boats, and inflatables.

What to Look for When Buying

When shopping for an outboard motor bracket, start with the HP and weight rating — always stay well within the bracket's rated capacity. Consider the material: anodized aluminum is lightweight and corrosion-resistant for freshwater use, while stainless steel construction offers superior protection in saltwater environments. Look for spring-assist or torsion spring mechanisms that counterbalance the motor's weight for easier lifting, and confirm that the bracket meets ABYC standards for safety. Always pair your bracket with a safety cable to prevent motor loss in the event of a mounting failure.

Top Brands in Outboard Motor Brackets

PantherPro is the dominant name in this category, offering an extensive lineup of adjustable and fixed-mount brackets built from anodized aluminum and stainless steel. Their brackets feature stainless steel torsion springs that counterbalance motor weight for effortless one-handed adjustments, and many models are rated for both 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines. PantherPro even offers a purpose-built pontoon kicker motor bracket kit for one of the trickiest mounting challenges in boating.

T-H Marine brings its reputation for innovative marine hardware to the outboard bracket category. Their lineup includes jack plate-style offset brackets like the Mini Jacker™, which allows long-shaft motors to be mounted on shorter transom boats — a clever engineering solution for skiffs and aluminum hulls where standard mounts simply won't work.

Panther Drive Belts rounds out the selection with a broad range of bracket options covering a variety of motor sizes and mounting configurations, making it easy to find a solution that fits your specific setup.

Dock Edge is another trusted marine hardware brand with bracket solutions suited to dockside and onboard motor storage, valued for their durable construction and practical design.