Minnkota Talon Sandwich Brackets void Mercury warranty

[Gfd63]

Has anyone heard of Talon Sandwich brackets installed between the Mercury OB & the transom void the warranty before or know the validity of the claim?

[NHBull]

Cant speak to the truth, but dealers do it before delivery every day 

[Gfd63]

I hear ya Bull. ?

[gim]

I have a sandwich bracket for my talon.  The transom on my Ranger isn't shaped correctly to mount it directly.  So the dealer said a sandwich bracket is the solution.  He specifically said it will not void the hull warranty.  He didn't say anything about the outboard though.  I have a Merc 75 hp 4-stroke too...

[slonezp]

It's been a rumor since the Talons hit the market. Is there truth to it? No clue.

[Russ E]

I would talk to mercury.

When I bought my boat with a  mecury pro xs 115 in 2017, I called mercury and asked.

They said the warranty is void if I added sandwich brackets. The only way to not void the warranty was to use a jack plate.

I decided not to add talons.

Things might be different now.

[A-Jay]

I have been running Twin hull mounted Talons since 2016.

When I was researching the boat, motor & accessories this topic came up.

Since I was looking for a hull mount anyway, I never perused it further.

But it's been 'mentioned' on & off for going on 5 years now.

At this point, I'd call Mercury Marine Before any install.

A-Jay

[gim]

Alright so I did some investigating and the rumor is in fact true, confirmed my a Mercury representative.

 

However, my outboard is now past its 3 years warranty because its a 2015.  Most new Mercury outboards have a 3 year warranty.  I had the sandwich bracket using a talon when I bought the boat and have not experienced any issues.  So in the event that the sandwich bracket does cause an issue with the outboard, I'd be stuck with the problem anyways at this point.

 

The rep explained that it has nothing to do with structural or operational "integrity."  Its because Mercury doesn't want an "accessory" mounted using the same factory bolts that are used with the outboard.  They designed the outboard to be attached to the transom (or a jack plate) without any spacer present.

 

Doesn't make a whole lotta sense that they would allow a jack plate and not a sandwich bracket but its still good to know this information for future use.  I haven't heard of anyone experiencing an issue with their outboard using a sandwich bracket but in the event that you have a problem with your outboard within the warranty time frame, you'd be out of luck on that one.

[Gfd63]

7 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Alright so I did some investigating and the rumor is in fact true, confirmed my a Mercury representative.

 

However, my outboard is now past its 3 years warranty because its a 2015.  Most new Mercury outboards have a 3 year warranty.  I had the sandwich bracket using a talon when I bought the boat and have not experienced any issues.  So in the event that the sandwich bracket does cause an issue with the outboard, I'd be stuck with the problem anyways at this point.

 

The rep explained that it has nothing to do with structural or operational "integrity."  Its because Mercury doesn't want an "accessory" mounted using the same factory bolts that are used with the outboard.  They designed the outboard to be attached to the transom (or a jack plate) without any spacer present.

 

Doesn't make a whole lotta sense that they would allow a jack plate and not a sandwich bracket but its still good to know this information for future use.  I haven't heard of anyone experiencing an issue with their outboard using a sandwich bracket but in the event that you have a problem with your outboard within the warranty time frame, you'd be out of luck on that one.

Roger that. Thanks for the clarification on the warranty issue. I'm undecided about the sandwich bracket vs drilling holes in the transom of a new boat. But I also haven't heard of anyone having any issues with their Merc OB with the brackets mounted between it & the transom. Likewise, doesn't make sense that a jack plate would be ok but the brackets aren't. But the spacers explanation does make sense. ?

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, Gfd63 said:

Roger that. Thanks for the clarification on the warranty issue. I'm undecided about the sandwich bracket vs drilling holes in the transom of a new boat. But I also haven't heard of anyone having any issues with their Merc OB with the brackets mounted between it & the transom. Likewise, doesn't make sense that a jack plate would be ok but the brackets aren't. But the spacers explanation does make sense. ?

Wonder how utilizing the Talon or Raptor Jack plate adaptor to mount these units would be viewed ? 

https://minnkotamotors.johnsonoutdoors.com/accessories/shallow-water-anchor/talon-jackplate-adapter-bracket-portstarboard

 

https://minnkotamotors.johnsonoutdoors.com/accessories/shallow-water-anchor/raptor-jack-plate-adapter-bracket-starboard-6-black

 

A-Jay

[gim]

13 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Wonder how utilizing the Talon or Raptor Jack plate adaptor to mount these units would be viewed ? 

Do you mean using it with a jack plate?  Or using it standalone?  I have that exact one, just without the use of a jack plate.

[A-Jay]

12 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Do you mean using it with a jack plate?  Or using it standalone?  I have that exact one, just without the use of a jack plate.

 

I was thinking that if Mercury doesn't want an "accessory" mounted using the same factory bolts that are used with the outboard and they designed the outboard to be attached to the transom (or a jack plate) without any spacer present, these units attach to the Jack Plate, which is not attached to the hull using anything made my Mercury, so they may have no beef here.

A-Jay

[E-rude dude]

It is true for most outboards. Evinrude will not warranty the midsection if you do it. If you do a build on the bps websites they say anchor poles require a jack plate.

[Gfd63]

28 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Wonder how utilizing the Talon or Raptor Jack plate adaptor to mount these units would be viewed ? 

https://minnkotamotors.johnsonoutdoors.com/accessories/shallow-water-anchor/talon-jackplate-adapter-bracket-portstarboard

 

https://minnkotamotors.johnsonoutdoors.com/accessories/shallow-water-anchor/raptor-jack-plate-adapter-bracket-starboard-6-black

 

A-Jay

I had those exact same brackets mounted on a jack plate on My other Ranger 188VS. The boat(s) I'm looking at now do not have jack plates. So I reckon I'd have to get one installed to satisfy the warranty issue. The alternative is to mount the Talon brackets directly to the transom which I'd rather not drill holes into a new boat. But if it comes to that I'd have to make the decision. ??

[TOXIC]

I moderate a Ranger forum on bookface and have had a lot of contact with the factory.  Believe it or not, Ranger doesn’t advise Power Pole brackets on some of their older models because of the extra torque put on the transom.  Talon brackets are even heavier.  

[A-Jay]

1 minute ago, Gfd63 said:

I had those exact same brackets mounted on a jack plate on My other Ranger 188VS. The boat(s) I'm looking at now do not have jack plates. So I reckon I'd have to get one installed to satisfy the warranty issue. The alternative is to mount the Talon brackets directly to the transom which I'd rather not drill holes into a new boat. But if it comes to that I'd have to make the decision. ??

The additional brackets might be cheaper than having to play out of pocket

for an issue that would have been covered by warranty.

which, whether we realize it or not, we all pay for within the initial motor purchase. 

Also, my transom, square as it is, offered the ability to 'separate' the Talons quite a bit more than a either motor mounted configuration.  The additional space between the two Talons offers the widest stance and most secure holding potential for me.

As long as the brackets are back plated within the hull during the mounting process

and properly sealed, the hull mount should be quite secure.

On my aluminum hull, it's been good so far.

A-Jay

[Junk Fisherman]

14 hours ago, A-Jay said:

I have been running Twin hull mounted Talons since 2016.

When I was researching the boat, motor & accessories this topic came up.

Since I was looking for a hull mount anyway, I never perused it further.

But it's been 'mentioned' on & off for going on 5 years now.

At this point, I'd call Mercury Marine Before any install.

A-Jay

 

Hey A-Jay.

 

Is there enough room to put a kicker on the ProV Bass?  How many inches from the top to the deck?  Have you seen any guys add kicker plates?  Just curious since I am always thinking about my next boat and the ProV Bass is definitely on the short list.  

 

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, Junk Fisherman said:

 

Hey A-Jay.

 

Is there enough room to put a kicker on the ProV Bass?  How many inches from the top to the deck?  Have you seen any guys add kicker plates?  Just curious since I am always thinking about my next boat and the ProV Bass is definitely on the short list.  

 

 

I don't believe so ~ at least not the way my rig is set up.

During speeds at or slower than clutch, this one doesn't 'track' quite like a walleye rig,

at least not without significant operator input.

Suppose it might be different with a kicker but I haven't seen a Pro-V Bass sporting one yet so who knows. 

Either way, Big motor Trolling's not a huge part of my approach. 

The little I do involves hair jigs & spybaits and always happens with the Fortrex at about 1 mph.

My advice is if 'true trolling' will be a significant part of your fishing plan for the replacement rig, definitely drive the Pro-V bass in advance of your purchase and check that aspect of it out. 

btw ~ You have impeccable taste in rigs sir ~ ! 

A-Jay

 

[Junk Fisherman]

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

My advice is if 'true trolling' will be a significant part of your fishing plan for the replacement rig, definitely drive the Pro-V bass in advance of your purchase and check that aspect of it out. 

btw ~ You have impeccable taste in rigs sir ~ ! 

A-Jay

 

 

I'm not trolling.  I fish a couple HP-restricted lakes and I have a 9.9.  It beats just using the trolling motor.  

 

I think if the ProV Bass had come out a year earlier, I would have bought one over my Tuffy.  

[A-Jay]

19 minutes ago, Junk Fisherman said:

 

I'm not trolling.  I fish a couple HP-restricted lakes and I have a 9.9.  It beats just using the trolling motor.  

 

I think if the ProV Bass had come out a year earlier, I would have bought one over my Tuffy.  

I hear ya - 

In 2007 when I retired & move up here, I was constantly looking to 'up grade' from the Old Town Canoe to a craft that would be right for me here; and there's quite a bit to that.

IMO, it didn't exist and so I tooled around in the canoe for over 10 years waiting & hoping someone would offer what I needed. 

Once I went and crawled around one of these at a boat show near Detroit in Jan 2016, 

(despite being there for two days) it took about 10 minutes and there was no doubt in my mind what was going to happen next. 

The rest is history as they say.

Best of Luck with your shopping & your choice, whatever it may be.

A-Jay

 

[Tony Brewer]

The reason behind all this is, THE company that produces the brackets for Minn Kota is a third party. Brunswick which owns Mercury wanted a percentage from third party  Third party said to stick it, so Brunswick then claimed it would void the warranty. If you have a 6inch jackplate there has to be more weight on the transom vs a plate thats 3/4 inch thick trying to stop production on third party. This info from Bass Pro