"Things I learned installing the new Ladder and Motor Mount, some the hard way: The first suggestion is to be certain to mount everything high enough on the transom to catch the built in backing plate added for stiffness when the boat was built. On our M-17 the transom is a fiberglass, plywood, fiberglass sandwich from the top of the transom to below the middle pintel. This area is approximately 5/8 of an inch thick. From the middle pintel down the transom is fiberglass only and about 3/8 inch thick. If you mount on the lower part of the transom, there will be significant flex. Look into the wet locker and you can see a line where the change in thickness occurs. You'll want to mount anything of significant weight to this thicker area. This works great for the Motor Mount, but seems a bit high for the ladder.

It was suggested to me to add additional backing material equal to two times (or more) of the mounting surface area. I believe this is a good idea, especially with the Potter 19 ladder with its small mounting surface. For backing material I used 1/2 inch marine plywood coated with epoxy. To gain access to the backside of the transom and mounting bolts I installed two 6" threaded round deck plates (West Marine #139639), one on each side of the interior walls of the wet locker and out of normal view. If you have an M-17 with a deep locker under the cockpit seat you will not need the access hole in the wet locker on that side. You'll be able to reach the bolts through the locker.

The motor mount is the same as used on the new M-Boats and available direct from Garhauer Marine Products. Call them at (909) 985-9993

The 4-step swim ladder is standard equipment on the West Wight Potter 19. It is available as a special order direct from International Marine (West Wight Potter). Call them on their toll free order line (877) 674-8021

Photos and Story by Randy Graves