FAE install with trim tab mounts

[Thegerman618]

Mine clears my Taps plate by centimeters next to exit, as long as it doesn't touch I guess, and mine came with the bubblegum welds as well going on 2 seasons no issues. However, working in fabrication once upon a time if it didn't look like Nickles lined up it didn't leave the shop. I see from this design there is no cotterpins which is nice. Nice clean install!

[killerbren]

Okay, update time.

After talking to Larry from FAE I have a few pictures for you. I originally didn't like the first set of brackets Larry sent me due to my trim plate coming a fair way up in its full up position. The original brackets were made to come out from the back of the boat at a 90 degree angle so my trim plate was going to hit the brackets for sure. Larry sent me a new set of brackets which were longer with a slight upward angle to them.




He also noticed that the down pipe sat a little far back behind the trim plate. The photo makes it looks worse than it is, in reality there is only about a 2" gap there. He said if I wanted to I could cut down the 2 pipes leading to the boat to bring everything closer for a tighter install, so thats what I did.

Before:


After:


Now back to the brackets. After putting them on the boat it was determined that my trim plate was STILL going to hit them. They only needed to go about 1/2 an inch more so we just placed them in the vice and bent them up a bit with no issues. We also had to bend them out about 1" or so, so we did that in the vice as well.




Holes drilled and bolts placed, I still need to cut off the extra thread. I think i'm just going to go to a hardware store and get a proper fitting bolt for a cleaner install. In this picture you can see just how far my trim plate extends upwards.



Bolt installed, top view.


Other side done as well, and we are basically finished.



I still need to adjust some of the nuts and replace the bolts with shorter ones. Also need to mount the brackets to the boat with the included lag bolts and silicone them in. Other than that i'm finished. I do want to say that I think the mounting brackets are pretty beefy and there is quite a bit of support there. I don't think there will be any issues at all in in regards to strength of the brackets.

[PaceWithGrace]

Your newer brackets are offset and look good. *Jealous*

[Dandy]

WOW, looks great!!! Very nice install.

[macteacher2]

Okay, update time.

After talking to Larry from FAE I have a few pictures for you. I originally didn't like the first set of brackets Larry sent me due to my trim plate coming a fair way up in its full up position. The original brackets were made to come out from the back of the boat at a 90 degree angle so my trim plate was going to hit the brackets for sure. Larry sent me a new set of brackets which were longer with a slight upward angle to them.




He also noticed that the down pipe sat a little far back behind the trim plate. The photo makes it looks worse than it is, in reality there is only about a 2" gap there. He said if I wanted to I could cut down the 2 pipes leading to the boat to bring everything closer for a tighter install, so thats what I did.

Before:


After:


Now back to the brackets. After putting them on the boat it was determined that my trim plate was STILL going to hit them. They only needed to go about 1/2 an inch more so we just placed them in the vice and bent them up a bit with no issues. We also had to bend them out about 1" or so, so we did that in the vice as well.




Holes drilled and bolts placed, I still need to cut off the extra thread. I think i'm just going to go to a hardware store and get a proper fitting bolt for a cleaner install. In this picture you can see just how far my trim plate extends upwards.



Bolt installed, top view.


Other side done as well, and we are basically finished.



I still need to adjust some of the nuts and replace the bolts with shorter ones. Also need to mount the brackets to the boat with the included lag bolts and silicone them in. Other than that i'm finished. I do want to say that I think the mounting brackets are pretty beefy and there is quite a bit of support there. I don't think there will be any issues at all in in regards to strength of the brackets.

Can't wait to see (and hear) it this weekend. I would love to do this to mine as well but I have to remove the swim deck in order to fit it into the garage and the FAE would not fit either!