If you pull skiiers from a ski pilon on the back deck make sure it is way way out to one side which will mean they will need to significantly reinforce the side there. The transom is the best place as it is very very strong....the sides of the transom is just the thickness of the fiberglass...or aluminum as it were.

 

Thanks - I guess I should have said that I have a Explorer 21 Tunnel Vee. Wont be any skiing with this guy. I just wasnt sure if the pressure put on the pole when anchored would be less stressful to the boat being mounted on the side of the jack plate or the transom. I'm probably over thinking it.

 

Way overthinking it. The motor puts 100x as much stress as that power pole. The pole, bracket, knuckle etc will break way before that transom. On the jack plate is ideal. Less holes in your transom.

 

good point about less holes. Thanks. It wasnt the weight of the power pole.. I was concerned about when the pole is down (anchored) and in certain areas that have a lot of water movement (cuts and passes) the boat will be trying to go with it and pressure would be on the transom on a small 4 screw mounting bracket. I suppose the same pressure is being placed on a the jack plate when installed there and eventually passes to the transom where the jack plate is mounted. Again, over thinking it but I like to really take care of my stuff so I tend to dissect things too much at times. Thanks for your feedback!

 

Most of the pressure will be on the spike and the knuckle. Trust me, they will break away. Ask me how I know.
I have had 4 power poles all transom mount and never had an issue. just put some 4200 in the holes and on the bracket when you mount it.

 

I wasnt talking about weight either. Im talking about torque. When you hit the throttle.....well .... um....way more than anything that will ever happen with that PP.

The power pole will flex like crazy compared to your hull in those conditions. If mounted to the transom you could break 100 PP's and never even stress your transom. Transom is very very strong.

 

I've been wondering the same thing the last couple days. I just ordered a talon and have been going back and forth on mounting direct to transom or bracket off jack plate too. Unless I hear someone has had a bad experience mounting direct to the transom, I have decided to just mount direct to transom unless it interferes with something - I'll find out this weekend.

 

The power pole will break before any real stress is put on the transom. Odds are the transom is much thicker than the mounting location of the cleats that most people tie their anchors to, just comparing regular anchors since they're essentially doing the same job.

Power Poles also provide a lot of flex, which absorbs any major shocks that could damage the unit. There's also a pressure relief that allows the arm to raise before the Power Pole or boat is damaged.

I prefer a transom mount because I use 2 poles, the further they are apart the less tendency the boat will have to twist from wind or current.

Check out this torture test video:

 

Thanks Sea Y'all and Texas Renegade... That's the type info I was looking to find.