Please follow the instructions below for the proper installation of your SideKick Ama Kit. It is important to follow every step to make sure that you do not put any unnecessary holes in your kayak.
Determine location
Remove the rubber ‘well nuts’ from the mounting hardware. Position the lower mounts so their flat bottoms sit firmly on the kayak and the mounting holes are fairly centered over the rails. Place the center crossbar into the lower mounts to check for proper alignment.
Before you put any holes in your boat, a very important first step is to determine where to place the SideKick on your kayak. The mount is intended to be placed behind the seat. The best and strongest location for the screws to pass through are along the rails of the boat. Other thing to consider when locating your mount hardware are objects you typically put in the cargo area and how they may interfere. Be sure not to install the mount too close to the seatback to prevent the crossbar from interfering with your comfort. If the Hobie Livewell or any other bait tank is used you may need to move the Sidekick back behind your gear. Check that the mounts do not interfere with the float height adjustment hole locations
near the ends of the centerbar.
Drilling SideKick Mounting Holes
Once you have the SideKick mount sitting in the desired location, use a marker and place 4 dots through the holes as drilling guides. Take the mounts off the boat and carefully drill using a 3/8” bit.
NOTE: it is very important to use the proper sized drill bit. An oversized hole will not allow the expanding nuts a proper fit.
Fastening your Mount to the Hull
The 1” long rubber ‘well nuts’ allow you to securely fasten the SideKick to you hull without having to reach inside the kayak to position backing washers and nuts. Start by pressing the black well nuts into the holes that you drilled (should be a tight fit). Place the lower mounts onto the well nuts, place the center tube onto the lower mounts. Place the upper ‘U’ mounts over the tube. Insert the screws. Start to thread each of the screws into the well nuts before you fully tighten then all down. It will take quite a few turns to get them tight. As you turn the screws, a brass nut pulls up inside the kayak and causes the rubber around the nut to expand and pull against the inside of the hull. Tighten to a snug fit, but do not use excessive force as this can damage the well nut. Once all the screws are tight, the mount will be very secure and water tight. You can now attach the left and right arms. Then slide the floats onto the arm ends and pin into place. Remove the top vent cap and inflate the float by blowing into the one-way valve. To deflate, remove the lower cap. There are three positions for the floats. You can loosen the well nuts to make fine adjustments to the depth by turning the center tube. Retighten the well nuts after making any adjustments.
