IF PROPERLY MAINTAINED, YOUR GIL BRACKET WILL GIVE YOU YEARS OF TROUBLE FREE SERVICE.

Regularly clean and wax your Gil Bracket the same as you would your boat. The durable Gilcoat finish is designed to enhance your boat's appearance and protect your bracket from corrosion. If it should be accidentally chipped, repair it immediately. Chips can be repaired with a gelcoat repair kit which can be tinted to match the Gilcoat finish. These kits are available in most marine retail stores.

Never paint your Gil Bracket with a copper based "bottom paint". Copper will cause galvanic corrosion of the aluminum base metal. Treat this bracket as you would an aluminum boat, outboard motor, or I/O lower unit. If you choose to use bottom paint, use only paint certified for use on aluminum.

Your Gil Bracket is designed to be pressure tight and provide additional flotation. Each bracket is pressure tested at the factory. At least annually, remove the inspection cover and check for signs of any leakage. Should leakage occur and the source is not obvious, contact the factory for proper procedure for locating the leakage.

When re-installing the inspection cover, it is important that the O-ring and screws be re-installed properly to prevent leakage. Check the O-ring seal for nicks and damage. Check the cover and the area around the screw holes for coating damage and make any necessary repairs. Make certain the O-ring is properly seated in the cover groove, that there is a nylon insert under each cover screw, and all screws are tightened securely. The cover screws thread into a nylon ring inside the bracket. This ring is designed to seal and protect the bracket's coating and prevent corrosion. Excessive screw tightening is not necessary and could strip the threads in this ring.

A drain plug is installed in the bottom of the bracket near the transom. This plug should only be used if water is found inside the bracket. If removed, check the O-ring seal for nicks and damage. Do not over tighten.

Annually, check the engine mounting bolts for tightness. See the engine manufacturer's specifications for the proper torque settings.