C-Dory 16 ' Cruiser - 8 HP Kicker

[Don Hynes]

I've bought a 16' C-Dory Cruiser with an 8HP Honda kicker. The previous owner was most interested in fishing. I'm more interested in short commuting in the San Juans and want to scale down to a smaller kicker that doesn't weigh so much or no kicker at all. Any suggestions?

 

[South of Heaven]

This is like deja vu. I bought an 8hp Johnson kicker for my old 16 but didn't like it and ended up buying a 4hp Yamaha.

Is your current 8hp working nicely?? If yes, then keep it! If not then I wouldn't go smaller than a 4hp if you're in salt water.

Where is your primary boating area? Even the 4hp motor will struggle to push the 16 C Dory in certain sea conditions since the C Dory has a flat bottom with no keel.

But the bigger question is what do you have for a main engine? Why do you need a kicker at all?? My past 3 boats have been single engine rigs and I never had a kicker. I don't fish. BUT I do have the unlimited membership from Boat US. Buy that! $149 is the cheapest kicker (Boat US annual cost) you can buy and it's maintenance free.

Here's a pic of my old 16 setup.

 

[Don Hynes]

Thanks Jason. Just what I was thinking - why a kicker at all if I’m not trolling. The main motor is a 40HP Honda, with about 200 hours, as is the 8. Both are in great shape but the 8 lists the boat to starboard and why drag all that weight around?

 

[dotnmarty]

I would trade that 8hp in on a 2.5hp Suzuki, 29 lbs.I think Sportcraft Marina right there in Portland is an authorized dealer. Hang it on the port side.