So we may be on our way to a 25 here despite what the market did today (makes it all kind of scary!), but the boat we're looking at has no kicker. I've searched through the site and found a few helpful comments, but who out there has something to say about what the best hp might be and what to watch for when having a mount installed. I'm thinking a 15hp would be sufficient, but then I see commetns aobut long shafts, etc and begin to get confused. The main power on the boat I'm looking at is a 150 Verado. Thanks all.
Kicker for 25
- Thread starter moabarch
- Start date
We use a long shaft Honda 15, mostly because we had it sitting around not doing anything when we bought our boat. Works great. Jeff Messmer suggested a port side mount for the kicker to help balance the boat but we mounted it starboard, with the swim platform port just because the access off and on on the boat was better that way. To help off set the weight of the kicker we relocated all of our batteries to the port side under the cockpit floor
I have a 15 hp for a kicker-but 8 hp would be plenty--long shaft is better, but short shaft will work. A "big foot" engine would be desirable--this is a larger prop, lower pitch and low gear ratio. We often just use the dinghy engine--3.5 hp. It will push the boat at 3 to 4 mph in calm water.
I'd think a high -thrust 9.9 hp Yamaha (or Merc. Big Foot type ) long shaft four stroke would be great. It will run off of your main tank so the gas stays fresh and there's no need for mixing oil or extra tanks to maintain or fill. The higher low end torque is awesome providing much better low- medium speed control. I love mine and am very confident with it as a back up and as a trolling motor for fishing. C.W.
journey on
New member
Journey On has a 10 HP Honda for an axillary. We also use this motor for the inflatable, to minimize what we have to carry whilst cruising. And extra engines take up precious room.
The motor works great, both for the inflatable and for an emergency motor. We did the emergency bit once and it did get to safety. As an aside, don't depend on a plastic propeller.
However, I have a few comments. All the new 4-strokes are dependable, run well, etc.; but the Honda is the heaviest. The Tohatsu is 20 lbs lighter than the Honda, and when you're lifting it on the bracket prior to launch, it's heavy. Also, if you want to use the motor for both the C-Dory and the inflatable, you need a hoist to transfer the !@*(# thing to/from the inflatable. Bob has a hoist he purchased. I made one that you can disassemble, and store in the rear. Both work well. You can see Journey On's in action at: Journey On Hoist
Boris
The motor works great, both for the inflatable and for an emergency motor. We did the emergency bit once and it did get to safety. As an aside, don't depend on a plastic propeller.
However, I have a few comments. All the new 4-strokes are dependable, run well, etc.; but the Honda is the heaviest. The Tohatsu is 20 lbs lighter than the Honda, and when you're lifting it on the bracket prior to launch, it's heavy. Also, if you want to use the motor for both the C-Dory and the inflatable, you need a hoist to transfer the !@*(# thing to/from the inflatable. Bob has a hoist he purchased. I made one that you can disassemble, and store in the rear. Both work well. You can see Journey On's in action at: Journey On Hoist
Boris
journey on
New member
The 10 horse Honda is a long shaft. On the inflatable, I made a higher mount for the motor. There's a picture of it: Inflatable motor mount It worked without the higher mount, but planes easier this way.
The factory mounted the mount for us, and it's worked well. Pictures in same album. We take the motor off when we're towing the boat, because the mount with motor bounces around going down the interstates.
One reason I mention weight, other than lifting the damn thing, is that smaller inflatables aren't rated for a heavy motor. We do tow the inflatable if we're going to use it every day, but do take the motor off when towing. A 10 min job. Otherwise we deflate it and roll it up in the cockpit. A good footrest, and I bought a really good electric air pump. We got used to doing this on the sailboat, where the inflatable is your connection to shore, and just kept on doing it.
Boris
The factory mounted the mount for us, and it's worked well. Pictures in same album. We take the motor off when we're towing the boat, because the mount with motor bounces around going down the interstates.
One reason I mention weight, other than lifting the damn thing, is that smaller inflatables aren't rated for a heavy motor. We do tow the inflatable if we're going to use it every day, but do take the motor off when towing. A 10 min job. Otherwise we deflate it and roll it up in the cockpit. A good footrest, and I bought a really good electric air pump. We got used to doing this on the sailboat, where the inflatable is your connection to shore, and just kept on doing it.
Boris
Seems like it would be hard to beat a much lighter, zippier 2-stroke for a dual kicker/backup/inflatable application. Maybe a 5-8 horse? My Johnson short shaft 7.5 hp 2 stroke "feels" like it weighs half of what my 9.9 long shaft Yami does. Much easier to move into and out of the truck, onto boats, etc. C.W.
Pat Anderson
New member
Les advised us on our kicker for Daydream. We wanted a Honda four stroke to go with the BF150 main. The choice was between a BF9.9 and a BF15. We went with the 15. Les advised if the main purpose was trolling, get the 9.9, if the main purpose was a "get home" motor, go with the 15 for its greater torque to handle adverse currents and so forth. On the long / short shaft issue, you can use either one with the appropriate bracket. We have a long shaft on a fixed bracket. You can use a short shaft on a bracket that allows you to lower the motor. We have used the kicker in a tough situation (lthe ast time our ProPulse blades broke off in rough conditions in Bellingham Bay), and it was not fast, but it did get us in safely.
20dauntless
New member
If you are using the kicker only as a get home system make sure to run it regularly. We had a kicker on the Whaler (Yamaha T9.9, remote) that was purchased solely for backup. In 10 years it was run maybe 5 or 6 times, just to see if it worked. Eventually we sold it because we never needed it and the bracket continually broke.
On the C-Dory I chose not to get a kicker. To me it is just one more engine to maintain and an extra 100 or so pounds on the transom. We have a Yamaha 9.9 short shaft 2-stroke that I may at some point use as a kicker, but having a single engine really does not concern me too much. So far with about 130 hours of use the Honda 90 has been flawless.
If you do get a kicker you may want to look into the Mercury BigFoot series since it can get serviced at the same places as your Verado. I would also keep it as simple as possible and avoid electric start and remote controls, they are just more things to break. Go for the long shaft as well so you don't have to deal with a bracket that raises and lowers.
On the C-Dory I chose not to get a kicker. To me it is just one more engine to maintain and an extra 100 or so pounds on the transom. We have a Yamaha 9.9 short shaft 2-stroke that I may at some point use as a kicker, but having a single engine really does not concern me too much. So far with about 130 hours of use the Honda 90 has been flawless.
If you do get a kicker you may want to look into the Mercury BigFoot series since it can get serviced at the same places as your Verado. I would also keep it as simple as possible and avoid electric start and remote controls, they are just more things to break. Go for the long shaft as well so you don't have to deal with a bracket that raises and lowers.