The chief advantage of the port mount is that the weight of the kicker helps offset the weight/balance of a single helmsman. Especially if you troll alone and at the helm.
The chief advantage of going to the starboard side is that the kicker can be mounted in the engine well beside the main motor on the transom without a bracket, and can be steered with the handle, and the twist grip throttle used more conveniently. Manual starting is also easier. Steering can also be done with a cross-bar link with the main motor. Shifting is OK, if a little tight in some applications with the motor steered off center.
Small outboards are designed kinda right handed, so to speak. The handle is offset to the left of the motor for a right handed person to steer with the left hand and fish with the right. Many motors will fit in the space to the starboard side of the main engine.
The port side space is not so convenient. The handle has no where to operate to steer, so cross bar linked steering is a must.
Alternately, some folks prefer mounting either port or starboard with an outboard bracket, remote shift and throttle cables, electric starting, and the handle kept folded up or even removed. More expensive, but more convenient.
You can also get hydraulic or electrically assisted brackets to raise the motor when not trolling, and electronic trolling speed devices to give exact repeatable trolling speeds (TrollMaster), and kicker autopilots (TR1-Gold).
Joe. :teeth :thup
