Port or Starboard kicker placement?

C

C-Gypsy

New member
I have a quick question. Actually I have a LOT of questions but am trying to refrain from driving everyone krazy!

My new C-Dory has a 90 Honda as its main motor. I am having a 9.9 Honda added for a kicker.

I have seen pictures of boats with the kicker on the port side & others with the kicker on the starboard side.

May I ask which is "better", and what determines which side is better for the kicker?

Thanks!

Al
 
Swim step placement if installed would dictate where. I am not sure about the weigh distribution as it comes from the factory. The water tank is on the port side and weighs about 200 lbs when full. If the boat is trim without people on board I would lean towards the port side to offset the helmsman.
 
I just dropped my boat off at les's yesterday for a kicker motor and because off the swim step it wil be on the strboard side. They are installing a mounting plate so the motor will clear the trim tabs. I have the long thin tabs but most of the newer boats have the short wide tabs. Same sq. inches just different shapes. I should get the boat back by friday. Iam off work today so now I cant fish,oh well
 
Usually, with a tiller controlled kicker, it is hard to mount on the port side because the tiller hits the port lazerette. On the starboard side, there is more room with the tiller for steering. If the kicker is mounted aft with a bracket it is often more advantageous with it mounted port. I mounted 2 batteries in the port lazerette, so it balances well with the kicker on starboard. I usually do not have the water tank full. Ron
 
I also think that the swim step, if you have one, would be the determining factor.

My swim step is on the port side so I'm looking to install a kicker on my starboard side.

GP
 
Thank you for the replies gentlemen.

My boat has no swim step, although one is ordered.

I was told that the swim step has no cutout when it arrives from the factory so can be fitted to either side of the boat.

The kicker will be mounted on a bracket that places it aft.

I asked the dealer to install it on the port side and just wanted to make certain I did not make a mistake in doing so.

Gee, can you tell I am a little nervous? :roll:

I appreciate your input.

Al
 
Al, good intuition on your part. That'll balance the boat with the batteries in the starboard lazarette. Just before C-Dory decided to replace our boat, the dealer had moved both batteries portside to keep us from listing, having the kicker mounted starboard (you can imagine Steve looking at the boat with a machinist's eyes -- drove him nuts!)...never got to put her in the water again, but we're hoping with that fix on the new boat, we won't look like we're listing all the time -- asked the factory when making the new boat to see what they could do to make the starboard a true storage area, rather than the skeleton cage it is when it houses the batteries. We'll see what we get! :o
 
Ok I'll add to the discussion since this wasn't mentioned. I'm not sure I can explain it in text but I'll try. First of my kicker was installed on the starboard side due to the swim step. Most boats I have ever fished in had the kicker on the port side. I believe it is more out of function. Usually the fisher person controlling the kicker is sitting/leaning on the transome while steering. Now if you look at most kickers the tiller handle is on the port side of the engine. It feels natural to sit facing forward and using your left hand to steer works pretty good. Now with my boat since the ending in on the starboard side the one thing I notice is that tiller handle is now toward the center of the boat. It's very akward to face forward and still have to use your left hand. You really can't hold your fishing rod and steer at the same time. My solution is a 2k kicker autopilot. I definately would put the motor on the port side for ergonomic reasons. Even still you will need to use an extention handle since the motor is a little too far back. Now if you only want to steer from the cabin obviously you could just tie the main and kicker together with an ez-steer or something. Good luck.
 
I am having a connetion rod installed on the susan e so that i can still use the auto pilot that drives the main. all I need know is a wire less remote for the auto pilot and I will have nothing it complain about any more.
 
Al,

Mine is mounted on the port side and at times I wish it was mounted on the starboard side. With two pax on board and a lot of water, it leans to port until fuel is burned off. Since all things are only in equilibrium before you untie from the dock, I finally decided it didn't matter. Move the cooler around to adjust trim, and if the cooler isn't heavy enough use some trim tab. As gas burns off, back off on the trim to the point you have to move the cooler (unless you have worked your way through the contents).
 
I can certainly relate to your nervousness Al. I fussed and fretted (I'm very good at this) about this decision myself three years ago and decided all things considered, that the starboard mounting was best for me which required moving the swim step. Battery placement, water or no water in the tank, amount of passengers, status of fuel loads and choices to draw from which tanks all can get a boat listing one direction or the other regardless if you have a kicker or not. Take your best guess and it's easy enough change your mind at a later date by patching a few holes you'll never recognize if done correctly. Additionally, if you haven't chosen to install trim tabs, you eventually will, which pretty much takes care of any list issues while underway.
 
Mine will be to starboard which should help counter the balast in the port seat, his name is james and he will not stop eating. when out by my self I will just run a full water tank to off set the engine. Iam thinking of getting a water pump for the sink just so I can go from full tank to half tank depending on whos on board. I want a wash down anyhow so that will pull double duty.
 
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