2009 Honda 5 HP as kicker for 16 Cruiser

[wannabeowner2]

Now it is time for kicker options on our projected 2007 16 Cruiser. (Yes, I want a kicker as back-up due to river cruising and my generally abysmal record with outboards over the last thirty years! Also we plan to do a lot of skinny water creeping along for bird watching and think that a kicker might be better in these situations.)

The dealer has offered a new 2009 Honda 5 HP mounted on a jack plate and test run for 1780.00. Or I can buy whatever model and they will do the same, including providing the jack plate for 350.00.

It appears that the Honda is the better way to go except that I find poor to mediocre reviews of earlier models of the 5 HP here on the forum. Has Honda improved things lately or should I still go with a different kicker? If so, which one would the gang recommend?

5 HP is the rated limit we can hang on the stern of the 16.

Thanks once again in advance for your collective advice. This group is great.

Steve

PS Or I CAN postpone the whole thing and mount the jack plate/ kicker myself later on. I'm a big do-it-yourselfer around the home and I no doubt will do the same on the boat. But would feel better about having something like this professionally done. Am I right on this?

[Spike]

Steve
Mounting a jack plate and kicker is a very doable project. Should take less than two hours to do. The hardest part of the whole thing is getting the nerve to drill that first hole in your new boat. just measure and test fit before bit touches gelcoat.

Chuck
Bootleg Hooch

[DaveS]

Steve, on my former 16' Cruiser, I had an 8 HP Honda kicker mounted (without a jack plate, thereby saving the cost of a jack plate) next to my 50 HP Honda and it worked well. (Also had a tie rod between the two engines so I could steer from the helm when running the kicker alone). If you look at picture #19 in the Sea Shift album you'll see a distant picture of the two engines. (I would think that going with an 8 HP might be a better choice for overcoming any river or tidal currents etc.).....just my .02 cents worth.

[dotnmarty]

Well, I have a 2006 Honda 5 hp that hangs off the port side of the transom, no jackplate. It will push the boat, loaded and with two 200+ lb people, all day long at 5 mph and not use hardly any gas. If it sat too long without running there was some difficulty starting, so now I run it at least once a month. Regarding the 'jackplate' even though I don't have one, I think it's a good idea, as the motor on the transom does drag in the water very slightly when up to speed on the main engine.
.

[Wandering Sagebrush]

[digger]

Had a Honda 5 and hated it. Rough idling compared to twin cylinders, and hard starting. I wouldn't do it. Digger

[NORO LIM]

Steve,

I had a 16 footer previously, and, like Sea Shift, had a port side Honda 8 kicker mounted directly on the transom with a removable tie-bar connecting it to a Honda 40/50 main. It worked well, but was a tight fit. If they are still available, get the "classic" cowling shape on the 8 hp. It will fit more easily next to the main. I also found it necessary to use a tensioning strap to get the maximum tilt on the kicker in order to keep the skeg from dragging in the water at certain planing speeds when running on the main with the kicker up.

I'd recommend going with the direct mount first and seeing how you like it. I think it would be easier to switch to a separate mount later, than to go in the other direction.

I don't know about the 8hp exceeding the weight (?) limit for the 16 footer. That would be news to me, but I guess something you should check into. (What's the weight of the 5hp plus the mounting bracket, versus the weight of the 8 mounted directly to the transom?)

I had a 5 hp Honda for a while, but found it noisier, harder to start, and obviously less able to push the boat than the 8.

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Bill,

Did you have any issues with your Classic 8 where the throttle was touchy, and the rpm would jump around when tiller steering? Mine did that, plus ran very cold. I had to go to hotter plugs and a hotter thermostat to get it to troll with out having a fuel (unburned) build up in the crankcase. I have had none of that with the new style 8.

Steve

[wannabeowner2]

Great opinions that are much appreciated.

I guess I liked the Honda option both for vanity looks plus it is an easy, turnkey option. Given Honda's reputation for quality in virtually everything they have produced I was HOPING that they had cleaned up the issues noted above on the 2009 model. Anyone know for sure???

I believe the dealer's concern is not weight but rather the boat's 55 HP "rating". If I install the motor everything I have read says the 8 HP Yamaha is the way to go. I assume it would be OK for a private owner to exceed the rating by 3 HP?

Things get a little complicated on this boat re: mounting the kicker. The starboard side has a factory swim step. The port side has an electric anchor winch already mounted so that is why I assume the dealer says to use a jack plate.

So many choices ...

Steve

[DaveS]

The 16' "Sea Shift" kicker was mounted on the transom on the starboard side and the factory swim step was on the port side. With me sitting at the helm and the kicker on the same side the vessel obviously leaned a bit on the starboard side. However, with two passengers sitting on the port side, the vessel evened out. Yes, the skeg on the kicker did drag in the water, however I just accepted those "lack of streamlining" features and thoroughly enjoyed the vessel.

[DaveS]

[RJD Wannabe]

Regarding the 55HP rating. I assume you will not be running both at the same time. A moot point. Weight would be a bigger issue, and I (who doesn't own a 16 - yet) doubt that's much of a factor

[thataway]

Some photos of the transom of this boat would be helpful. Does he mean a true jack plate, which is used to get the engine higher in the water? Or does he mean an auxillary motor mount, which will pivot up and allow the engine to be further from the water, and is also signficantly further aft. I also would like to see the electric anchor winch. I assume that you know that it is not a good idea to anchor the 16 by the stern, because of possibility of swamping.

I don't see any difference between using a 8 hp and a 5 hp kicker as far as the weight. As far as HP, I use a 3 hp on the C D 25--it is slow (4 or so knots in calm water) but will get the boat home.

[dotnmarty]

[NORO LIM]