Trailering with a kicker

sjhantzis · Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 10:46 am Post subject: Trailering with a kicker

I've noticed that some owners remove their kicker when trailering. I'm considering adding a kicker on a mount that might add maybe 110 pounds to the transom. Isn't this less than the weight of, say, dual 90 Hondas? My 25' has a Honda 150 main.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Steve Hantzis

journey on · Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 11:32 am Post subject:

My advice is don't do it. It's too risky to take a chance.

We left the Honda 10 on the bracket when we headed up to the PNW a couple of years ago, picked Cal 99 to see some new sights and by the time we got to Sacramento the bracket and transom had cracked. Normally, on a reasonably smooth road, leaving the kicker on may be OK, but then if one meets another strip of road like 99, somethings got to give. 99 hasn't been repaired in 20 years, and it's terrible. The boat got repaired, but now the kicker rides in the back of the truck.

And by the way, that's why I recommend the lightest motor. Hoisting that 110 lbs on and off the bracket and moving it from/to the truck is a bear.

The 150 is OK, since it's bolted securely to the transom. It's not the weight, it's the jostling.

Boris

Jeff & Mimi · Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 12:30 pm Post subject: Re: Trailering with a kicker

NewMoon · Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 1:42 pm Post subject:

Traveling with kicker mounted can be OK (though maybe not on Rt 99), but ideally don't have the kicker tilted up - that increases its leverage to try to crack the transom when you hit a bump.

Vertical position for the kicker is probably ideal, or if you can't do that and must have it tilted up, use a "transom saver" rod which keeps the lower unit from rotating up or down relative to the transom. Good for the big motor too.

We used to haul the kicker in the tow vehicle, but then got another transom saver for the kicker, and traveled many sometimes lumpy miles without transom problems on our CD22. We have 50,000+ miles on the trailer of our 26-foot boat, with the kicker mounted vertically the whole time.

thataway · Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 8:15 pm Post subject:

We have trailered with kickers in place (even the 15 Honda Electric Start on the C Dory 25)--but did keep the engine straight down, and had some of the strain on the bracket taken by the Gerhauer davit. I would strongly recommend a davit if you are taking any motor on and off which has a weight more than 45 lbs.

Spike · Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 10:33 pm Post subject:

I have trailered 3 different boats all with the kickers mounted on them with no problems at all I dont belive there will be any more jostling of the motor going down the highway than going at speed across the water using the main. I do trailer with the kicker down though.
Chuck
Bootleg Hooch

Socrateur · Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 11:38 pm Post subject:

It depends on the type of mount you have in mind, and you don't specify that. If you're thinking of a fixed mount that should be OK if it's a good strong one, but from what others have said here the hinged mounts should have the motor removed during trailering.