Kicker on a Tomcat

Beflyguy · Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 6:39 pm Post subject: Kicker on a Tomcat

Has anyone put a kicker on a Tomcat? I have a 6hp Suzuki and I was thinking of using it as a kicker and also a motor for the dinghy but I wonder how it would fit between the twins.

jennykatz · Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 6:54 pm Post subject: kicker

Why when you have 2 motors if you want a 4-6 hp for a dingy fine but a kicker ??
YOu could run one engine and put a trolling plate to slow down if thats what you have in mind for fishing etc

Beflyguy · Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 7:02 pm Post subject: Re: kicker

rogerbum · Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 7:19 pm Post subject:

I might want to do the same thing. If I recall, I think Bob Austin made a board that slipped into the dive ladder mounts and was able to mount the kicker to that. Depending on how the Tomcat trolls on a single engine, I might want a kicker mounted in the center of the bracket (probably needs to be a long shaft kicker for that). Also, it would be nice if it could be steered via a remote control. I might consider looking at a solution using a generator and a bass boat like electric motor for trolling.

After I posted this - I did some looking around in Bob's photo album - here's a link to the pages showing some pictures of his kicker mounting plate.

Captains Cat · Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 7:47 pm Post subject:

Get yourself a bucket, preferably galvanized steel (or heavy plastic) and hang it from about a 20'' line attached to either the port or stbd stern cleat. Throw it over when you want to troll. Run the opposite engine at idle, you'll slow down fine. A lot cheaper than a kicker, and the bucket is useful in other ways too.

Charlie

rogerbum · Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 7:56 pm Post subject:

Yes - but I troll A LOT. I think trolling on a kicker that costs $1-2k might be a lot cheaper than trolling on a single 135 when you put 1000-2000 hours on it.

Captains Cat · Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 8:03 pm Post subject:

Concur... But if there are trolls out there, I don't go... Mr. Green

matt_unique · Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 9:31 pm Post subject: YES

I have a sweet kicker! It's a 150HP Suzuki that will plane off Napoleon even with the other engine off. Cool

Beflyguy · Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 11:42 pm Post subject:

Wandering Sagebrush · Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2010 11:23 am Post subject:

Brian,

I am wondering if a 6 hp kicker is enough to effectively troll a Tomcat... Any wind at all, and my guess is you're going to be going down wind with little ability to do much else. We have an 8 hp Honda on our CD 22, and in wind, I find it does not have the poop to easily keep the boat under control. Once the bow falls off, I either have to gun the kicker (a lot) to correct, or change course. Gunning the engine means that most of the time my kokanee rig pulls off down riggers.

Offshore, we almost always end up using the main engine to troll.

Steve

Doryman · Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2010 12:07 pm Post subject:

There is a local Tom Cat that has done this. As I recall he has an 8 or a 9.9 on a permanent bracket that raises and lowers the motor into the water. Obviously he loses the factory swim step.

He is not on this site, as far as I know. Next time I see the boat I will try to get a photo.

Warren

TWO-DAWGS · Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 6:52 pm Post subject:

My TomCat is a 1997 with twin Honda 90s. I have trolled with my 90's, switching back and forth to balance the hours, for 13 years. I have so many hours I don't even look anymore. I change the oil regularly, grease the fittings, lube the prop shaft, and do an annual replug, and that's about it. They run perfect, use no oil, and I believe they will run until I cannot stand them anymore and want something cooler just for the heck of it. I think the newer Hondas are even better. I would not worrry about wear and tear very much. These outboards like to be used, and I'm sure even the new larger ones will troll just fine. Happy fishing. TWO-DAWGS.

Doryman · Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 7:08 pm Post subject:

When I wanted to be able to troll very slowly with my twin 40s on the 22 or twin 150s on the Tom Cat, someone (I think it was Les at EQ) suggested that I run one motor in forward and the other in reverse. I am not sure he was serious or whether there are drawbacks to doing this, but I thought it was an interesting idea, assuming that gas consumption is not an issue. Thoughts?

Warren

Beflyguy · Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 7:19 pm Post subject:

I'm sort of looking at this as a place to store the dinghy motor but available to use for trolling as desired. If I position it just right (4-6" higher than in the photo) it may not need to be raised at speed.

dotnmarty · Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 7:28 pm Post subject: