Kicker Redux

[Pat Anderson]

OK, everyone agreed a kicker is a practical necessity for the new CD25.

Next question, any big advantage to a 15 hp over a 9.8 hp (both Tohatsu four strokes)? 15 hp 20" shaft manual start is the same price essentially as a 9.8 hp 25" shaft electric start...I am leaning to the 9.8 hp / electric start, separate battery, Patty the other way...anyway, any sage advice on the hp issue before I click on "Buy It"? The 9.8 hp is about 35 lbs lighter, and my sense is it would push the boat along essentially as well as the 15, and the 25" shaft would let us use the fixed bracket.

[triehl27]

I think i'd go 9.8, the power factor is so small on a 25' that you're better off to save the 35#'s for something else. All you need is a troller/ get me to shore in case bad things happen motor. 9.8 will do that.

If this was for a 14' aluminum id say 15hp but the difference on a 25' boat is negligable(sp)

[Sea Wolf]

Pat-
You're right on all the way! The 9.8 will drive the 25 at hull speed, iit's lighter, uses a simpler bracket with the longer shaft (and doesn't require lowering oth er than tilting down), and the electric start would be a plus, just start it regularly to keep it ready and prevent the fuel from getting old. Joe

[My IRA]

Pat,

Go with the engine that has the largest displacement. Cubic inches = torque and torque is king when controlling a large (25) dory in less than favorable conditions.

You guys must be really excited (we were in the same holding pattern one year ago). Keep the posts coming, everyone enjoys sharing in your excitement and the documentation of your beautiful new 25.

[TyBoo]

Pat -

You better get the biggest kicker you can take. Patty will be wanting to get away fast from the outhouse vent.

If you go with the x-long shaft, you might do well to try hanging the thing right on the transom before buying a bracket. The CD25 transom is not angled nearly as much as the 22, and my x-long kicker clears the water by a long shot when up, and is actually deeper than needed when down. I have 12 x 12 tabs, too, and it clears that. If you are getting bigger tabs, then maybe it's another story. But trying it is free. The bracket ain't.

I am sure the smaller hp will push the boat, but the 15 is going to move it with much more authority. Maybe the currents where you boat most often aren't enough to worry about, but for me in the CR - the 15 is what I am keeping.

On the other hand, you might want the lighter one in case your passengers demand you mount it to the outhouse and send it away somewhere.

(Sorry about the crapper crap, but even it if proves to be the best thing ever on a boat, I will be giving you crap about it.)

[Pat Anderson]

Don't know the dimensions on the trim tabs, but have seen them now and they be BIG...the fixed bracket for the 25" shaft of the 9.8 hp is under $100 I hear, and so will probably do that IF we go with the 9.8, rather than just hang off transom. For the 15 hp, the bracket is a bit more, the last bracket I bought like that was for the Crabby Lou II, was north of $300 as I recall...so one last check in, is the extra torque all that valuable? Won't the 9.8 hp do me just fine? What do I need more torque for, not hole shot, that's for sure...

[Sawdust]

Pat,

You ask a tough question - only you can answer. The 9.9 would be fine for me, but depends on where/how you boat. No kicker you will put on will plane the boat -- so hull speed is hull speed. If you always boat on the big river like Tyboo Kid, fighting the current back in -- hmmmm. I'd go for a little more thrust. I haven't run the 25 enough to know, but the speed difference between the two you are considering ain't all that much. Now if you were 50 miles off shore making your way home on the kicker -- different game.

You probably don't plan to run Malibu at max ebb with the kicker, or do you?

This isn't a good answer, but just a thought...

Dusty

[C-Hawk]

The 9.9 might push the boat, but will it maintain enough speed for steerage? Think I'd go with the 15 as noted by TyBoo.

[Bess-C]

Pat,
We'll be at Lopez next weekend. We've got a Honda 15 high thrust kicker on our boat. We can go out and play with it so that you can get a feel for the kicker. I went back and forth between the 9.9 and 15 last year and opted for the 15. I'm not sure that we need the 15, I just thought that it would push the boat about the same as a 9.9 would push the 22. I think I've seen the blinding speed of about 7 kts when it's wide open. It certainly doesn't feel overpowered when you're fighting a current.
Lyle

[Sneaks]

Lots of pretty good sized sailboats running around with 9.9 kickers. Considering their hulls and sail area (yes, with the sails furled) it would seem to me that they're a whole order of magnitude more difficult to maneuver than a wee 25 ft. semi-flat bottomed C-Dory.

[dogon dory]

Sorry, Folks - Post Deleted By Author

[Sea Wolf]

Pat-

Your best plan at this point would be to try out as many various kicker combinations on the 25 you can, as volunteered above.

A major part of the decision is where and what type of water you're going to be in and how much safety margin you're comfortable with in terms of power. Peace of mind is worth what price?

Whatever kicker you choose, get the right prop to wind up and maximize the available horsepower you have. Also, the true High Thrurst auxilary motors with larger, lower geared bottom ends with larger props do a much better job of converting available horsepower to real thrust or momentum transfer.

One more thought: How much more for the bigger, safer, CYA (sorry to invoke a legal term on your day off!) choice? How much will it cost to re-decide if the less expensive option doesn't do the job?

And.... Does Patty like to play the "I told you so" tune as much as my wife?

Good Luck with whatever you choose! Joe.