Choosing the right kicker

Jazzmanic · Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2015 12:32 am Post subject:

Regarding the Suzuki dealer network, there are many choices in the Puget Sound, I-5 corridor from Olympia to Mount Vernon so that argument about "spotty" dealer network isn't really true for our at area but I'm sure it may be true for others. We've been using Master Marine for years and they've always done a good job for us.

Rain · Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2015 12:53 am Post subject: Suzuki Marine Dealers/Service

Google tells me there are 9 within a couple of hours of me. I hear they are few and far between north of here.

hardee · Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2015 1:07 am Post subject:

It may be that they are harder to find than the Yamaha facilities once you go a bit farther north..... like over the boarder.

Harvey
SleepyC Moon

Phil Barnes · Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2015 1:21 am Post subject: Choosing the right kicker

We have a Honda 9.9 electric start, tilt and trim on our CD 22 cruiser. It is a fine engine but heavy. Probably about 110 lbs. That is a disadvantage when trying to balance the boat load. Having it on the port side doesn't help since the water tank is also on that side. That being said, it takes about 8 hp to put the CD 22 at hull speed. Any more hp than that helps in a wind but doesn't necessarily help against a tide as hull speed is hull speed as determined by water flow against the hull. We hit hull speed at somewhere around 3/4 throttle on the 9.9. We like the 9.9 but would prefer less weight for our use (get home motor). Ours is rigged with a steering bar to the main engine when desired, but all the controls for the 9.9 are on the motor itself. Might be good to have a kill button on the dash if running the engine with the steering bar attached to the main engine and steering from the helm. We run ours with a fuel line from the main tanks so we don't have any fuel separation should we have contaminated fuel in both of our tanks. I don't know what hp it takes to plane a CD 22 but I am guessing that maybe 40 hp would be required. So no advantage to have more hp than a 9.9 for trolling or a get home motor really as you can't get above hull speed. Just a few things to consider in your final hp choice.

williwaw · Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2015 11:36 pm Post subject:

Sunbeam touched on this but a big question is whether or not you want a dinghy with a motor. The problem, of course, is that it's challenging to have a main motor, a 9.9 "get home" kicker and a yet smaller dinghy motor all on the same boat. It's certainly been done but for me that's a lot of stuff.

On our CC 23, we like to cruise with a dinghy and the one that fits best can only handle a 6 HP motor. So i bought a 4 HP Suzuki as I didn't want anything too heavy.

Now if I did a lot of fishing that required trolling I'd probably also need a 9.9 and just have to take whichever motor suited the trip.

Yes, when cruising we don't really have a "get home" kicker but with a well maintained modern motor (twin fuel tanks/fuel water separator), a dinghy with a motor and all the various technological solutions for getting help it just seems like the adverse risks are pretty small.

I think that level of risk is tolerable in much of the common PNW cruising areas. I would probably re-think if we were planning a solo trip to very remote areas but then there's lots of other issues - like how to avoid contaminated fuel shutting everything down, EPIRB, improved medical kit, etc.

Anyway, that was our thinking... food for thought.

anchorout · Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2015 12:32 am Post subject: kicker

I have a long shaft 6 hp Suzuki kicker. It starts on first pull, pushes the boat fast enough to get me home, and I love it. However, as stated by others, as it is a one cylinder engine the vibration is serious.

Rain

This doesn't look like a bad deal:

http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/bod/5297001525.html

Steven Dore · Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2015 10:23 am Post subject:

I ran a Honda 8 HP 4 stroke as a kicker for many years. I can testify that the 8 will push the 22 at hull speed. There are three reasons that I took the kicker engine off of my boat. First - the 90 has never failed me in 11 years of service, so the kicker was never needed. I would exercise it every month to keep it running right. Second - the weight was difficult to balance at times. Especially at low speeds. Third - clearance between the main and the kicker was an occasional problem. Both cowl covers had a few scrapes from bumping into each other when turning tightly.

Long story short; the 9.9 you are considering will do a fine job.

Steve

Rain · Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2015 11:03 am Post subject: Trolling

Sounds like the reliability of modern motors minimize the need for a "get back", especially when properly maintained and equipped. But what about trolling? I am not into fishing, but may give it another try!

Spike · Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2015 12:17 pm Post subject:

These modern EFI engines will run all day long at trolling speeds with no problem. The onlly real reason I used a kicker motor was to keep hours off my main. And a kicker is easier on gas.

Rain · Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2015 12:48 pm Post subject: Good info, thanks

Maybe I'll try fishing with the main for a bit and if I really get into it, then a trolling motor. How much difference in fuel consumption would you guess between a 115 and a 9.9 on a 23' while trolling?

A Fishin C · Guest

I am a strong believer in a "come home" kicker (and a radar, a chartplotter doesn't work at accurately at hull speed).

On more than one occasion I have had to use both (one time it was fishing line around the prop of the main engine while fishing single handed on the west coast (Esperanza Inlet)off the rocks in a big sea. Rather than put myself in danger trying to get the fishing line off at that location, I used the kicker to get in around the corner into a calm bay (Rosa Island) to remove the line)

I was concerned on my last boat with a 120 lb yamaha 8 HT because of weight.

I bought a 6 hp suzuki long on the current boat at a sweet deal (57 lbs) . It pushes the boat at about 4 knots. Were funds not an issue this engine or its merc, tohatsu equivalent with charging capability would have been my choice.

Definitely long shaft to get deep enough and make sure however it is mounted that it doesn't drag when up tilted. On the Starboard side if you want to use the tiller handle. Don't worry about balancing the boat as you need trim tabs anyway.

My $0.02

Jazzmanic · Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2015 1:47 pm Post subject:

The kicker in the link is exactly like mine but 1 year older. It's very reliable and pushes the boat well. Two things to know: It's carbeurated and therefore a cold starter but I've made it a habit to start the kicker on most every trip and it's saved my bacon in particular 1 time when we nearly drifted on the rocks. The kicker started right up when we needed it most and starts easily (electric start) due to running it all the time. The 2nd point of note is a drawback, Suzuki couldn't provide a better way to flush the engine. You have to use a screw in a hose adaptor and block the water intakes with duct tape if you want to flush. I now use a flush bag and skip all that nonsense.

Stefan makes a good point about not worrying about ballast if you have trim tabs. The dealer installed our kicker on the starboard side to offset the weight of the batteries and driver and it does limit the use of the tiller. However I always tie the kicker to the main so it's a non issue.

You can certainly use the main to troll and as long as it's EFI, it works fine. We've done it with our Suzi 90hp with no adverse effects. Hope this helps.

Peter

Rain · Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2015 2:35 pm Post subject: 6hp Suzuki

Do you troll with the 6hp? Does it "pound" due to being a single?

A Fishin C · Guest

I rarely troll with the kicker. usually when alone. It does vibrate more than a 2 cyl, but it does not bother me in any way. The fuel use trolling with a kicker is much less than with the main in my experience.