Choosing the right 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.
 
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
 
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!
 
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.
 
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?
 
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
 
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
 
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.
 
A Fishin C":1yj2bomf said:
Don't worry about balancing the boat as you need trim tabs anyway.
Click to expand...

I installed trim tabs, but my heavy kicker that unbalanced the boat (listed to starboard) was still a problem. I of course moved everything reasonably possible to port side, but that wasn't enough.

The reason it was still an issue even with tabs is that I like to anchor and live/sleep on the boat. It got old always having it leaning over to one side (trim tabs don't do anything when not moving). Since I didn't have any great need for a heavy/deluxe kicker, this made it even more annoying.

So I went from a 110# kicker to a 45# one and my problems are gone. I can even use fuel from the port tank! (Needed the weight over there before so tried not to use it.) Boat looks good at anchor and I'm no longer living on a slant.

It wasn't a stability issue though, so if mostly only on the boat when underway, then tabs would have done it.
 
Rain, I have a slightly different philosophy, I use the dinghy motor (3.5 hp Merc 2 stroke--30 lbs) as the Kicker--it will run the boat at 3.5 to 4 knots in calm water--and you can steer the boat with it in almost any weather, as long as you are going across or down waves--it is just to get us to a safe place--may not always "get home". We carry independent fuel, since fuel is often the item which causes engine failure. I have pushed a 62 foot, 65,000 lb boat 2.5 knots with a 4.5 hp on a dinghy--it gave us steerage, and kept us safe, until we resolved the main engine issue. Even the Torpedo will push the C Dory at 3 knots.
 
I basically do the same as Thataway. It's a "get to safe anchorage and/or putter home when conditions are good" engine. Separate fuel supply (although I can also clip it onto the main tanks if it wasn't a fuel problem). A slightly larger motor that Thataway's (simply because that's what presented itself when the time came - and plus I don't use it on a dinghy). (It's a 5hp 2-stroke).

The Honda 8D I had was deluxe and really nice - smooth as glass when running; but I just didn't need the weight for a number of reasons (both on and off the boat). The 5hp is a single cylinder, so doesn't purr like the Honda did; but then if my main goes out, I don't think I'm going to be too fussy!

Different use case, I'd likely choose differently.
 
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