Kicker Installation on 26 Venture

Thanks Brent. This kicker is both clamped and bolted. I used the regular clamps, and then also through-bolted it, as per the Suzuki installation instructions that came with it.

Mathias
 
Mathias,
I have almost the same set up on my 23 Venture, 150 Suzuki main and 9.9 Suzuki kicker. Mine is plumbed to the fuel filter also and has the steering quick connect and I also have autopilot. Should be a great system!
I'm in Texas, so I have the A/C on the roof and a Honda 2000 in the splash well on a mounting pad built by Wefings. Fueled by either a line from the fuel filter or from a separate tank with the fuel cap mod. Underway, you can't even tell the Honda is running if you shut the door.
Enjoy!!
 
Hi Easyvictor,

Good to know on the honda generator being able to draw from the main tanks. I wasn't sure if perhaps they were too far beneath the generator. I guess the setup might be slightly different on the 23 vs the 26.

We haven't decided on the AC system yet. There isn't one in the boat yet, but we've considered either a roof mount unit or the water cooled unit in the cabin. Both have a drawback for us though - I intend to get a dinghy to keep on the roof eventually (along with radar), but I think a roof mount would be a pain. Even if the dinghy could fit over the unit, you'd at least need to take the dinghy off whenever using AC. On the other hand, a water cooled AC would solve this problem, but then we wouldn't be able to use it on the trailer in a campground, which we'd like to be able to do. Hmmm....

Mathias
 
We have a 25, so similar. We used a "hi thrust" 9.9 Tohatsu. It's the same engine but with a four blade, "hi thrust" prop which I just bought and swapped out. Pushes the boat enough for our uses; limited trolling and a get safe engine should the main die. I also ran it off the main tank; just another line off the one filter/water separator. We do not have the ability to control rpm's from the helm, but we use a tie rod to control steering via the main.

My one regret is I used a pre-made mount (Mini-Jacker) to raise the kicker and move it to stern to clear the starboard trim tab. If I had to do it again, I'd have one custom made to move the engine back another few inches; it clears the tab by a mere 1" now.
 
localboy":2c79x18h said:
My one regret is I used a pre-made mount (Mini-Jacker) to raise the kicker and move it to stern to clear the starboard trim tab. If I had to do it again, I'd have one custom made to move the engine back another few inches; it clears the tab by a mere 1" now.
Click to expand...

When I switched from a Honda 8 to a Merc 5 (much smaller engine beyond just the 3 hp difference) the leg didn't clear my trim tabs as it did with the Honda. I also have a Mini Jacker mount. I considered a couple of options, one was to re-mount the Mini Jacker with a spacer between the mounting flanges and the transom, but I ended up with a simpler way, which is that I was able to use some fiberglass board at the point where the engine clamps to the Mini Jacker to move the engine back around 3/4" or so, which did the trick.

The latter may not be desirable or workable on a larger engine (or you may not be looking to change anything anyway), but figured I'd mention it.
 
Do U all think a high thrust 9.9 is really needed on a 25? I want to put a reg 9.9 or an 8 on, so I can also use it with a small light 14' skiff. Used to push/tow our 42' Grand Banks with an 8 hp Merc on an 10' 6" dingy. Didn't move fast but it worked & that boat was 22 TONS! Roy
 
That is a good, simple idea. When we first had the engine mounted it cleared the tab, until the engine was engaged and under torque. That pushed it forward and it vibrated against the tab something awful. Sounded like the entire boat would vibrate apart. I just adjusted it back one trim hole; problem solved.

As to the HT being needed, I used the standard 3 blade prop first. On the Tohatsu, the entire engine is the same; only the prop is different. It worked.
 
Roydawn, you should be fine with the regular 9.9 or 8. If there is any question, just get a low pitched prop for the periods you need to push the 25. I have told the story many times I got our 65,000 lb ketch moving 2.5 knots with a 4.5 hp motor on the hard dinghy, and then when I got the 13 foot inflatable blown up and the 25 hp on it, we got up to over 5 knots.

The high thrust is not of much value on the dinghy, at least for planing.

Where I think one may have a problem with the Honda, is gong to be where the tanks are under the floorboards. Such as in the Tom Cat, or the C Dory 25. You may be fine. Worth giving a try.

No issue with the Air conditioner and the dinghy. We rarely ran the roof top when we were under way. At anchor, or marina, usually the dinghy was either in the water, or we raised it up, so that there was plenty of ventilation for the Air conditioner. I just think that the RV Air conditioner is so much simpler, no water pump, no worry about plugging up the intake (and that is a real issue, with jelly fish, sea weed, kelp, small fish, mud etc.) Rv is much cheaper, and you don't give up a storage area.

But just my opinion.
 
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