Kicker Size for 06 Angler

This has been debated a number of times. Your 90 will most likely troll for most species--if you want super low speeds, than a kicker will work. If you want it for a get home engine--then have a separate fuel supply. I personally like the 8 hp "big foot" type of outboards. Going from 9.9 to 15 will give you nothing more in thrust. Small props are not effecient in pushing bigger boats a low speeds. I just use a dinghy motor 3.5 to 4 hp--and as I have noted a number of times pushed a 26 foot sailboat much more weight and windage than a C Dory 25 with a 5 hp for many thousands of miles--at 5 to 6 knots. You will not go much faster with a 10 hp.
 
For trolling we've seen 6 horse engines used- lightweight, but can be a bit rougher running due to single cylinder design.

8-9.9 High Thrust engines provide tons of torque and are almost overkill on this size boat (but are very nice running engines).

In between is a standard 8 or 9.9 and add a dual thrust prop.

It all depends on the use, and the budget.

Keep in mind that none of these engines will push you past hull speed (~ 5 knots), so it will be along trip home if you're counting on it for a return trip.
 
Matt said:

"Keep in mind that none of these engines will push you past hull speed (~ 5 knots), so it will be along trip home if you're counting on it for a return trip."

Another good reason to consider twins. (and that discussion has been around here forever. >> search twin AND single for a dozen threads)

In the interest of full disclosure, I run twins. I would run a single IF ALL my boating was on a lake and I never had to worry about drifting to Japan or Alaska. :twisted:

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

IMGP1255.highlight.jpg
 
Touching back on that Sea God thread, we're beginning to think we offended the spirits at Cama Beach.

On our way home from the May Friday Harbor CBGT, we hit huge waves at Cama Beach and crawled most of the way to the marina in Everett at 5 knots. After leaving the La Conner CBGT today, we lost power (partly newbie inexperience) in 2ft waves and strong current at nearly the same location. We're thinking we better make an offering to ward off any lingering bad juju for future voyages.

The trouble started when our oil light came on. Not realizing the difference between a flashing oil service light and a low-pressure oil warning light (our manual could be better written), we decided to switch to the kicker to limp over to Camano State Park to check things out.

We've started the kicker a number of times to make sure it was operating properly, but discovered today that 6 HP is inadequate in the conditions in which we found ourselves. The boat didn't budge.

We tried restarting the 90 HP Suzuki, but it wouldn't turn over. Fortunately (and maybe this was the SGs throwing us a bone) the Sheriff came by at that exact moment to inspect for life jackets and gave us a tow.

So, we read this thread with interest, but have a few questions:

1. Would an 8-9 HP motor be able to move the boat in these conditions?

2. What's the difference between a regular 8-9 HP and the high-thrust models in terms of performance?

3. Would an 8-9 HP be too heavy on a 19ft Angler with a 90HP?

4. Any idea why the 90 wouldn't turn over after we turned it off? We're wondering if in the heat of the moment we didn't check to see if it was truly in neutral and a kill switch kicked in?

Once we got tied up at the dock, we grabbed the iPad (thank you Mr. Jobs) and learned what the manual so poorly explained about needing to reset the engine when the oil service light goes on. We did so and retried starting the 90 and it turned over like normal. Oil light went out.
 
Back
Top