question about kicker motor

N

nordicstallion

New member
Hi, from the newbie. Can anyone refer me to a previous thread (I have been looking) for pros and cons of adding a kicker to my 19'. I have been looking at a 9.9. I will be ocean fishing, not lake and I'm figuring this is a good idea primarily if I'm at sea and my main motor stops working. Ideas?
 
Hi Nordic,
Happy New Year to all. I have a Honda BF8 kicker on my 22 Classic. It brought me home once when the impeller failed on my BF75 out in Galveston Bay (curiously, the day before I was wondering in my head if it was time to replace the water pump impeller on the BF75 and obviously the answer was yes). So even though I had to cruise back to my marina at 5 knots. I avoided the embarassment of returning via SeaTow or TowBoats US. It also brought me back once when I couldn't get the big motor started due to a self-inflicted electrical problem (make sure those battery post terminals are really clean and tight).

I like having a kicker for the peace of mind of a backup motor, and a backup alternator (see battery posts). One time my battery (OK, I admit I've only got one) was too low to start the big motor after sitting unused a bit too long. Hey, rope start the kicker, and you've got an onboard battery charger. The downsides are additional initial cost (which would buy a bunch of tow insurance), weight, and additional maintenance. I try to run mine every time I use the boat to make sure it is in good shape if I need it, and I maintain it on the same schedule as my big motor even though it sees about a tenth as much use. I've heard several stories of folks who had a rarely used kicker which failed when they really needed it.

There are several previous threads discussing sizes and models. Hope that helps!

Mike
 
I am not sure if there is a thread about the 19 and a kicker.(many about 19s and transom weight and trimtabs) Certainly threads about the 22 and a kicker. The 19 has different considerations in that you will want to keep the weight down. I have a main that weights about 60 pounds more than yours, and I have a 6hp kicker. I like it. It pushes the boat about 5 kts at wot, but I don't get miles offshore. If I did, I would want a larger kicker. If you are going to use it just as a back up to the main, get the lightest 9.9 possible. I would talk to as many 19 owners who have kickers and dealers who rig them as I could, esp those who go offshore. Robbi
 
The new 2008 Suzuki 9.9 hp has tilt and trim with electric start and remote steering. It also gives a 6 year warranty. Fuel mileage will be good at lower speeds.
 
I have the 8hp Honda, works perfect & has for 12yrs on 2 diff boats :mrgreen: The next kicker I buy will be the Yamaha(just quieter & smoooother) Buy the long shaft (20")

Have a good new year

SW170001.jpg
 
I've heard from several sources that the 8 hp high thrust Yamaha is the single most popular kicker for fish boats due to its power and reliability.
 
I have the 8hp classic honda and like it well enough for it's simplicity. I thought about going with the power tilt, start ect but wanted to keep things simple. If your classic won't start it could only be a couple possibilities. Get into electric start and the list grows. Just a thought.
 
Doryman":2j446d79 said:
I've heard from several sources that the 8 hp high thrust Yamaha is the single most popular kicker for fish boats due to its power and reliability.
Click to expand...

Absolutely true! High thrust outboards (real ones with bigger lower ends, props, and lower gear ratios) are much more efficient at delivering the hp as thrust, not churning the water up and blowing bubbles!

The 8 is adequate unless you're going offshore or into high velocity wind and/or current areas where a larger motor would be more appropriate.

Most 9.9 motors are the same block/displacement as the same manufacturer's 15 (different carbureation/spark advance), so the weight of the 9.9 and 15 are the same, so if you need the extra 5 hp,..............

Today's $0.02!

Joe. :thup :teeth
 
Thanks for the information, this is helping. I have a question on whether the kicker should be mounted on the transom on a c-dory or should I have a retractable kicker mount. Is the purpose of the mount to get it out of the water or out of the way of the main motor?
 
I would just hang it on the transom for now. Get some experience with it. For instance, see just which side of the transom is best for you as far as weight balance goes. Later, if you find it is dragging too much for your liking you can always add a kicker bracket. Altho I don't have one, I've heard that those retractable brackets can sometimes be a problem themselves.
 
This is what I mounted my kicker on. Gets the motor up and out of the water when tilted.
June_12_002.sized.jpg

I bought the motor and bracket from Les at EQ. Robbi
 
Hi,
I've got a 19' with the 75-4stroke Yamaha and an 8hp-4stroke Yamaha kicker (mounted on the portside). It is very tight. I've built a SS mounting bracket to get away from the adjustable ones as most of them reccommend that you don't trailler with the engine mounted. These 4strokes are too heavy to be throwing them around.The 8hp will push my boat about 7mph.
 
Just a thought here. I don't know if you have trim tabs or plan on getting them but the location of the kicker might be challenging. I know on my 22 that space is limited. I have a kicker bracket called a "mini jacker". It's sationary but gets the motor back out of the way of the trim tabs.

trim_tab_starbord_2.sized.jpg
 
I know that the makers of the adjustable type kicker brackets say not to tow with the motor mounted, but I have never had any trouble doing just that. I towed my last boat around for over 8 years with either a 10hp honda 4 stroke or my current kicker a 8hp yamaha high thrust 4stoke. Both motors weighed in at over a 100lbs. I really dont think the motors bounce around any more going down the highway at 55mph than running at 25mph on a light chop on the water while using the main. On my C-Dory I am using the same set up as Flapbreaker. Just get the adjustable bracket rated over the weight of your kicker with some wiggle room. Just my thoughts and experience.

Chuck
Bootleg Hooch
 
Thank you for helping to fill some of the blanks in my brain gentlemen. Transitioning from inland to the coast, fresh water flyfishing to salt water fishing, watersking boat ownership to c-dory ownership & electronics brings many qwestions. Im chipping away at them with c-brat help. I bought the boat three weeks ago & wont be taking it north untill spring. Im all atwitter but will stay away from the ocean untill she & I are ready. Ill take her to lake Berryessa as soon as this next storm passes then im off to the smith to stalk the wiley steelhead untill the xo starts to whine. Im retired....shes not!!
 
I put my kickers on brackets to get them further out of the water and back from the trim tabs. Agree with the comments on the high thrust engines but for the most part, you will not get much more than 5 knots out of most kickers. The 5 knots is hull speed for a CD 19 or 22, and to exceed this it will take significant more HP--and fuel. I have gone many thousands of miles at 5 knots--not fast, but you get there! So, I am happy with a kicker which will give 5 knots.
 
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