Why You Need a Kicker!

Tom,

I did the same thing with a 1964 VW1500. The alternator would work sometimes, the starter was bad, and the 6 volt battery was marginal. I pushed it to start, hoped the alternator/battery would get me to where I needed to go, and parked on hills.

I really believe the battery would last pretty long with an outboard. I looked at the BF150 specs and it shows the motor uses 11 amps out of the 51 AMP alternator output at 2000 rpm. With a fully charged battery, that would give you a lot of hours if the motor was the only load.

Tom
 
I highly doubt our little 2.5 horse Suzuki dinghy engine would move our 25 Cruiser, especially if you take wind/current into consideration. I'll stick w/ the extra 100+ lbs of our Tohatsu 9.8 horse back there; in the scheme of things, it's not that much extra weight. It may not get us home, but it will get us somewhere safe.
 
localboy":24b4lujf said:
I highly doubt our little 2.5 horse Suzuki dinghy engine would move our 25 Cruiser, especially if you take wind/current into consideration. I'll stick w/ the extra 100+ lbs of our Tohatsu 9.8 horse back there; in the scheme of things, it's not that much extra weight. It may not get us home, but it will get us somewhere safe.
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I could see where you would have problems moving against wind/current, but wouldn't you think 2hp would move your 25-footer if you were not trying to buck it? Say if you just wanted to get to safety (not necessarily "home")? Granted, there would certainly be conditions where you could be overwhelmed, but say if you are sticking with something like a "one or two disaster" scenario (vs. a "perfect storm" of three or more problems). I've helped to move a 44-footer (large/heavy keelboat) with a Honda 2hp on a dinghy strapped to the hip, and we were able to go miles (actually all the way home), but we were in relatively sheltered water and waited out a non-favorable tide (we anchored while waiting).

I know that if I went for a Honda 2hp as a second motor that there would be times or directions in which it could be overwhelmed; but I'm still considering it within those limitations. I would be planning to try to get to safe harbor vs. "all the way home." Still, I'm sure it would not always be optimum (but then what is). Obviously if the 2hp would not even move the C-Dory it would not even be useful for that. Maybe the windage and lack of keel make it harder to move with a small engine than a larger keelboat.
 
If nothing else, I think the little two hp would at least let you keep the bow into the waves. Broaching without power in big water is a very bad thing. (usually when the big motor quits for some reason)
 
The 2.5 may "move" us...but the currents up here are unbelievable, and one cannot always plan around them in an emergency. Those that have experienced them can attest. Plus, the 25's pilot house is like a sail in the wind. (Just ask those people that saw us "docking" in the wind in Comox.) .


Like I said; I'll stick w/ the 9.8 pony kicker...I was towed once back home. Thank god for flares, a VHF and nearby boaters or my next stop would've been New Zealand. It's not a re-assuring feeling to be helpless and bobbing.
 
I you can't get on plane (and you can't with less than about 50-60hp on a 22), then the amount of hp available from the kicker will have only marginal impact on your speed in the water. The hull speed of a 22 is around 6kts and the boat weighs around 2700-3500lbs. At 5 kts, you need around 1hp for every 800lbs of boat. So 3-5hp wide open is going to push you almost as fast as you can go relative to the water. If the current coming at you is above hull speed, it won't matter what size kicker you have, you're not going anywhere if you can't get on plane. If you have a significant headwind, the extra HP will be helpful 6-9hp is a good size for a 22 as much more will only have marginal impact on speed. 2.5hp will probably have you motoring along at about 4kts relative to the water.
 
Sunbeam":31h088dl said:
Fun Patrol":31h088dl said:
I run a Honda 8 on my 22....that size kicker has a charging loop..AND, it's a pull-start so even if someone throws all your batteries overboard, you can get home
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I've been lamenting the (in my case) ~108# of kicker that's hanging on my transom.

I've been debating going to a 2hp combination dinghy/kicker, even though it would be minimal (but, low weight and dual purpose). Seems that all configurations have their plusses and minuses.
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A Tohatsu 6hp is a little less than 60lbs, I think.
 
My come-home kicker is a 8 hp yamaha and it charges the battery. So I don't have to worry about the radar/chartplotter/running lights/vhf running the battery dead.
Most 6 hp and smaller kickers (except the Tohatsu 6 hp can) won't charge the battery.
My 8 gets me going about 5.5 mph. I can't see much smaller to achieve this speed unless you indeed run it at WOT, and why would you size your kicker to have to run at WOT? I don't think switching the kicker back and forth from the dingy is realistic.

If I had to rig a boat from scratch I would likely go to a 6hp Tohatsu for weight and cost.
 
We delivered Daydream to West Coast Marine in Bellingham yesterday to fix whatever is causing the charing malfunction alarm to go off and for regular annual maintenance. These guys have taken good care of us for a long time. Speed on the kicker depends on conditions of course - it varied Thusday bewteen 4.5 and 6 knots over about 6 miles.

Our kicker is a Honda BF15. This is the third time it has saved our bacon. The other two times it was the alarm for water in the fuel.

We had twin 40s on our CD22. A single 40 wouldn't plane that boat. I doubt a single 90 would plane a heavy CD25 (and we were loaded to the gills for a two week cruise).
 
I look at my kicker not just as an emergency backup and trolling motor but a way to save hours on my main. This year during our epic salmon season, I would use the main engine for 20 minutes to get out to the salmon grounds then shut it down and troll with the kicker for up to 8 hours. So far this season I 've put 70 hours on my main and around 250 on the kicker. And I know that the kicker is ready to in an emergency.
 
Twins vs. Kicker -- the subject has been brought up frequently. It is undeniable that twins are better for maneuverability. And in many cases, an engine failure on one engine in a twin set-up will allow you to get home quickly with the remaining engine. However, with twins, both engines are always in the water. If you strike bottom, a rock, fishing line, a log -- both engines could be taken out. The beauty of a kicker is that it is always out of the water (and safe) until you need it. Another advantage to people who frequent shallow waters is that one can get one's boat into areas so shallow, that one can't operate the main engine. With a kicker in the shallow drive mode, one can escape with only a couple inches of water underneath.
 
C-Nile":1pn8dea9 said:
However, with twins, both engines are always in the water.
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Beg to differ. I frequently, if in very skinny water, or where there is a lot of debris, shut down one engine and lift it out of the water. With the liquid tie bar steering, I can even steer that one engine independently. Just taking exception to the word "ALWAYS". :lol:

I know, quibble, quibble, quibble. :mrgreen:

Charlir
 
6-9hp is a good size for a 22
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I can remember talking to Mark Toland about this...deciding between an 8 and a 9.9.

He pointed out that a 9.9 and a 15 Johnson weighed the same so I ended up choosing between an 8 and a 15.

I selected a 15 but I've always wondered if 8 wouldn't be plenty.

Nowadays though, with the price of gas, I regard my 15 as the main and my Johnson 70 as the backup/ get-me-home motor.

Everytime I fire that thing up its GULP, GULP, GULP...KA-CHING :disgust
 
Captains Cat":3fkbpqaj said:
C-Nile":3fkbpqaj said:
However, with twins, both engines are always in the water.
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Beg to differ. I frequently, if in very skinny water, or where there is a lot of debris, shut down one engine and lift it out of the water. With the liquid tie bar steering, I can even steer that one engine independently. Just taking exception to the word "ALWAYS". :lol:

I know, quibble, quibble, quibble. :mrgreen:

Charlir
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Ah! -- I stand corrected. Usually is a better word; most people usually leave both engines down while underway. The fact that you lift one of the motors out in dicey conditions reflects upon your experience in these matters, because you know the consequences of otherwise having both engines down. Since I never know for sure what's lurking underneath the surface, it's comforting to know that I always have my aux. high and dry (with the exception of when/if the main engine is incapacitated.)

Actually, I don't think your quibbling -- you have a valid point of view, and I think there are people who are passionate in both camps. I'll say one thing, there were times in windy conditions while docking where it would have been really nice to have the added maneuverability of twin engines!

Thanks,

Rich
 
Thanks Rich. With the twins as widely spaced as they are on the TC it's neat to do a 360 in your own length with one ahead and one astern...

I really like your Marinaut BTW. Les turns out a fine product!

Charlie
 
Another (perhaps not significant) advantage of twins:

If one conks out and needs extended repair or replacement, you can still cruise on the other. We had one conk out while cruising north on the ICW, ordered a replacement from a Honda dealer in NY, trailered north, cruised the Erie Canal (speed limit, so one engine was perfect) to the dealer and had the other new one added.

Traveling in remote areas, we enjoyed the comfort of having another 40hp ready to go if necessary if a problem with either. And yes, we agree, much of our travel was with only one engine in the water -- we enjoy life in the slow lane.

Coming down the Henry's Fork of the Snake a few weeks ago it was with a paddle in a canoe. Ah, so fortunate to have choices in life and along the waterways of this great country.
 
If you don't have a kicker big or small, you need some really long oars and a bull horn that the boss holds and says stroke, stroke stroke faster whip whip. I'll teach you why you need that kicker the boss utters. Now stroke harder and faster, whip whip crack!
 
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