Your Experiences - single with kicker | single w/o kicker

[robhwa]

just for emergencies when I can bolt a $950, 10 lb electric to the main's antivent plate and get so much more everyday function. You will need to invest $400 or so in batteries, though, if you don't already have them

What trolling motor are you referring to? What sort of speed do you get? What range at 3 knots? What about cavitation under heavy weather conditions?

Are you referring to the Minn Kota RT80EM Saltwater Motor?

I have used the Torqeedo 1003, which is designed as a potential "kicker" for small sailboats up to 25 feet. I suspect it has considerably more thrust than an 80# thrust trolling motor--(I have experience with a number of bow mounted trolling motors on a variety of smaller boat, including a 110 # thrust motor on my 18' 2500# Caracal Cat which is very easily driven. I would take the Torqeedo over any trolling motor. It has a long shaft and would not come out of the water in rough seas. It has a large diameter prop, designed to push vessels which are heavier and it is very useful as our every day trolling motor. It can be shared with 12 volts.

I wonder how it compares with this 10# motor which you have??

The 10 lb weight is the 80 lb thrust Minnkota that bolts on the main motor antivent plate. Pictures on my site. There is also a 160 lb thrust version which I wish I would have gotten. Thus you can steer just as with main. It does require 24 volts of batteries, but they are not hanging on transom as a gas motor is. Most people have batteries, but going much distance would require a lot or a generator and a 120 volt battery charger. I have another 80 lb Minnkota bow mount, a Terrova. Depending on load I can go 4 knots with one or nearly 5 with both on full thrust, but can't maintain it long on batteries alone. Thus the generator and charger. The main advantage over the kicker is flexibility, including an "anchor" mode that keeps the boat in the same place, and auto steering, from very low (0.5 knot) to higher trolling speeds. Instant on/off, no need to start. The bow mount also acts as a alternative to a bow thruster when in tight docking conditions, can push the bow left, right, and boat forward or backward. Great feature. I have a Torqueedo as well for my Hobie. Great motor, but no anchor mode or autosteer.

 

[crowleykirk]

Not much price difference or weight difference, 23lbs. Anyone have a 15hp kicker on their 23? or 22? Just weighing options Might be able to cruise with the 15,
I could see that as a positive. This was also mentioned.

I guess at this rate this will lead to the twin debate...hahahaha....

 

[robhwa]

Not much price difference or weight difference, 23lbs. Anyone have a 15hp kicker on their 23? or 22? Just weighing options Might be able to cruise with the 15,
I could see that as a positive. This was also mentioned.

I guess at this rate this will lead to the twin debate...hahahaha....

In past years, most, in current years, not so ure, but most 9.9 hp were 15's set up differently, different jets and different covers only. Why?...depending on regs, you could have a large-boat tender up to 9.9 hp and not have to register it, and some lakes would allow up to 9.9 hp but not more, so you could fish with your large boat using the 9.9.

Don't see many advantages to the 15 as a second motor unless you plan to sometimes use it for a smaller boat...a 15 will push a Livingston or a RIB like a banshee. You certainly can't plane a C-Dory with a 15, but you will get hull speed with a 9.9 or even less. However, if that 15 shows, and you don't have the boat it is pushing registered, the Coast Guard will certainly stop you and fine you. For the 9.9, it depends on state regs, I believe.

 

[thataway]

I would agree that the 15 offers little beyond what a 9.9 or even a 8 hp 'high thrust" motor offers.

Most states require any motorized craft to be registered. Washington specifically states the following do not have to be registered: Note the Non-federal waters.

Canoes, kayaks, or vessels that are not powered by motor or sail
Vessels that are less than 16 feet in length with a motor of 10 horsepower or less used on non-federal waters only

.

Washington is unique in this exception. I would not try running a non registered motorized vessel in any other state, with the excuse "it does not need to be registered in WA"...! Nothing to do with CG--it is state law.

My experience is that even if you a have a 9 hp kicker, and the boat has a larger motor on it--that boat will not be allowed into a lake with less than 10 hp restrictions.

 

[crowleykirk]

Venture 23 San Juan Island and beyond cruising. Possible do some boater-homing as well.

I agree, I think the the use of an emergency kicker and maybe some future trolling the 9.9 would be perfect. I won't be using it on a dingy or other boat. The dingy will be a Sea Eagle

Thanks for the input.

 

[crowleykirk]

Only comes in a tiller.

Yes, totally agree, I'd use it almost every trip out. Gotta run anything mechanical.

I was a diesel tech many moons ago, certified my Ford, CAT, Cummins, Onan and Borg Warne, among others. We were the Ford Lehman dealer in Newport Beach. What i realized is a lot of people don't use their large boats. They would sit there and rot basically and then when they went to use them nothing but issues.

Most of our loyal customers were on our preventative maintenance program for just this reason. We are on the boat ever 2 months with a different service each time and the regular checks. We'd even take them out often on the owners request and always ran everything for awhile at the dock.

Even had a few customers that wanted us to take their Grand Banks boats over to Catalina for a get together and they would fly over.... go figure:-(
Sure, I'll take your million dollar boat out... was a great time for a young man

 

[robhwa]

My experience is that even if you a have a 9 hp kicker, and the boat has a larger motor on it--that boat will not be allowed into a lake with less than 10 hp restrictions.

Bob; I rarely disagree with your advice, but that was not my experience when I still had the 9.9 on the C-Dory, as I launched several times in 10 hp-restricted lakes, and recent experience shows the electric gives even more options for lake fishing with my 22...here was what I found for Idaho fishing recently...

Question: If the gas motor is not started or used on the lake. Can the boat be used on the lake with a electric motor?
Answer: Yes, as per Page 50 of the fishing regulations, "When fishing waters listed --electric motors only-- gas (internal combustion) motors may be attached to the boat; but use of the gas motor is prohibited. Good Luck fishing

Another positive aspect of the versatility of an electric "kicker", depending on how you plan to use your C-Dory? Not for all people, obviously. You can't beat a gasoline kicker for getting you back long-distance at hull speed, but I never used mine for that and I believe many C-Dory owners would get more use out of an electric, particularly on the bow. People tend to like what they have. I liked the 9.9 before I had experience with the electric. Now I see little use for the 9.9, though I might put it back on if I go tuna fishing off the coast.

 

[thataway]

My experience with restricted reservoirs was in Calif. They did not want any gas motor on their lake...period. It will vary from location to location and what the regulations are. But I would always check before giving cart blanch advice.

Definitely if you are going offshore, have a gas kicker with separate fuel and way to start the engine manually...

 

[ssobol]

Around where I live, you cannot have an engine mounted that exceeds the HP limit. It's all well and good that you have a 9.9 kicker, but that 90HP motor mounted next to it will disqualify you. Apparently they don't trust you to only use the 9.9 engine.