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

Almost 2000 single outboard hours on two C-dorys over 12 years, the only time I ran the kicker was to see if it worked.


My first C-dory was owned by a Coast Guardsman who thought it unnecessary to have a kicker. Fact is I didn’t add one tell the 3rd year.
 
Wanted to thank everyone. I've PM'd many of you.

I don't think there is a debate for anyone that has used their kicker in an emergency situation. Many have not had that experience... yet.

I like the idea of nothing more than my motor and a transducer and maybe a permatrim at the stern. Whenever I see a kicker to me it just looks cluttered but I don't fish... YET:-) I like the simplicity of just the main.

Twins I'm not interested in for many reasons.... but I think they look damn sexy....
Oh no... I might of just started something with the twin guys...Haha...

We all make our choices. You know we all research until we're blue in the face... my wife thinks I have issues.... can't say I don't agree:-) Learning about which Garmin products to buy is a daunting task... but I'm getting there.

I'm going to add a 6 and 9.9hp kicker to my quote and see how that goes.

Again, thank you all or "all ya all's" for responding to this post... it's very much appreciated. I'm gonna owe some of you a beer, or cola or whatever. Some of you responded to every post I put up.... Thataway:-)

Happy sailing,
Kirk
 
I mounted a 6 HP Tohatsu (who makes the same Nissan model) on my single CD22 a few years ago. Even though I haven't needed it to escape a dangerous situation, the peace of mind is well worth it, and it's been handy in a lot of ways. I also use it for trolling and general fishing, it's really easy to be fishing on the deck and use the kicker to reposition for the next drift.

Note that at 50% throttle I get the same speed of about 5 mph as I do at full throttle, so displacement speed is an important consideration. And this motor has been great... very reliable, and relatively light, which is also an important consideration on our boats. Due to the swim step on my port side I had to mount it on the starboard side, same as the helm, so when boating alone you'll get a list if the kicker is too heavy. Mine is very slight and I manage the fuel tank usage accordingly for balance, when possible.

As mentioned above, if relying on it as a get home engine it really should have a separate fuel supply. I chose to use the existing tanks, but if I was going offshore or in remote areas a lot I'd carry a small tank or add one (but where to install it?!). And yes, bad fuel is often the culprit with engine failure on the water. Then again, I do fill each tank at different times, and I only go to gas stations with newer holding tanks and quality gas.
Personally, I wouldn't go anywhere offshore without a backup. Good luck!
 
If you fish, a 9.9 or other 2 cylinder engine is much smoother than a single cylinder, and it will troll down to about 1 mph which is not easily done with a large motor. . I also like the electric start on my yamaha, since the 2 cylinder motors are not that easy to rope start (hard pull). If you are just talking an emergency motor, the single cylinder ones work fine. It is nice to have them able to be quick linked to the main for easier steering.
 
2 cylinder motors are not that easy to rope start (hard pull).
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I had to laugh a little at that. Back in the 1950's there were a number of outboards which were only pull start in the 25 to 35 or more HP range. The only time an electric start was justified was in a 50 hp or over motor. (I have owned a number of 9.9 and 15, plus some 18's and 25's which were manual start only up into the 1990's. When I had back surgery in 1986, we had to retro fit an electric starter onto an 18 hp Mercury which was our primary dinghy motor on a 13' inflatable.
 
Those older outboards were usually 2 strokes, with lower compression, resulting in an easier pull. We were also much younger and stronger😎
 
The piece of mind could be all the reason one needs.

I've been told the 6hp Suzuki has its own fuel tank and the controls are just at the back as in a tiller. No controls from inside the boat. I suppose that's good enough for what its designed for.

The 9.9 would feed from the same tank as the main and have help controls.
So it's basically a twin engine that tilts out of the way. I'm leaning 6hp and just keep it super simple.
 
My Nissan 6 hp kicker can be connected to my main Honda 90 with a rod that enables me to steer from the helm. Of course throttle must be controlled at the kicker motor.. Works.

John
Swee Pea
 
I'll add one more point. If you do add a kicker as a 'Get Me Home' motor, use it often. My boat came with the Honda 9.9 (Gretzky Jr.) and it was always a little hard to start and rough idling. The engine had very low hours because it hadn't been used much. Like all engines it likes to be used. After we used it more it began to run better and now runs great after the 12 hour run on Lake Powell when the 90 gave us troubles. I like to fire it up for an hour or so every time out. It is really quite nice to low speed cruise on when you in a nice quiet inlet and not in a hurry. Also the gas consumption is almost nil.
 
Peter & Judy":1bn5mlve said:
I'll add one more point. If you do add a kicker as a 'Get Me Home' motor, use it often. My boat came with the Honda 9.9 (Gretzky Jr.) and it was always a little hard to start and rough idling. The engine had very low hours because it hadn't been used much. Like all engines it likes to be used. After we used it more it began to run better and now runs great after the 12 hour run on Lake Powell when the 90 gave us troubles. I like to fire it up for an hour or so every time out. It is really quite nice to low speed cruise on when you in a nice quiet inlet and not in a hurry. Also the gas consumption is almost nil.
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A really good point! Many of these outboards, especially the smaller singles are carbureted as apposed to fuel injected and are more susceptible to getting the jets gummed up when not used regularly.
 
C-Sharp":3ashygqu said:
Peter & Judy":3ashygqu said:
I'll add one more point. If you do add a kicker as a 'Get Me Home' motor, use it often. My boat came with the Honda 9.9 (Gretzky Jr.) and it was always a little hard to start and rough idling. The engine had very low hours because it hadn't been used much. Like all engines it likes to be used. After we used it more it began to run better and now runs great after the 12 hour run on Lake Powell when the 90 gave us troubles. I like to fire it up for an hour or so every time out. It is really quite nice to low speed cruise on when you in a nice quiet inlet and not in a hurry. Also the gas consumption is almost nil.
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A really good point! Many of these outboards, especially the smaller singles are carbureted as apposed to fuel injected and are more susceptible to getting the jets gummed up when not used regularly.
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...and since the two major causes of engine problems are lack of use and bad fuel, make sure and have an alternate fuel source for the kicker, or in my case, generator for my electric motors if you need longer range. It might even be wise to invest in a gallon or two of synthetic fuel before a long cruise, keeping the synthetic for emergencies. A gallon should get you 5 or 6 miles at hull speed, not a bad investment of $15/gallon. Personally, I can't see buying a 100 lb, $3500, 9.9 Honda, and hanging it on my transom, 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. The boat I bought had the 9.9 Honda with electric start, tilt and trim, and remote throttle, but I never used it except to test it, and I am so glad I removed it.
 
2 years ago we bought Pura Vida a 2004 CD 22 with a 50 hp Honda and a 8 hp kicker which were original equipment and we bought it from the original owner. We let it sit for a year and bought a condo on Maui so decided to sell it. Then came covid so we stayed. Out to lake Powell and of course the main would not run so we used the kicker. Eventually I got the main going and have been having more fun then we ever imagined. On to Flaming Gorge, Jackson Lake, Yellowstone lake and now home. I am now playing by the rules and with the help of the C Brat Family have got the 50 hp Honda running smoothly. We are headed to Willow Beach to Hoover Dam, Lake Havasu City and Parker Az. Then on to lake Powell again in September. At this point I look at our boat as an entry level Nordic tug. (I know what you are saying, I can hear the profanity in the distance) but we are going every where you are and are spending more on ice than gas. I am really enjoying getting to know my Honda 50 and I just love the Honda 8, it is such an honest engine! Personally I would never have twin engines. When and if I decide to repower it will be a 90 Honda.
 
Wholeheartedly agree with exercising motors at home. I try to run both at home at least every other week for 15 to 20 minutes. Everything mechanical starts degrading quickly when not in use.
 
Swee Pea":3kvzcglv said:
My Nissan 6 hp kicker can be connected to my main Honda 90 with a rod that enables me to steer from the helm. Of course throttle must be controlled at the kicker motor.. Works.

John
Swee Pea
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Love this idea John.. hadn't thought about that.
 
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
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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??
 
Hey Bob, I've looked at the Torqueedo as well. Looks like a good solution but the range give or take in hours at full speed is only an hour. We might take our Honda generator on board as well for hot water (wife) and could use that for battery top off but maybe that just plain 'ol defeats the purpose.

A 120 LB kicker and all the goodies to make it work seem like a lot of weight and hassle... but... that one time you need it:-)

Or if you fish I think it's non issue.

I've added a 9.9 to the quote but still not sold yet....

Thanks for the input.
 
Hey Bob, I've looked at the Torqueedo as well. Looks like a good solution but the range give or take in hours at full speed is only an hour. We might take our Honda generator on board as well for hot water (wife) and could use that for battery top off but maybe that just plain 'ol defeats the purpose.
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The Torpedo is the dinghy motor, but in the rivers it will usually get you to a ramp or a "safe place". Not a lot of range at full power. We carry a 2200 Watt Honda generator all of the time, so we could be charing the motor as we went in an emergency. If we are gong offshore, we also take our 3.5 HP 2 stroke Merc. Again a dinghy motor, but very long range, since we have a way of taking fuel out of the main 100 gallon tank, and added oil in 1 and 2 gallon cans to run the 2 stroke. Speed will be about 3 knots--in smooth water. Again, enough to get you some place safe--at a slow pace. Small motors will move big boats. We had a transmission failure on the big ketch we sailed to Europe and with a 4.5 hp on the hard dinghy we pushed the 49' LWL, 62; LOA, 66,000# boat at 2.5 knots until we got the 25 hp on the inflatable which had to be blown up and launched. That gave us 5 knots.
 
That's pretty amazing the small outboard moved that sailboat. Right now we are quoting the 9.9 Suzuki. Leaning that direction. Hopefully our plans will include Alaska and more remote areas one day. I think the 9.9 would serve us well.
 
On our AK trip with the first 25, we had only the 2.5 hp Suzuki as a kicker--used at least 3 x a day as "dog ashore" motor on the dinghy. Again, trusting to modern outboard motors as extremely reliable. The Honda outboard is basically a car engine turned on its end. Different cooling, and thrust bearings, etc. Think same reliability. The most likely failure is fuel. Good sources and filters take care of that.
 
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