smokey4sure
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Kicker Motor Advice
I hope to purchase a used kicker by spring thaw, but need some advice.
What is the smallest HP I could get by with? I have a 17 ft,deep V aluminum with a 70 HP. Not sure about the weight, but guess it's not too heavy. The boat trolls well set up as is, but I want to save wear and tear on main motor and also would like the peace of mind of having two motors in case of trouble!
I have been watching some on-line sales and found that when I open my search to 3.0-9.9 hp that I see a lot more motor options and the price on the smaller motors is a little better on the wallet. I would hate to buy say a 5 hp motor and end up with something that does not push my boat.
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Blowchowski
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RE: Kicker Motor Advice
2011/12/05 17:55:08
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A 5hp would be plenty. Years ago i made up a kicker bracket that I could bolt to the swim platform on my 19' fiberglass bow rider. I hung a 7.5 merc on it to chase eye's. Worked out great. Steering was a bit of a pain, but plenty of smoke to get it moving. Never had to go above a slight crack of the throttle to get 2.0 mph.
I wouldn't hesitate to go with a 5 on the boat you described.
Good luck.
I love cats. I just can't eat a whole one..
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smokey4sure
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RE: Kicker Motor Advice
2011/12/05 18:26:22
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Thanks for the comments Blowchowski. That is what I was hoping to hear.
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anzomcik
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RE: Kicker Motor Advice
2011/12/05 20:46:15
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I have a 4hp on my loaded 14 foot boat, (front rear casting decks, 10 gallon tank, full floor, two marine batteries group 31s, 25hp main motor, and two guys loaded with musky gear)
the 4hp pushs my boat to almost 6mph
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kingnuke32
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RE: Kicker Motor Advice
2011/12/05 23:33:31
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The smaller motor would do on most days with that boat but in a slight chop it would cause some probs, but I imagine you don't fish the nasty stuff in that size boat.
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freshwaterdrumR
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RE: Kicker Motor Advice
2011/12/06 09:28:05
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I use a 20hp kicker on my 20' aluminum and it does everything it needs to really well. I can troll it down as slow as I need to, and still use it when the lake gets nasty. I had a 9.9 on previously and it did ok when it was calm, but switched to a bigger kicker for safety reason. If your main motor dies offshore you will be wishing you got the bigger kicker motor the whole way back in. lol
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bulldog1
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RE: Kicker Motor Advice
2011/12/06 12:33:32
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I would think that smaller would be ok on that size of a boat, but keep in mind once you start fishing the big lake it's only a matter of time before you'll be looking for a bigger boat... I would not get a two stroke, regardless of what size you go with, the advantage of the four stroke is less fumes, no plug fouling and better economy and less noise. If you can find a decent T8 yami that's the way I would go... I have a 15 horse 4 stroke on my 23' and the minnow bucket aerator makes more noise than it does...  Edit: I would also recommend one of the digital throttle controls, trust me trying to adjust trolling speed with the tiller, or even with conventional throttle remote, is frustrating at best...
post edited by bulldog1 - 2011/12/06 12:34:46
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Bogeyjoker
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RE: Kicker Motor Advice
2011/12/06 14:53:48
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ORIGINAL: bulldog1
If you can find a decent T8 yami that's the way I would go...
+1
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Porktown
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RE: Kicker Motor Advice
2011/12/06 15:42:49
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Not sure if you are planning to use as a main motor on hp restricted lakes too? I have a 17' and barges along (10 mph solo, 8 mph with two adults) with a 15 and a 50hp dead weight... 20 might get you on plane and would make a better emergency motor. If you can score a 20 HP for cheap (unlikely), and plan to go larger on the boat in the future, you would likely get a lot of interest in a 17'er with 70/20HP combo.
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smokey4sure
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RE: Kicker Motor Advice
2011/12/06 19:42:59
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All very good advice and a lot to consider. Main factor will be cash!! If it's good in the spring then I see a 4 stroke 9.9 or larger in my future, if it's bad, which it most likely will be the case, I may have to settle for a smaller two stoke and put up with negative attributes. I have told myself to hold off until I can afford the best on my purchases these days, but this is something I may not want to wait on.
And Bulldog I know what you mean with a larger boat, the day I bought it my wife saw me on Craigs list looking at other boats for sale and said what the h@## are you looking at those for? I have never stopped since...ok to dream, but I am very happy with my rig.
Thank you all kindly for the advice!
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bulldog1
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RE: Kicker Motor Advice
2011/12/06 23:02:23
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willi724
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RE: Kicker Motor Advice
2011/12/07 16:24:31
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I have a lowe 165fm with a 40 4stroke yamaha and went through looking at kickers last winter. I read alot of blogs about about them and i went with a tohatsu 9.8 4stroke. got it online at a good price (cyber monday). i wanted the option of smaller lakes and was looking at 6, 8, and 9.8 tohatsu after looking at pricing and weights of other makes. in my opinion don't go smaller than a 9.8/9.9 or you be trading it right back in. 6 hp's are 1 cylinder (more vibration, louder) and not enough power for a 17' boat. my 9.8 will put very quiet on idle but pushes the boat slow (maybe 4 or 5 mph) on full throttle. don't go smaller than 9.8/9.9 and you will probably need a 20" shaft
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eyedreamn
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RE: Kicker Motor Advice
2011/12/10 21:56:05
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ORIGINAL: Bogeyjoker
ORIGINAL: bulldog1
If you can find a decent T8 yami that's the way I would go...
+1
Ya, plus one again.
The smallest I would go would be a t8 or a 9.9 in another manufacture. Ya plus one on the 4 stroke idea too.
If you go any smaller than that will not have enough****behind ya if you gotta use it as a main motor. You wouldnt be able to get up on plain, but you will have some push if your headed into the wind.
I bought a new 2011 mercury 9.9 pro xs. It sucks. I hate it. I had a sususki 9.9 last year. I liked it a lot better.
The mercury is COLD blooded. It takes forever to warm up. It also is very loud. I did put a troll master throttle control on it. It's nice to dial in your trolling speed, and not having to play with a standard remote throttle control. There is just too much play.
From what I have read, others have the same problem with the merc as I have had.
I haven't read anything bad about a t8.
If I was gonna do it again, it would be a t8 for shizzal!
post edited by eyedreamn - 2011/12/10 22:01:32
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leadmen
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RE: Kicker Motor Advice
2011/12/11 08:06:32
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go with the 9hp or 10 if the main motor failes it will get you back in if bad weather comes in im saying this because i know had a 5hp on my 16ft and it took 6hrs to come back in went to back up 9.9 and had no problems it not the hp its the tourq
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willi724
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RE: Kicker Motor Advice
2011/12/11 11:32:58
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eyedreamn - i wanted a yamaha t8 or t9.9 but the price was much higher and it weighs more. the tahatsu is the same as a murcury and you do have to worm it up for a while then it runs good the rest of the day. it's ok, but i agree on the yamaha. i think the t8/t9.9 are the same motor with different fuel system. i paid 1699.00 no tax, free shipping for the tahatsu 9.8 but you get what you pay for. it serves it's purpose and it's the lightest motor.
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eyedreamn
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RE: Kicker Motor Advice
2011/12/11 12:56:04
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Ya I also had a tahatsu 3 years ago. It was a 20 hp 4 stroke. I loved it.
At trolling speeds my 20hp tahatsu probably only made 1/2 the noise that my merc did. ???????
For the money I think you got a pretty good deal.
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