Enough Kicker Power?

[Grant Brown]

I am planning on doing some trolling for salmon with my 2008 Bayliner Discovery 210 and would like to find the smallest kicker possible to keep the weight down. I would be mounting it on the starboard side and there are already two batteries there.
A buddy bought a 9.9 Tohatsu last year for his 2452 and loves it, I was thinking about going with a smaller, lighter version; a Tohatsu 6hp at 55 pounds. The 8hp and 9.9 are both 81 pounds (same motor basically).
I want to be able to troll at 2-3 mph for salmon and be able to handle light wind without getting blown around. Is 6hp enough? They also make a 20" sailboat version with a high thrust prop.

 

[JoshOnt]

Does the extra 26 lbs make a huge difference? I would say a 6 hp should do it but I am not 100% on that. The 9.9 would be much better if you can handle it.

 

[cptrick3]

I have a Nissan 5hp that I converted to a 6 on my inflatable. I'm sure you would have no problem getting to 2 or 3 MPH. Wouldn't be surprised if it got you to 4 or 5. It's the same as the Tohatsu .

 

[Bondo]

I want to be able to troll at 2-3 mph for salmon and be able to handle light wind without getting blown around

Ayuh,.... Why not use yer main power to troll,......

 

[Frank Acampora]

Based on my experience with an 8 HP engine on my 21 foot cuddy cabin, 6 will not be enough. With the 8, although I did get home when I broke a prop shaft, it did take two hours. If the tide was against me it might have taken double that.

Since there is no weight penalty, go for the 9.9. If you have the length on your transom to accommodate a 25 inch sailboat version, go with that, especially since a lot of sail engines also come with electric start and an alternator--very nice accessories to have. Definitely worth the extra price.

 

[Teamster]

A 9.9 twin will run a bunch smoother than a smaller single,..............

 

[smokeonthewater]

Let's put it this way...

The proper size is 15 hp.... Smaller MAY satisfy you but nobody but you can decide that....
Put your buddy's motor on and see if you feel you could live with a 33% reduction in power....

You mention not getting blown around in the wind.... Honestly the motor size has very little to do with this in your situation.... Trying to go 2-3 mph with a cross or head wind with any hp will be next to impossible.

You MIGHT be better off with a bow mount trolling motor for that purpose.

 

[JimS123]

I'm a salmon troller too. If you plan on using downriggers, anything over 2 mph will pull the cannonballs back too far and put a lot of stress on the cables. Turning may e a issue.

I run a 9.9 on a 19 footer and I would rate that as about perfect. For your 21 I would simply go for a 15, rather than experiment and have to make changes later.

Whatever motor you buy, you will need a prop change to increase your rpms at low speed.

Getting blown around is inevitable, mostly because the running motor will be off center. If its too windy, I have a hard time making a starboard turn, but tend to go around in a circle if turning to port. My kicker is connected to the main, so there is an extra rudder to help steer.

 

[ondarvr]

Go with a 9.9 high thrust, Yamahas are the best in this category. 9.9 is plenty for what you want to do. You do not want the smaller single 6hp motors, they may move the boat they are louder and vibrate a great deal. Plus the smaller prop just doesn't have the surface area needed for this application. Even the older T8 Yamahas will work if you can find one.

 

[Grant Brown]

Thanks! And that's why I like this site so much. Lots of great advise!
Grant

 

[Todd in NY]

I'm glad I found this thread. I have a 19ft Sea Nymph Striper cc191 that I want to put a kicker motor on for Lake Ontario trolling. I am looking at an affordable 15hp Evinrude but I don't know if it will be too fast or too rough-running at low rpm. I haven't found a 9.9hp in my price range yet. My main motor is a 90hp Evinrude with VRO, so does the kicker have to be a VRO type motor too?

 

[Frank Acampora]

It does not need to be VRO but then you must carry a separate tank of 50 to 1

 

[Todd in NY]

Thanks, my little 3.3 Evinrude uses 50:1, so I have plenty of that laying around.