How Many Boaters with Kicker Engines?? Poll

[RickV1955]

Thought I'd start a new threat on the Kicker Engine....

Don't see that many boats with smaller engine "Kickers".....

Figured I'd do a poll to find out??


Poll: Do you have a smaller "Kicker" engine on your boat??

 

[bowman316]

Re: How Many Boaters with Kicker Engines?? Poll

just a trolling motor, but that is not a kicker, right?

 

[capt sam]

Re: How Many Boaters with Kicker Engines?? Poll

I don't unless you'd count the trolling motor, I just never go offshore with my boat so I don't really worry about it plus I have a lot of friends with twins or triples on the backs of their CC's so I guess in a sense they have real big kickers.

 

[saumon]

Re: How Many Boaters with Kicker Engines?? Poll

Yes, the main engine is a 60hp and i have a 8hp beside, but i don't use it as a kicker. As i boat mostly on the St Lawrence seaway (lots of current), the main purpose of the auxiliairy engine is for safety.

A couple of times i had problem with the 60hp (electr. and destroyed w/p). The kicker brought me back home.

 

[F_R]

Re: How Many Boaters with Kicker Engines?? Poll

I have a 35hp for the main engine and a 3hp for a "Just-in-case" backup. But I boat miles up isolated rivers. "Just in case" includes clobbering a rock and taking a week to get back home after busting the lower unit off. Hasn't happened yet. But I have clobbered a bunch of rocks.

A note about those spare motors: Make sure it is in good running condition and exercise it often. Not much use if it won't run.

 

[Landscaping Wiz 808]

Re: How Many Boaters with Kicker Engines?? Poll

I only have a trolling motor on my 12'er aluminum. I'm considering a small (2hp-4hp) kicker on a bracket for the MFG when it's done since it'll be used in Buzzard's & the Chesapeake Bays. It's only 17' though so maybe not.

BOB

 

[crb478]

Re: How Many Boaters with Kicker Engines?? Poll

I have a 115 as the main motor on a 18 foot CC and a 18hp kicker/trolling motor. Mainly for trolling, but there if needed.

 

[barryll]

Re: How Many Boaters with Kicker Engines?? Poll

Mercury 135hp OtiMax and a Mercury 9.9 ProTroll. Also have a MinnKota Terrova Autopilot on the bow.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: How Many Boaters with Kicker Engines?? Poll

40 HP main. 6 or 3 HP kicker. Set of "real" oars and oarlocks.

 

[OldMercsRule]

Re: How Many Boaters with Kicker Engines?? Poll

Old 1977 1500 inline 6 as the main on a small 19 foot CC, 1984 25 HP Merc as kicker, (which can troll as well). JR

 

[56 rude]

Re: How Many Boaters with Kicker Engines?? Poll

On the 17 foot glass mfg gypsy-star i have a 1982 evinrude 90 hp as the main and a 15hp 1976 as the kicker .almost always use the 90 when i troll as i have one of those trolling plates that works great.Though by law you have to have oars there ,s no way your ever rowing this pig!

 

[Rancherlee]

Re: How Many Boaters with Kicker Engines?? Poll

I carry a kicker on bigger lakes, most of the lakes I fish though I'm less than 2 miles from the landing and my trolling motor will pull me that far with ease. The main reason I don't carry one most of the time though it my main engine is a 4 stroke and my kicker is a 6hp Evinrude 2 stroke and I need to carry a seperate tank with mixed gas also with the engine. It comes with on lakes where the waves get big or I'm going to venture 5+ miles away from the landing.

 

[pajet]

Re: How Many Boaters with Kicker Engines?? Poll

90 jet fuel hog 9.9 fourstroke for trolling uses no gas

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: How Many Boaters with Kicker Engines?? Poll

115 hp Evinrude that has never left me stranded.

10hp Honda BF100 that trolls much better than the Evinrude.

Just wiring up a bow mounted as well.

 

[RickV1955]

Re: How Many Boaters with Kicker Engines?? Poll

Be interesting to see some pictures of some of the "kicker" set-ups....

Doesn't seem to be a lot room on the transom of my 19' center console Proline....the fairly large 115HP Merc takes up most of the room...lol

Love to see how other have them "rigged"

 

[bowman316]

Re: How Many Boaters with Kicker Engines?? Poll

my steering bar comes out from the starboard side, so i mount my trolling motor on the port side of the transom, but it is maybe 18 inches away from the big motor, just enough room not to hit.
it might hit if i turned the big motor towards the small one.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: How Many Boaters with Kicker Engines?? Poll

I have a 200hp Evinrude on my 19' CC and there's plenty of room for a kicker.

All my boats have a kicker on them, I hate to be towed back to the dock for any reason.

 

[gss036]

Re: How Many Boaters with Kicker Engines?? Poll

I would not go out without one. Mine saved my butt on Wednesday and kept me off the rocks until I could drain a plugged fuel filter and get the big motor going again.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: How Many Boaters with Kicker Engines?? Poll

I have a kicker and I've had to use it to get home. As stated by F R, its important to run the kicker once in awhile.

Don't just idle it at the dock - run it! Start the motor, idle it, back out of a slip or launch, shift to forward and run the motor with some power on it. Why do all of this? First, because you want to make sure it all works, and second because you need to move the various parts every so often. If you don't put the motor through its paces on a semi-regular basis, you will most likely end up with problems related to not recoating various parts with grease, etc.

As F R also said, a kicker is worthless if it doesn't work. It also really, really "inhales" to have a kicker sitting on your transom, only to find out that you are stuck just because you didn't take care of it!

 

[BIGcarpy50]

Re: How Many Boaters with Kicker Engines?? Poll

I have a 1973 50hp rude on the back of my 16foot starcraft. I have a 1960 5.5hp rude fisherman as an aux, and to troll for upstate NY WALLEYE. and i hope to put it to good use in a few weeks.