Re: Kicker Horsepower
what is the reason or reasons to have an OB kicker on a 16' boat in the first place? I see it as a false economy.
On the down side, you have weight, expense, loss of space and a crowded transom. Gets in the way fishing and docking, gets stolen from the trailer or a pain to remove each time. Don't use them much and they are as unreliable as the main motor.
A possible benefit, you have a motor you can use for trolling, but you can just as well use your main motor, so disregard that. Further, an electric troller is better for fishing (quieter) costs less and takes up less room, and can be bow mounted.
Another possible benefit, the kicker uses less gas than the main, but you will never save enough in gas money to pay for the cost and expense of the kicker, so disregard that one.
For safety (in case of break down) are you really taking a 16' out where there is no help? Anyone can tow a 16', and they can be paddled/shoved if needed. Not to mention sea tow costs less than an OB. Few people posting here are boating in the wilderness. A story that it got you home once doesn't justify having it all the time, IMO, and if you use it a lot due to break-downs, you have a larger problem.
Maybe it's a regional thing. Seldom see them on the hundreds of small boats around here or other coastal regions I know (except sailboats, of course). Before sea tow, cell phones and affordable radios, you saw them sometimes on boats that went several miles out, as a back up, but even those guys don't have them now.
I've seen new boaters assume they need one, like they need an anchor or flares, but I don't think that's right.
Thoughts?
