Kicker motor for 18 ft Holiday

[muskrat808]

Hi-tried this post in the outboard forum but got only one response . Looking at a kicker for my 1972 Holiday 140 hp I/O . Realize a 9.9hp is probably ideal but may have an OK deal on a 6 hp 4 stroke Nissan . Would this be OK or barely adequate? Would mainly use it in 5 mph wake areas and close quarter maneuvering in the marina , also emergency back up for the I/O . Also being a one cylinder is it a lot rougher / noisier than say a 2 cylinder 8 or 9.9 hp ? Thanks

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Kicker motor for 18 ft Holiday

I think a 6 would cut it. However, having personally used a single cylinder Merc 5 on the same boat as a twin cylinder Evinrude 4.....I will say those single cylinder motors really suck IMHO.

 

[muskrat808]

Re: Kicker motor for 18 ft Holiday

Suck how ? Noisy ? Rough ? Both ? Thanks

 

[Deeppowder]

Re: Kicker motor for 18 ft Holiday

I have a Merc. 5ML on my boat as a kicker. It is a louder motor when trolling and it has a good vibration at certain RPM’s. It pushes the boat ar about 5.5Mph at 3/4 throttle (on a lake with no wind). When it is really windy and I’m trolling. I sometimes have to use the electric trolling motor to help steer the boat to follow bottom contours. I know a 2 cylinder would pushed nicer and be allot quieter. But didn’t have the $ to spend on it.

 

[muskrat808]

Re: Kicker motor for 18 ft Holiday

Thanks for the input !

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: Kicker motor for 18 ft Holiday

IMHO a 4 stroke is smooth quiet and no mixing of oil with fuel. I prefer a 9.9 kicker as sometimes you need emergency power and its nice to avoid potential probles that come up in a marina. In the larger boats 18-22 ft even being Aluminum its nice to have . I sometimes make mistakes in spending but safety first is not one of them. Pugetsound

 

[barato2]

Re: Kicker motor for 18 ft Holiday

Noisy ? Rough ? Both ?

yes. but unless you're trolling with it, not such a big issue.

 

[Shark_bait99]

Re: Kicker motor for 18 ft Holiday

I used a 30lbs thrust electric motor to push my 25 ft, 4500 lb cuddy into the wind for a good hour yesterday. It was slow, but as an emergency motor for $100, it sure beat the heck out of anchoring and swimming home.. Lake was empty... I had to fasten it to the ladder, because the mount was too small for the swim platform, but it worked. There are larger models available which, with a little more thrust and no headwind probably would have my boat moving at a pretty good clip.

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: Kicker motor for 18 ft Holiday

Electric may be fine for slow moveing around or trolling but givin the need to get to shore in the wind and rough water ,In my opinion, its not the answer. 2 cyl -even a 2 stroke is better and I would ,as I stated earlier go that route. 4 stroke is heavier but not noisy and little vibration. Electric fine sometimes but you better have a big battery as wide open it will use up the juice very quicky. You can not put a price on Safty on the water. Pugetsound.

 

[jbing81]

Re: Kicker motor for 18 ft Holiday

I recently picked up a older 7.5 Merc and its the perfect size. Sure you could go bigger or smaller, but the 7.5 does a find job of moving my 18' SS. Just make sure to get a long shaft, if the chop kicks up the last thing you'll want is the prop coming up out of the water.