kicker motor ?

[biteme12]

I have a 18 foot chapprral 4.3 v6.Can I use a 15 inch short shaft out board for a kicker.Or do I need a long shaft for a kicker motor.

 

[Bondo]

Re: kicker motor ?

Ayuh,... Wrong forum,... try General Boating...

 

[JimS123]

Re: kicker motor ?

For an 18' boat, a short shaft will probably be what you want. To be sure, buy the bracket and hold it up on the transom where you want to install it. (usually as high as it will go). Then put it in the down position and measure the distance from the top of the bracket to the bottom of the boat. That will tell you for sure.

The distance will probably not be too large for a short shaft. If it is, just mount the bracket lower.

You want the prop below the boat, but not necessarily the cav. plate becaue you will not be planing the boat.

 

[Boatist]

Re: kicker motor ?

I think it depends more on how you use your motor.
For inland waters, small lakes and rivers I think a 15 inch shaft is pretty good.

On my 21 foot Runabout 15 inches works very well for trolling and getting back to the dock.
Offshore a 15 inch shaft is worthless on my boat. Even after converting to a 20 inch shaft the prop still comes out of the water in 8 foot following swells.
Also the 20 shaft with a high thrust 10 by 7 pitch works much better for backing.

 

[biteme12]

Re: kicker motor ?

Yes it will be used in the bay and rivers .And for emergency

 

[Boatist]

Re: kicker motor ?

You can go ahead and try it.
One thing to know at low power if the prop comes out of the water it is not a big deal.
Motor will speed up some and when it reenters the water it will be ok.
At high power if the prop comes out of the water it is bad news.
Motor will rev way up and when the prop reenters the water and the prop gets a byte the sudden shock will likely break the flywheel key and of course die until you get a new key installed.

I use our motor in the ocean mostly for backing into wind and swells to slow our drift.
On my boat will come out of the water mostly while backing.
When the swell is comming the motor will first go under the swell then when the swell goes under the boat the prop comes out of the water.