Kicker Size Recommendation

[ryan_eyres]

Hi all,

We have acquired a beautiful 2001 Bayliner Cierra 2455 w/100 hours on the clock, 5.7 Bravo 3 outdrive etc etc...

Anyway, we're in the process of converting it into our new fishing machine. Installed 2 new electric downriggers last week, and now we have to install a kicker.

We'll be using a bracket mounted to the swim grid w/ steering rack and remote controls for the kicker. The kicker will be used for trolling.

My question is this: What size kicker should I be looking for? I have been looking at the 2004+ Honda 4stroke longshaft in 9.9 and 15hp.

Should I be looking at 9.9 or 15? Any pros or cons to Honda, or other recommendations for a kicker?

Thanks in advance,

Ryan

 

[CaptainHook]

Re: Kicker Size Recommendation

I would personally go with the higher hp out of what your looking at. You can always throttle back to troll if your moving to fast, but a 25ft boat might take a little to move around.

Don't want to go to slow right?

 

[alaskanassassin]

Re: Kicker Size Recommendation

I'm going with a 15hp on my 21' Grady White. I would go with at least that, maybe bigger on your boat.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Kicker Size Recommendation

A Yamaha T8, 9.9, or 15 will work fine, so will other brands, just make sure you get a high thrust model, its makes huge difference.

 

[bob johnson]

Re: Kicker Size Recommendation

I had been going through that delima, and was getting people telling me that if my kicker cant get me on plane, then there is a limit to the speed the boat could possibly reach. That being what they call "HULL SPEED"

it is a formula of the area of the boat in the water...basically it says that if the boat cant get up on top of the wave of water it is pushing ahead of it, it cant go more than 7 knots approx.

I went and bought a 15 hp for a kicker, thinking the 6 hp I already had wasnt going to be big enough...

I have a 20.5' aluminum Mod V, with 2' long flotation pods welded on the back...VERY shallow draft boat!!

and the 6 hp pushes the boat almost 6 mph, the 15 pushes the boat about 7.5 mph max.

the 15 weighs 50% more than the 6!!

wasnt worth the extra weight...

if you dont care about the extra weight on the back of your boat, then It doesnt matter..

I bet few people actually go through the test of several motors to check their speed


My motor was an emergency motor only...and i wanted it to push me as fast as possible....

good luck

bob

 

[Spudboy]

Re: Kicker Size Recommendation

Need some advice/opinions on adding a trolling motor. Fishing out of a '73 Crestliner Muskie tri -hull (glass), empty weight 560lbs. Rated for 55hp, which I have on now. Debating whether to use a bow mount 55lb thrust or hang my 7.5 mercury off the back. Concerned about the extra weight on the transom and just in back in general. Think the bow mount with the batteries up front would help keep this small boat level, as motor and batts would actually weigh more that the merc, but heck, I've already got the 7.5. Thanks for any input!