Kicker Sizing

[Willie12345]

It seems as if the Merc 9.9 HP outboard is the most popular kicker by quite a margin. It certainly is very common when looking at boats for sale on the net. Is there some well known reason for this ?

I would think that something a bit smaller (and very fuel efficient) might be the common choice. Say something about 4 to 7 HP? If you're trolling at a very low speed for a long time, why the 9.9 ? I realize I'm splitting hairs, but the Merc 9.9 seems to have this market all sown up.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Kicker Sizing

Mfg is regional-- here mercs are much less popular than Yamaha. The 9.9 is common as it offers the best bang for the buck often. They build so many due to the HP restricted lakes all over the US. Depending on boat design and weight -- the 9.9 handles most. On my charter boats a 25 would troll slow enough and give that extra speed if needed to get home.

 

[notop]

Re: Kicker Sizing

Willie,
I thought the same as you and put a 6hp on my 18-footer. It does just fine most of the time, barely sips gas at all, and its quiet to boot. BUT, when the wind picks up, it just doesn't have the oomph to keep the boat heading where I want it and I end up turning on the main engine just to correct/maintain course. Anyways, that's my experience, for what it's worth. It's happened enough times that I'm now looking for a good deal on something in the 9.9 to 15 range and when I find it, I doubt I'll ever use the 6 horse again.

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: Kicker Sizing

Willie lack of info. size of boat. trolling for fish? getting back home.???

 

[JimS123]

Re: Kicker Sizing

It seems as if the Merc 9.9 HP outboard is the most popular kicker by quite a margin. It certainly is very common when looking at boats for sale on the net. Is there some well known reason for this ?

Yeah....very simple. Back in the day if you wanted to go out and run real fast and make a lot of noise and impress the girls you bought a Merc. But if you wanted to get home again, you bought an Evinrude!

Truth is, on older boats (at least where I live) almost all the kickers were 'Rudes or Johnnys. We had about 4 OMC dealers in town, and only 1 Merc, so that had a lot to do with it.

In recent years Evinrude (Bombardier) eliminated the small motors, so Merc was the only way you could go. Hence the proliferation of the black max.

A 6 or an 8 would be perfect on a 16 footer. When you get above 18' a 9.9 is the only way to go.