What Horse power kicker should I get?

[massimofinance]

I want to get a kicker for my 85 16' bayliner capri, does anyone have recomendations for size, type, etc.? Thanks!

 

[roscoe]

Re: What Horse power kicker should I get?

ditto

 

[steviecops]

Re: What Horse power kicker should I get?

Most boats that I see over here have auxillary engines that are far too small. I think the owners think that having a spare engine is good enough, and don't give enough thought about what happens when you actually need it.<br /><br />I speak from experience here. When you need your auxillary engine, you are already in the sh*t. You don't need things to get any worse, like finding out for the first time that your spare motor is grossly underpowered. Take into account things like tide, wave action, wind, etc, and a 3.5 hp just isn't enough.<br /><br />I wouldn't go anywhere now without my Johnson 9.9. It is a good reliable motor and has enough power to get me out of trouble if I need it.<br /><br />Good luck<br />Steve

 

[Terry H]

Re: What Horse power kicker should I get?

I would think a 7.5 would be minimum. A 10-15hp kicker would be my choice tho...

 

[C-RAVEN]

Re: What Horse power kicker should I get?

if you can swing it , go for an 8hp honda or yamaha<br />4-stroke....<br />quiet ,no oil, ya can run all week on a tank of gas.<br /><br />maintenance is easy<br /><br />they are the way to go!

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: What Horse power kicker should I get?

Here's the other side of the coin. Unless the kicker is big enough to get you on plane, it is a waste of hp to get more than a 4 or 5. Your max hull speed, as it displaces water rather than rides on it, will probably be the same with engines from 5 to 10 hp. A 15 may actually be able to get you on plane if it is a 2-stroke. A 4-stroke 15 will probably not have the power to get you on plane. It really depends on what you plan to do with the kicker. If you are thinking in terms of an emergency engine, limping in with a 5 is going to be the same as limping in with a 10. If you are thinking in terms of trolling, then a 8 to 10 in a four stroke might be a better choice...if your main engine is a four-stroke. Otherwise you will have to have to maintain two different fuel supplies onboard. <br />With no real differences among the brands anymore, its really just a matter of personal choice.

 

[gss036]

Re: What Horse power kicker should I get?

I would go for the 9.9 Honda, same wt/block etc as the 8 and it should move you along at about 7-8 MPH to get you back home if needed and would troll all day on 2 gal of Gas. They are very quiet and very little vibaration. I run a 15 HP Honda on my 23.

 

[youngboater]

Re: What Horse power kicker should I get?

On my 16.5 Lund w/8HP 2-sroke Merc. I get 5.5MPH fully loaded 2 people and 27 gallons of gas.

 

[massimofinance]

Re: What Horse power kicker should I get?

First off, happy thanksgiving and thank you all for the advice. I need to say that this is for a boat that was a freebee, therefore I want to spend as little as possible until I know the full extent of the all the work. I do not fish, therefore do not need a trolling motor. The main motor is a 115HP 2-stroke, therefore would prefer a 2-stroke kicker, thinking the 5HP would be fine, since I am not going to be too far from shore at any given time.<br /><br />Question: A kicker is generally always a pull-start, and you steer it with a tiller, correct? So if I need to use it, there are no wires to hook up, I just sit in the back and steer myself home?

 

[massimofinance]

Re: What Horse power kicker should I get?

Say, I would like your opinion here, I just found a 1.5HP Johnson for $50, not running. Not sure what it will take to get it running, but am I crazy to consider a 1.5HP as a kicker for my 16 foot bayliner? Thanks again all!

 

[JasonJ]

Re: What Horse power kicker should I get?

1.5 is too small. You could find yourself stuck in place with the thing wound out in a head wind. I have a 5.5 kicker on my 16.5 foot center console, and it has worked fine regardless of wind. I have had to fight some healthy 3 foot swells and wind while trolling and have always been able to maintain speed. In the end it depends on the conditions your boat will see. If you are going offshore in the ocean, you could find that a smaller kicker just won't cut it with tidal currents, ocean swells and wind, then a larger kicker like a 10-15 horse is appropriate. If it is lakes you are dealing with, then a smaller 5-7 horse kicker would get it done. In my opinion, You would be best served getting as large of a kicker as a mounting bracket can accomodate. This way you have the power when you need it and don't have to use it when you don't need it. I run a 5.5 because that is what was cheap at the time, but I would probably run a 9 or 10 horse if one turns up at a good price. Good luck...

 

[massimofinance]

Re: What Horse power kicker should I get?

Good point, let me ask you, I found a 1949 Elto (guy says it was made by evinrude) 5HP, for $50. Is that too old? Ever hear of Elto? Thanks!

 

[Al Kungel]

Re: What Horse power kicker should I get?

Another consideration is the length of the shaft. The kicker is much more effective if the cavitation plate is below or at least level with the bottom of the boat hull. This will make the prop much more efficient.<br /><br />In addition if both the kicker and main motor are linked for steering, while using the kicker as a source of power, the steering is greatly improved in windy conditions.<br />---<br />Al

 

[massimofinance]

Re: What Horse power kicker should I get?

Thanks for the advice, I will look at that, any idea how long a shaft I should look for?

 

[Solittle]

Re: What Horse power kicker should I get?

There is some good info in the above posts. I would like to add a new dimension and that is one of weight. Firat the 85 16' Bayliner is not the heaviest of boats either in weight or construction. A 115 V4 is a heavy motor to be sticking on the transom of a 16'er.<br /><br />Normally I would recommend a 9.9 or 15 (relatively the same motor) but they are relativly heavy. As Jason points out the 1.5 will be almost useless unless it is flat calm and you are in no hurry. I would look for a light 6-8hp and mount it on a bracket that attaches to the transom and lifts up when not in use. <br /><br />I suspect your 115 is a short shaft motor and the kicker should be the same.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: What Horse power kicker should I get?

If the 49 Elto runs good, and is healthy, then it would work. Those old motors were really light. I assume it has a built in tank. If so, I'll tell you this story: I ran a 1954 5.5 Goodyear Seabee as my kicker all this year. I trolled with it at least once a week, it always ran well, and was more than adequate for the task. The downside was that damn built in tank. It held a gallon of fuel, so about every few hours I was refilling the thing, hangning over the transom. There was spillage, especially in rolling water. Needless to say I came across a 1957 Johnson 5.5 horse. Not much newer, but it runs good, has the seperate 6 gallon pressure tank, and has foward/neutral/reverse. <br /><br />My advice is to find a kicker that uses a seperate tank and has selectable f-n-r. Anything else ups the pain-in-the-arse factor. I also fabbed a link so the kicker steers with the main. Another note on setup, you want a bracket that will allow as much of the leg to be in the water. The deeper the better. The kicker will come right out of the water in heavy seas otherwise. <br /><br />This same bracket needs to lift the kicker high enough so it will be fully out of the water when not in use. Usually tilting the motor and having the bracket in the full up position gets it done, but you'll have to experiment with measurments and mock things up to be sure.

 

[lund17]

Re: What Horse power kicker should I get?

Massimo,<br /><br />My kicker is linked to my main as AlK referred to. In addition to better control in win you are also more comfortable if its a long ride and visibility is much better from the helm. I use mine for fishing so I spend some time with it. I got a link that connects/disconnects in a flash with spring loaded ball joints and simply stow it when not in use. Good luck with everything.

 

[massimofinance]

Re: What Horse power kicker should I get?

Everyone, thanks for the information, Let me ask, is it crazy to get a long shaft kicker, assuming that the deeper it reaches into the water, the better? Thanks.

 

[massimofinance]

Re: What Horse power kicker should I get?

Sorry, but I wanted to bump my question, hope that's OK?

 

[walleyehed]

Re: What Horse power kicker should I get?

Check on the "Boat topics and questions" forum.<br />The same question has been posted there and many other opinions as well.<br />I've used everything from a 3HP to a 25HP on my 18ft'r at 2800lbs., with me and 1 more on board, and I'll tell ya the same I posted on the other...The minumum HP you want will be 5HP per 1000lbs. of boat, loaded at max.<br />The people telling them to put 4-5 HP on a 3000lb boat haven't tried to turn a boat in wind.