what size kicker/trolling motor

[wildmaninal]

I'm thinking a 10hp to 15hp would be ideal for your boat. Lets see what these other guys half to say.

Why is my response showing up as post number 1????

 

[lordblitzalot]

what size kicker/trolling motor

looking to get a kicker/trolling motor for my boat
it is a 20' bayliner with a v8.
i am mostly wanting it just for a backup if my main has problems and i want it to be able to push my boat in the columbia.
im kinda a newbie to the whole boating thing so any info would be helpful.

 

[lordblitzalot]

Re: what size kicker/trolling motor

im thinking im gonna go with a 15 hp merc for a backup in big rivers and bays.
and a older merc 9.8 for trolling around lakes.

both these motors are cheap i found the 9.8 on craigslist for 225$
and 15 hp mercs from 5-700$

any better ideas around the same price range?

 

[lordblitzalot]

Re: what size kicker/trolling motor

the other one i am looking at is a 1991 15hp merc force outboard

 

[ondarvr]

Re: what size kicker/trolling motor

Buy only one motor and since you have an I/O go with a 4 stroke. Take the $1,000 plus you'll put into these 2 Mercs and buy one good motor, I say $1,000 plus because each will end up needing a few things like water pumps, carb kits, possibly coils, etc. One motor is all you need, get something from 8hp to 15hp and if possible get a T8 Yamaha, but even used they'll most likely cost more than you want to pay, but still try for a high thrust model.

Don't even think of buying the Force.

 

[lordblitzalot]

Re: what size kicker/trolling motor

wouldnt an 8hp be too small to push me against current if i needed it in the columbia with that boat?

 

[ondarvr]

Re: what size kicker/trolling motor

That's why I said high thrust model. A normal 8 would be at the low end of what "might" work, a high thrust model will have plenty of power.

Nothing short of your big motor is going to move you much faster than 7 or 8 MPH, so you won't be going up stream very fast no matter what motor you have. Go down to a boat launch on the Columbia and see what most people use, you should see 75+% of the boats with T8's and that includes boats bigger than yours.

 

[lordblitzalot]

Re: what size kicker/trolling motor

yeah i wasnt planning on getting anywhere fast just wanting to be able to get to shore incase i need to.
thanks for the input

 

[FishnMike]

Re: what size kicker/trolling motor

Yamaha T-8 is the gold standard of kicker motors for a reason. If you need a little more power you can look at the T-9.9. I second what ondarvr said, spend good money on a good motor.

FishnMike

 

[lordblitzalot]

Re: what size kicker/trolling motor

yeah those are a little pricey

what about the tohatsu 15hp?