What size kicker?!?

[sutor623]

Hey guys I am looking for a little kicker/trolling motor for my 16' starcraft that is a kind of quiet and will push me against the wind/ current. I have a nice little 9.9 that is a little too big for my transom with the main motor (and it weighs 72 lbs.) I also have a Clinton/ Montomery Ward Seaking 7.5 that is a one cylinder that only weighs 35lbs. but is loud, and about as big as the 9.9. I am looking for something that is smaller that I can use as a backup and for trolling so I dont eat up all my batteries. Do you guys think that a 2-3hp would hit the mark, or would I just be wasting my time/money? Those little 4 stroke 2hp Hondas are SEXY, but I am not trying to spend quite that much for one!!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: What size kicker?!?

on a 16' I'd be thinking about electric. No 2 stroke OB will be quiet, at least not as quiet as your main motor (which can be used for trolling)

 

[JB]

Re: What size kicker?!?

I think a 70s-80s JohnnyRude 3-4.5 would be near perfect, sutor. The basic 3HP weighs about 30lb. You get a little more weight with FNR.

My Johnny JW-13 was as smooth and quiet as any 2 stroke outboard I ever had and carried its own fuel tank.

 

[sutor623]

Re: What size kicker?!?

on a 16' I'd be thinking about electric. No 2 stroke OB will be quiet, at least not as quiet as your main motor (which can be used for trolling)

Well I guess you are right in a sense. I do not like to haul 4 or 5 batteries around. My boat is relatively heavy and my 45lb. thrust barely moves it.

 

[sutor623]

Re: What size kicker?!?

I think a 70s-80s JohnnyRude 3-4.5 would be near perfect, sutor. The basic 3HP weighs about 30lb. You get a little more weight with FNR.

My Johnny JW-13 was as smooth and quiet as any 2 stroke outboard I ever had and carried its own fuel tank.

Is it quiet enough to troll in fresh water? The striper in fresh water are awfully skittish..........

 

[crb478]

Re: What size kicker?!?

I use an older 18 hp evinrude to troll for stripers in fresh water on a 18 foot Sea Pro CC. The fish do not spook as long as I stop the main motor outside the fishing area and start the kicker and set the idle. Once it is set I do not change it inside the target area as they are sensitive throttle changes. I make adjustments outside the area I want to fish and make another pass. Other boats speeding in can also turn the fish off for at least 15-20 munutes

 

[ondarvr]

Re: What size kicker?!?

Any of the smaller single cylinder motors shake and can be loud.

The motors JB is talking are like this one. http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/boa/2805227706.html

 

[sutor623]

Re: What size kicker?!?

Any of the smaller single cylinder motors shake and can be loud.

True statement. My 7.5 is insanely loud. I can run my 65hp mercury outside and no sign of the wife. If I run my single cylinder Clinton 7.5 here she comes a' runnin'!

 

[sutor623]

Re: What size kicker?!?

I use an older 18 hp evinrude to troll for stripers in fresh water on a 18 foot Sea Pro CC. The fish do not spook as long as I stop the main motor outside the fishing area and start the kicker and set the idle. Once it is set I do not change it inside the target area as they are sensitive throttle changes. I make adjustments outside the area I want to fish and make another pass. Other boats speeding in can also turn the fish off for at least 15-20 munutes

Okay, okay. Thats good to know. My 9.9 is a 2 cylinder and is through the prop exhaust, which takes away the annoying bubbly effect that the smaller motors put off. It is relatively quiet at idle, but it weights 72lbs. and takes up too much room on my transom. That is why I wanted something a little smaller. I went out fishing on a windy day, and got stranded. Sooo, I want a nice little backup motor and something that I can troll with against the wind without any issues. Electric motors just do not cut it in these conditions.

So here is a picky motor hogging ingrate (me :redface that does not want to troll with his loud (gas guzzling) 65, doesnt want to lug around the 9.9, and doesnt want to use the 7.5 cause it is so freakin loud. Anyone want to trade me their 2-3hp for my 7.5. Hahaha.

 

[JB]

Re: What size kicker?!?

Beg or borrow a JohnnyRude 3 and try it out, sutor. At trolling speed it sounds like a sewing machine and is just as smooth. It is, hands down, the best outboard ever made, by anyone.

 

[sutor623]

Re: What size kicker?!?

Beg or borrow a JohnnyRude 3 and try it out, sutor. At trolling speed it sounds like a sewing machine and is just as smooth. It is, hands down, the best outboard ever made, by anyone.

Oh wow. Thats a pretty strong referral. It sounds like I am in the market for an OMC 3. Thanks!!

 

[M9.9]

Re: What size kicker?!?

Dunno? but seems to me I'll have to disagree with the referral. the OMC 6hp was the better of the two and better than all others-lol !!

 

[sutor623]

Re: What size kicker?!?

Dunno? but seems to me I'll have to disagree with the referral. the OMC 6hp was the better of the two and better than all others-lol !!

Hahaha. We all have our opinions don't we? I personally love my 9.9 because it is a 2 cylinder with through prop exhaust, is pretty portable, and relatively quiet. I may just end up installing some sort of kicker plate on the boat so that I can fit her on the transom. It isnt that there isnt room for the motor, but the steering arm doesnt have enough clearance when the motor is installed.....

 

[ondarvr]

Re: What size kicker?!?

I have two of the 6HP OMC's and a 9.9, plus a 3.3 and 8HP Merc's for Kickers, there were others in the past too.

I would never use the 3.3 Merc for trolling, it's loud and vibrates, but it is strong. It’s similar to the 1.5 and 2HP OMCs I've had in the past.


I have used the smaller 3 and 4HP OMCs a great deal and they are very good motors if you need a light weight kicker. The 4HP OMCs were light and trolled very well, With just me I could even plane a small aluminum boat with one.


The 6’s aren’t much different, just more power and slightly more noise. I have had one since new (1967 to 69 or so, can’t remember right now) and it has needed almost zero repair work (new points, carb rebuild kit, water pump) since new. It has been used to troll day after day, all day long in both fresh and salt water, still runs great. I was trying to justify buying a new kicker about 15 years ago to replace it, but it just kept running with no issues.

The 9.9 (1979) has been almost as trouble free, it was used in the salt for many years and had some build up in the water passages, the old owner never flushed it. I cleaned it out, replaced the head gasket (over heated due the build up) and it has run great for the last 14 years. It might be a little quieter than the 6HP when trolling

The 1997 8HP Merc is the one I use the most, in fact the others have sat unused for the last 4 years. It is quieter, very easy to start and has the shift in the throttle feature, which works great for the type of fishing we do.

All of these motors work great for trolling, the 8HP Merc is only about 14 years old though, so it’s still too new for a long term test.

My next trolling motor will be a 4 stroke, but I need to find a good reason to buy a new(er) one, so far it’s been difficult for me to justify buying a new one when I have four that still run fine.

 

[sutor623]

Re: What size kicker?!?

Thanks ondarvr. It sounds like you sure have been around the black a few times. This still kind of points me in the direction of the johnson 3-4hp. I will agree though, a 4 stroke kicker would be pretty sweet!!

 

[gss036]

Re: What size kicker?!?

I had a 4 hp Johnson several years ago, good running motor but really not much power. I used it on 12 ft aluminum and was ok for just me trolling but beyond that not very practical. IMHO

 

[sutor623]

Re: What size kicker?!?

I had a 4 hp Johnson several years ago, good running motor but really not much power. I used it on 12 ft aluminum and was ok for just me trolling but beyond that not very practical. IMHO

Word. Yeah they dont have too much power. But I would only use it for trolling or backup, plus I have a 7.5 and a 9.9. It is surprising how much faster it is getting back to the dock with a small gas motor vs. a big electric one! Plus even starting up my big Mercury motor sucks about 1/10 of my battery's juice, and it will only idle for about an hour on one gallon of gas. I can run my 9.9 full throttle for an hour on a gallon of gas!

 

[sutor623]

Re: What size kicker?!?

Just wanted to thank you guys for all of your advice. JB I ended up going with your recommendation, and got a 1969 Evinrude 4hp 2 cylinder. Boy she does run like a sewing machine, just like you said. Only issue that I have with it is there is no motor prop to hold it upward when not in use.....

Anddddd, it has a brand spankin new ignition system in it!!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: What size kicker?!?

That old long shaft should be a real gem for your 16' Starcraft. Nice find.

 

[sutor623]

Re: What size kicker?!?

That old long shaft should be a real gem for your 16' Starcraft. Nice find.

Thanks EZ!! I think so too.