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Author Topic:   Looking for input on Micro-kickers

Salmon Tub posted 03-17-2003 03:35 PM ET (US)
Looking to hear from anyone who uses a kicker on their boat that is less than 4 hp, preferably on a 17'. What is the performance, what do you use it for?
Seabrook posted 03-17-2003 04:13 PM ET (US)
Had a 3.5 Nissan on my 1983 Montauk. I carried it solely as a spare motor in case the main motor had a problem offshore. Luckily I never had to use it.
It was a short shaft on a motor bracket and it would push the Montauk just fine about 4-5 MPH. I tried the same motor on my 18 Outrage but found it to be too small for the Outrage.
FLUKEDUKE posted 03-17-2003 04:22 PM ET (US)
Can't speak for a 17', but on an 18' with a 6hp (long shaft), steering in wind/wave conditions can be a problem. If it's calm I set the 6 in a dead ahead position and steer with the wheel using the 150 as a rudder, works great. If there's any wind, 10 knots+
it's not that easy and usually end up working the kicker off the tiller handle. Guess the solution would be to tie the steering to both motors but then again how do you tilt one up and one down?
spotsnspecks posted 03-17-2003 05:30 PM ET (US)
I used a 4hp kicker as a backup on my 17 Outrage. I also used it to troll for Speckled Trout in the bay down here. It had a short shaft and was mounted on a kicker bracket. I think a 6 or 8 hp would be better suited for the heavier outrage hull.
DaveS posted 03-17-2003 07:52 PM ET (US)
If you do a search from the last 6 months, you'll find someone did the numbers on a small 3.3(I think) merc short shaft on a Montauk and were very excited with the results. I decided to get a 5hp 4-stroke for my kicker. I'll be picking it up in a few weeks and I'll open it up in about a month.
DaveS
Drisney posted 03-17-2003 10:36 PM ET (US)
I have an older Merc 4.5 hp motor I use on an eight foot inflatable. That motor starts very easily and runs like a top. I never mounted it on my 17 when I had it but the reliability sure is there in the little motor..Dave
Salmon Tub posted 03-18-2003 12:43 PM ET (US)
Thanks for the replies guys,
DaveS, let me know how that kicker performs, and how it effects the performance of the boat when underway, does the boat list to one side, how is it when drifting, more pronounced list? What does the kicker weigh? How do you deal with fuel supply?
DaveS posted 03-18-2003 03:11 PM ET (US)
I should be picking it up in a couple of weeks and hopefully be able to check it out during my Easter Break. Nice thing about being a teacher! I'll check the weight, I think it was about 50#s, +/- a pound or two. I'm planning to run it from my water separater. One line to the main and the other to the kicker. I also decided on a 4-stroke because I wanted to use the same tank for both. I think someone mentioned putting valves in each line to the engines to prevent starvation. I'll talk to my dealer about that when I bring it home.
If you have any other questions, please let me know.
DaveS
ps...the surprising thing about this whole ordeal is that after doing my internet shopping, Iboats, Ed's, etc...the price I recieved for this engine was within $20 of their prices. Yes, I now will have to pay taxes, but I also don't have shipping charges. Plus, the added benefit of dealing with someone close to home!
Bobber posted 03-25-2003 11:53 PM ET (US)
I have used a 3hp Sears (Tanaka)on my 17' Supersport on 2 occasions. Once to see how well it would push the boat and once to troll live baits.
The motor has a 17" shaft, clamped to the port transom its 24lb weight had no effect, but I didn't run with it there, it was stored in the church pew locker for traveling. I got 4.2 mph on the GPS @ WOT with a 10 knot wind behind me and working across the Gulfstream current. Didn't try it into wind/current, but it would make for a looong ride back in the event of engine failure. At low throttle, it gave perfect speeds for trolling goggle eyes for kings and sails but was loud and clumsy to steer with an extension handle due to the Supersports bench arrangement.
I still put it aboard when heading offshore, but with a new main engine I've never had to use it (knock on Whaler wood)

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Author	Topic: Looking for input on Micro-kickers
Salmon Tub	posted 03-17-2003 03:35 PM ET (US) Looking to hear from anyone who uses a kicker on their boat that is less than 4 hp, preferably on a 17'. What is the performance, what do you use it for?
Seabrook	posted 03-17-2003 04:13 PM ET (US) Had a 3.5 Nissan on my 1983 Montauk. I carried it solely as a spare motor in case the main motor had a problem offshore. Luckily I never had to use it. It was a short shaft on a motor bracket and it would push the Montauk just fine about 4-5 MPH. I tried the same motor on my 18 Outrage but found it to be too small for the Outrage.
FLUKEDUKE	posted 03-17-2003 04:22 PM ET (US) Can't speak for a 17', but on an 18' with a 6hp (long shaft), steering in wind/wave conditions can be a problem. If it's calm I set the 6 in a dead ahead position and steer with the wheel using the 150 as a rudder, works great. If there's any wind, 10 knots+ it's not that easy and usually end up working the kicker off the tiller handle. Guess the solution would be to tie the steering to both motors but then again how do you tilt one up and one down?
spotsnspecks	posted 03-17-2003 05:30 PM ET (US) I used a 4hp kicker as a backup on my 17 Outrage. I also used it to troll for Speckled Trout in the bay down here. It had a short shaft and was mounted on a kicker bracket. I think a 6 or 8 hp would be better suited for the heavier outrage hull.
DaveS	posted 03-17-2003 07:52 PM ET (US) If you do a search from the last 6 months, you'll find someone did the numbers on a small 3.3(I think) merc short shaft on a Montauk and were very excited with the results. I decided to get a 5hp 4-stroke for my kicker. I'll be picking it up in a few weeks and I'll open it up in about a month. DaveS
Drisney	posted 03-17-2003 10:36 PM ET (US) I have an older Merc 4.5 hp motor I use on an eight foot inflatable. That motor starts very easily and runs like a top. I never mounted it on my 17 when I had it but the reliability sure is there in the little motor..Dave
Salmon Tub	posted 03-18-2003 12:43 PM ET (US) Thanks for the replies guys, DaveS, let me know how that kicker performs, and how it effects the performance of the boat when underway, does the boat list to one side, how is it when drifting, more pronounced list? What does the kicker weigh? How do you deal with fuel supply?
DaveS	posted 03-18-2003 03:11 PM ET (US) I should be picking it up in a couple of weeks and hopefully be able to check it out during my Easter Break. Nice thing about being a teacher! I'll check the weight, I think it was about 50#s, +/- a pound or two. I'm planning to run it from my water separater. One line to the main and the other to the kicker. I also decided on a 4-stroke because I wanted to use the same tank for both. I think someone mentioned putting valves in each line to the engines to prevent starvation. I'll talk to my dealer about that when I bring it home. If you have any other questions, please let me know. DaveS ps...the surprising thing about this whole ordeal is that after doing my internet shopping, Iboats, Ed's, etc...the price I recieved for this engine was within $20 of their prices. Yes, I now will have to pay taxes, but I also don't have shipping charges. Plus, the added benefit of dealing with someone close to home!
Bobber	posted 03-25-2003 11:53 PM ET (US) I have used a 3hp Sears (Tanaka)on my 17' Supersport on 2 occasions. Once to see how well it would push the boat and once to troll live baits. The motor has a 17" shaft, clamped to the port transom its 24lb weight had no effect, but I didn't run with it there, it was stored in the church pew locker for traveling. I got 4.2 mph on the GPS @ WOT with a 10 knot wind behind me and working across the Gulfstream current. Didn't try it into wind/current, but it would make for a looong ride back in the event of engine failure. At low throttle, it gave perfect speeds for trolling goggle eyes for kings and sails but was loud and clumsy to steer with an extension handle due to the Supersports bench arrangement. I still put it aboard when heading offshore, but with a new main engine I've never had to use it (knock on Whaler wood)