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Author Topic:   "kicker" for Whaler 15

eolson posted 02-14-2000 07:12 AM ET (US)
I've got a 1983 Whaler 15 Sport with a 1985 Johnson 70HP. Runs great, but I'd really like to have auxiliary power. I'm thinking of hanging a small outboard off the transom. Specifically, I'm looking at a new Honda 2HP 4 cycle for $700.
My thoughts...
1) trolling - quiet, low gas consumption, no smoke
2) less wear and tear on the 70HP because I'm not using it for trolling
3) if the 70HP won't start up while on the water, I can just use the Honda to get home (albeit slowly).
Anybody have any experience with this??? Suggestions?
Thanks in advance,
Eric Olson
Gainesville, FL
jimh posted 02-14-2000 09:25 AM ET (US)
It would be nice to have a "kicker" engine, but the transom of the 15 is pretty strangely shaped.
See [url]http://continuouswave.com/whaler/15/images/whalerTrailer384X300.jpeg[/url]
My first thought would be to fabricate a mounting bracket that fit between the main motor and the transom and extended out to one side. It could be made from aluminum to save weight. To this plate you could mount a more conventional small motor bracket that would allow the kicker to be raised and lowered.
This approach has the advantage of not putting any more holes in the transom, and if removed there would be no sign of any mods to the hull.
I would think the kicker should go on the port side, opposite the console, so as to balance the weight better.
And light weight would be important. I have a 45 lb. FORCE 5 HP that would be useful as a kicker, but I haven't seriously thought about mounting it yet because of the obstacle of the transom's shape.
--jim
jimh posted 02-14-2000 09:34 AM ET (US)
See transom at:
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/15/images/whalerTrailer384X300.jpeg
--jim
triblet posted 02-14-2000 10:43 PM ET (US)
Most kickers get mounted starboard side,
presumeably to counteract the prop torque
of the main engine.
Jimh's idea of plate sounds good, but
I suspect it would need to be bolted to the
transom on the outboard end.
Chuck
eolson posted 02-16-2000 06:35 AM ET (US)
Jim's right about the odd transom. Bracket sounds good.
What about the other issue... will a 2HP Honda do the trick? Any guess at the trolling speeds I could expect?
I really want a 4 cycle. Price jumps dramatically for 5HP, so I'm hoping that the 2HP will do the trick. OTOH, I don't want to buy something cheap that won't work.
Eric
mark posted 02-16-2000 08:51 PM ET (US)
I made a kicker bracket for my '80 15' Striper, powered by a merc. 50. I hang a Johnson 9.9 on the port side transom. I use a 9.9 due to h.p. limits on several of my local lakes. The bracket is made from 1/4" stainless plate, basically an inverted "U" shape. Each face is 6"x8" that slides over top of the transom. A transom plate is then welded to the top of the inverted "U". I did have to drill 3 bolts through the transom, using the lift eye bolt as the 4th. You must use a 20" shaft motor, but the kicker sits at the proper level to run from the rear seat and when tilted up, it clears the wake without a problem. If interested I could send photo. good luck, mark

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Author	Topic: "kicker" for Whaler 15
eolson	posted 02-14-2000 07:12 AM ET (US) I've got a 1983 Whaler 15 Sport with a 1985 Johnson 70HP. Runs great, but I'd really like to have auxiliary power. I'm thinking of hanging a small outboard off the transom. Specifically, I'm looking at a new Honda 2HP 4 cycle for $700. My thoughts... 1) trolling - quiet, low gas consumption, no smoke 2) less wear and tear on the 70HP because I'm not using it for trolling 3) if the 70HP won't start up while on the water, I can just use the Honda to get home (albeit slowly). Anybody have any experience with this??? Suggestions? Thanks in advance, Eric Olson Gainesville, FL
jimh	posted 02-14-2000 09:25 AM ET (US) It would be nice to have a "kicker" engine, but the transom of the 15 is pretty strangely shaped. See [url]http://continuouswave.com/whaler/15/images/whalerTrailer384X300.jpeg[/url] My first thought would be to fabricate a mounting bracket that fit between the main motor and the transom and extended out to one side. It could be made from aluminum to save weight. To this plate you could mount a more conventional small motor bracket that would allow the kicker to be raised and lowered. This approach has the advantage of not putting any more holes in the transom, and if removed there would be no sign of any mods to the hull. I would think the kicker should go on the port side, opposite the console, so as to balance the weight better. And light weight would be important. I have a 45 lb. FORCE 5 HP that would be useful as a kicker, but I haven't seriously thought about mounting it yet because of the obstacle of the transom's shape. --jim
jimh	posted 02-14-2000 09:34 AM ET (US) See transom at: http://continuouswave.com/whaler/15/images/whalerTrailer384X300.jpeg --jim
triblet	posted 02-14-2000 10:43 PM ET (US) Most kickers get mounted starboard side, presumeably to counteract the prop torque of the main engine. Jimh's idea of plate sounds good, but I suspect it would need to be bolted to the transom on the outboard end. Chuck
eolson	posted 02-16-2000 06:35 AM ET (US) Jim's right about the odd transom. Bracket sounds good. What about the other issue... will a 2HP Honda do the trick? Any guess at the trolling speeds I could expect? I really want a 4 cycle. Price jumps dramatically for 5HP, so I'm hoping that the 2HP will do the trick. OTOH, I don't want to buy something cheap that won't work. Eric
mark	posted 02-16-2000 08:51 PM ET (US) I made a kicker bracket for my '80 15' Striper, powered by a merc. 50. I hang a Johnson 9.9 on the port side transom. I use a 9.9 due to h.p. limits on several of my local lakes. The bracket is made from 1/4" stainless plate, basically an inverted "U" shape. Each face is 6"x8" that slides over top of the transom. A transom plate is then welded to the top of the inverted "U". I did have to drill 3 bolts through the transom, using the lift eye bolt as the 4th. You must use a 20" shaft motor, but the kicker sits at the proper level to run from the rear seat and when tilted up, it clears the wake without a problem. If interested I could send photo. good luck, mark