Kicker Mounting

[UncleWillie]

When installing a kicker, how deep does it need to be mounted.?

I have a 6hp Long shaft merc outboard.
The prop and anti-cavitation plate must obviously be below and clear of the hull bottom.
There is a 3/4 inch screened hole (Water Intake?) on the bottom of the main plate just forward of the prop, so it figures this needs to be deep enough to be guaranteed in clear water.
There are also two other smaller plates above the main plate near the prop.
One is about 1.5 inches above the big one, the other is about 4 inches up.
Should they both be in the water when running, or somewhere in the middle?
Deeper is better, but deeper is draggier.

Bill.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Kicker Mounting

prop should be below the hull for most efficient use of thrust.

Water intake must be below the waterline a couple inches..

Thats it.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Kicker Mounting

for kickers you really don't have to worry about drag

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Kicker Mounting

So be it.
Water line under power should be safe as shown in pix.
My concern about drag is that it will be used as a backup motor not a trolling motor.



Thanks! ...

 

[roscoe]

Re: Kicker Mounting

Can you not tilt the motor up out of the water, until the time comes that you need to use it?

 

[jacoboregon]

Re: Kicker Mounting

When installing a kicker, how deep does it need to be mounted.?

I have a 6hp Long shaft merc outboard.
The prop and anti-cavitation plate must obviously be below and clear of the hull bottom.
There is a 3/4 inch screened hole (Water Intake?) on the bottom of the main plate just forward of the prop, so it figures this needs to be deep enough to be guaranteed in clear water.
There are also two other smaller plates above the main plate near the prop.
One is about 1.5 inches above the big one, the other is about 4 inches up.
Should they both be in the water when running, or somewhere in the middle?
Deeper is better, but deeper is draggier.

Bill.

So, you are going to use this as a back-up motor? Are you mounting it direct to the transom or are you using a kicker bracket?

What size boat is this going on?

Deeper is not necessarily better. If it's on a larger boat with a deep "v" hull, it does not need to be below the hull, it just needs to be deep enough that the anti-cavitation plate is at or near the surface of the water as the boat is traveling.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Kicker Mounting

It will be out of the water until used.
The thought process is ... the choice of 4.5 or 5 mph makes a difference if you are trying to go 10 miles.

My priorities are
1. Don't damage the motor. (Deeper)
2. Go faster. (Shallower)

Any power is better than no power at all!

I tend to overthink these things. (But, it's OK to be crazy, as long as you know you are crazy!)
Thanks!

 

[roscoe]

Re: Kicker Mounting

Prop below hull is definitely better/faster than prop hidden behind transom.

Been there, done that.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Kicker Mounting

for kickers you really don't have to worry about drag

Ditto. All the info up to this is what you need to do. I quit reading after this post as you have your answer.

Mark

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Kicker Mounting

perhaps I should have been more clear: For kicker moters, used for trolling OR back-up, drag really doesn't matter.
If you are broke down and running your 6 hp to get home, it will take the rest of your beer to get there.
I agree you are overthinking this.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Kicker Mounting

At the risk of "piling on"....since you're kicker isn't going to plane it, in my opinion anyway, deeper is better. Especially if you're out bobbing the waves a bit, your kicker won't be popping out of the water periodically.

 

[UncleWillie]

The Final Answer!

The Final Answer!

OK, deeper is better.
A 6hp is never going to plane an 18 ft 2500lb modified V-hull.
It is going to take the rest of the day to get back. But ...
Any Power is better than No Power at all!

I found some maintenance manuals on line that included the Installation instructions.
They recommend mounting the motor so the Anti-Ventilation plate is Zero to one inch (0.0" to 1.0") below the hull.
And, 1 to 4 inches below the hull at speeds from 50 to 80 mph. Not with this motor!!!



0 to 1" is shallower that I would have thought.

We now have have the "Official" answer.

As Ferris Bueller last said, "It's Over, Go Home, Go to Sleep!"