Kicker Motor Usage Question

[JSGOLD]

Do any of you run kicker motors and if you do is it a big deal for the kicker motor to be in the water the same time as the bigger motor? I am still trying to plan my Starcraft additon when spring gets here and am trying to figure the best thing to do. What I hope to do....have a 55hp main outboard that is used ONLY in larger lakes, say 30% of the time, and a 61- evinrude 5.5 as a kicker / trolling motor in smaller lakes most of the time, Since steering with the tiller will be difficult I am planning to add a second speed control (have that now) but I want to steer both up front as well and I wonder if hooking up the steering rods will be difficult with the kicker motor on a mounting bracket, as I have seen some do. The smaller motor has no tilt and neither does the big one, however the big one I can get propped up before going to the small lakes. Bottom line.....what is the BEST way to hook up and use a small motor like this on a 16' boat? I have the connector from Iboats to tie motors together....would the small motor cause a drag on the 55 in the down position? Anyone got any pics on theirs done this way?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Kicker Motor Usage Question

In my opinion, you can leave the big motor down when you're running the small one. But not the other way around. Best thing to do is go ahead and buy one of these http://www.iboats.com/Zinc-Adjustab...1842796--**********.053894582--view_id.163195 and start playing with it. It's inexpensive and highly customizable.

 

[JSGOLD]

Re: Kicker Motor Usage Question

I have one of thiose already based on your recomendation some time back...was waiting until I figured the final set up before I cut it to length. My question I guess is if the smaller motor should be out of the way when using the big motor, should I invest in a special mount for kickers that lets you pull it out of the way? Otherwise I will have to remove the smaller motor when going to the big lakes.....I do have an electric troller too...of course it's not much. My guess is that also hooking up the bar you listed I would have to disconnect that connector also when raising the motor on the kicker mount, and I will have to be sure that I cut the rod to the right length to let me steer with the big motor in the up positon.

 

[JSGOLD]

Re: Kicker Motor Usage Question

If I remember right...don;t you have a 8hp on your Starcraft? Any pics of your setup?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Kicker Motor Usage Question

If I remember right...don;t you have a 8hp on your Starcraft? Any pics of your setup?

I had a 4 on the Jupiter. The SS is still a work in progress. My set up on the Jupiter was LAME because due to my existing swim ladder I was unable to mount the kicker on the port side which is really they way it should be for optimal EZ steer set up. Are you sure there isn't room on your transom for both motors without a kicker bracket? This guy's site helped me visualize some things http://users.sisqtel.net/jkriz/Outrage/Kicker/

 

[JSGOLD]

Re: Kicker Motor Usage Question

Actually it does fit nicley as is on the trasom....the only problem is that it does not tilt so when using the bigger motor I will have to either leave it down, remove it, or put a lift platfrom mount on it. Leaving it down when running 30-35 was my concern, might be rought on it and the boat. I guess I could just take the smaller motor off when going to larger lakes and take it in case I need it, and use the electric one if I break down on the water with the bigger one....I have seen people put 100+ hP motors and 8-9hps on the same boat but in those cases both motors had tilting available. Just trying to weigh my options.


BTW, reagrding the other fellows boat with the kicker... I saw this 2-3 days ago, LOL. Looks great! He mentions lowering the kicker when needed....I assume he meant it has tilt available as I saw no bracket...and I guess his setup lets him steer if one of the motors is up....the 5.5 just has no tilt though....it has a release that let's it move up a liitle if you think you are going to bottom out but that's it.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Kicker Motor Usage Question

I know why your big motor doesn't tilt. Why doesn't the little one?

 

[JSGOLD]

Re: Kicker Motor Usage Question

it just has no tilt, just a release for letting it move up if striking bottom.

 

[JSGOLD]

Re: Kicker Motor Usage Question

I will d/c the owners manual on the tilt, but do not remember seeing anything at all listed for tilting this motor. If I am wrong then I will feel foolish, but won't be the first time nor that last one. Amyway here is a shortcut to my boat with both motors on it. I have since removed the smaller one for the time being.
http://s787.photobucket.com/albums/yy158/JSGOLD2009/BOAT/

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: Kicker Motor Usage Question

My Honda BF100 is on a kicker bracket. But I tilt it up when running the main motor.

I'm surprised your kicker doesn't have a trailer position. Seems wrong somehow.

 

[JSGOLD]

Re: Kicker Motor Usage Question

Maybe since they are used on smaller boats maybe they were not needed, or, I have totally overlooked it....either one is a possibilty in my case. I am totally new to boats, god help me when we take our maiden voyage in April, LOL! Plus, to be honest I have had little time to work with it due to some other things going on right now....but I just do not remember the owners manual even mentioning tilt...just a release in case I think I might hit bottom. Anyone with an old Evinride "fisherman" 5 hp or 5.5, if I am wrong here please advise.

 

[JSGOLD]

Re: Kicker Motor Usage Question

Ooops! After chatting with in the Evinrude section and re-reading my manual it does have a tilt feature...although the manual says almost nothing about it. The same release latch that the book says to use to let the motor swing loose in case of bottom strike will let you raise the motor WAY up further than I had thought and it stays in place until you release the same latch again. I guess the question I would have since I do not know if it is friction or what that holds it up is how firm this will stay if I bounce the boat around at higher speeds. Anyway....this helps a bunch so I can indeed hook this up the way I want to when the weather gets better and I heal up (wrist having ligament repair surgery in 10 days)....will be in a cast for 8 weeks afterward. This is just more of a situation where if I had been around boats a lot I would have had the knowledge to at least ask the sellers when buying the boat and then the motor later. Thanks for all of the help...it IS appreciated.