4.5 mercury 2 stroke

[KJM]

Do you think the above motor would be big enough as a kicker on a 20 ft fiberglass boat. Just need something to get me home in case of emergency.

 

[racerone]

5 HP motors are used on 25" and 3000 LB sailboats to get in and out of the harbor.

 

[flashback]

Depends on where you're boating.

 

[KJM]

Depends on where you're boating.

Saltwater, but only a couple of miles from harbor, calm weather.

 

[Chris1956]

You would also need a slow or better yet, no current. I have seen sailboats under power fail to get into a creek, when the tide was going out. The current overpowered the kicker.

 

[flashback]

Exactly, you need to be able to overcome tidal currents...

 

[tphoyt]

I watched a sailboat trying to out of the harbor the other night and it was going backwards. They had to give up. It really depends on you conditions.

 

[KJM]

No big currents here, and no rivers or creeks, just wind at times. Considering my main OB is a 25 inch leg, would a long shaft be better or does it not matter?

 

[tphoyt]

Do you have a mount that moves up and down?
If so you made be ok but only you can know.
No clue what your set up is.

 

[KJM]

Do you have a mount that moves up and down?
If so you made be ok but only you can know.
No clue what your set up is.

I would be buying a kicker mount that would move up and down. Can you leave the tiller handle on the kicker when mounted below the top of the transom?

 

[flashback]

I would be buying a kicker mount that would move up and down. Can you leave the tiller handle on the kicker when mounted below the top of the transom?

That would depend on the mount. The type that swings back and away from the transom would allow some clearance..

 

[KJM]

That would depend on the mount. The type that swings back and away from the transom would allow some clearance..

Yeah, I was looking online and saw that I likely can leave the tiller on. I know 4.5 is a little small but I also want to be able to mount it on a smaller inflatable I have for fishing in small ponds too.

 

[flashback]

Well you should be able to achieve 4 or 5 knots so be aware of the tidal currents.

 

[KJM]

After some research and finding out the motor was from the late 70's, I decided to take a pass. Most of what I read leads me to think I would need something a little bigger. Maybe 8hp or so. Yamaha 9.9 four stroke seem to be the go to kicker here. I'll start saving up over the winter!

 

[Chris1956]

Smooth move. 10 Hp is a better choice. Also, consider a larger engine. The cost of a 15HP motor over a 10HP is small.

However, I think the most important thing is that they use the same fuel.
Otherwise, you always have the aux fuel tank kicking around. And how much fuel do you take for the aux, on a given trip. If the big motor breaks down, do you want to be siphoning and mixing oil out on the water, to get home?

 

[KJM]

Smooth move. 10 Hp is a better choice. Also, consider a larger engine. The cost of a 15HP motor over a 10HP is small.

However, I think the most important thing is that they use the same fuel.
Otherwise, you always have the aux fuel tank kicking around. And how much fuel do you take for the aux, on a given trip. If the big motor breaks down, do you want to be siphoning and mixing oil out on the water, to get home?

Most of what I've read says bigger is not always better in this case as you are just adding extra weight with no extra speed as it wont get the boat on plane and the speed will be limited to the design of the hull until it planes out. As for the gas, I agree having mixed and straight fuel might be a bit of a pain but on the one occasion I broke down this year it was a blockage at the fuel/water separator and I didn't know it at the time. If I had a kicker hooked to the same fuel line in that case neither would have worked! (i know now I need an extra F/W filter and the tool to change it)

 

[Scott Danforth]

I would have no problem with a 4.5hp pushing a 20' boat as a kicker.

My buddy used a 2.5 on his dinghy to push his 37' sailboat 4 miles when his Perkins died

I have access to a Honda weed wacker motor based outboard that moves my boat (granted, a bit slow)

 

[KJM]

I would have no problem with a 4.5hp pushing a 20' boat as a kicker.

My buddy used a 2.5 on his dinghy to push his 37' sailboat 4 miles when his Perkins died

I have access to a Honda weed wacker motor based outboard that moves my boat (granted, a bit slow)

Wow, I wouldn't have thought would move at all let alone 4 miles! Anyway the age of the one I was thinking about kind of turned me off. As my wife always tells me, "you're buying somebody else's junk trying to save a dollar". After some of my purchases in the past its hard to argue! I saw some of those YT vid's of weed wacker outboards, maybe I'll rig one up just to see my wife's reaction when I tell her I bought it!

 

[KJM]

I would have no problem with a 4.5hp pushing a 20' boat as a kicker.

My buddy used a 2.5 on his dinghy to push his 37' sailboat 4 miles when his Perkins died

I have access to a Honda weed wacker motor based outboard that moves my boat (granted, a bit slow)

So, Scott, does a kicker on my boat need to be a long shaft? It's a converted I/O with a 25 in leg OB on her now.

 

[tphoyt]

If we’re me I would look for a long shaft so you’re not having to hang over the stern so much to operate it. The adjustable kicker mount should provide enough set back to pass behind your trim tabs.
Jmo