Re: Adding a kicker
On my view, advantage to a small kicker for trolling on a 16 ft. hull is that the motor doesn't have to idle down as far as it would if, say on a 12' car topper. Means the kicker will run better, won't load up, probably will run cooler. You might be a little better off with a 4 or 5 1/2 hp -- little more control in the wind or a chop, and weight diff. is probably not a factor. You can get a bracket that slides into a plate mounted on the transom. I've used two or three of those, and like them (Garelick). You can remove the bracket and the motor for off season storage (and mount the bracket in the shop or garage so you can store the motor). There are a couple of different steering arms or connectors out there for attachment to the main motor. I like the rod with post and quick releases (trying to remember the name of the mfg. -- think there is one made by Teleflex). You can make the attachments up near the front of the motors at the lower cowling, or in the rear. Can attach when ready to use the troller, and detach when ready to fire up the main motor and head home. (This is not the device that attaches to the legs of the motors, but that is also a quick release system and also would work.)
Edit: See "kicker steering to I/O", post #8 for pic of above steering link.
