Help choosing/mounting kicker motor jack plate

[Trooper Steve]

I'm in the process of rebuilding my 1982 17' Sylvan fish n ski boat and I'm considering a 9.9 mercury pro kicker. Main motor is a 1982 75hp Merc. It doesn't like running at low rpm's for any length of time Hence, the kicker motor. My transom is not wide enough to mount the kicker next to the main motor so I believe my only option is a jack plate. I also believe I'm going to have to tie the two motors together with a steering arm due to the fact the transom comes up about 15 inches on either side of the main motor, leaving no room to operate the tiller. **I'm also converting to a Tele-star hydraulic steering.** I've been scouring the internet and have become completely confused as to which jack plate would be best for my application. The hydraulic ones caught my eye, but about gave me vapor lock when I saw the price!!! Also, can the kicker motor be set up to operate without the tiller?? I would assume so, but I've been wrong before!! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[NYBo]

Re: Help choosing/mounting kicker motor jack plate

Welcome to iboats!

Instead of the expense and rigamarole of mounting a kicker, how about using one of these? You also won't be overpowering your boat (assuming it's rated for 75 HP): the 9.9 would give you a total mounted HP of 84.9, which is how the Coast Guard would figure it.

 

[Trooper Steve]

Re: Help choosing/mounting kicker motor jack plate

I tried one of those and it didn't work all that great. I fouled out my plugs about 8 miles from the dock in the middle of a Canadian lake!! Fortunately I had a spare set or I'd still be paddling!! But thanks for the suggestion!

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Help choosing/mounting kicker motor jack plate

I'd upgrade to a good electric bowmount instead, like a minn kota Ipilot of motorguide Wireless. You can troll all day on a charge, have better steering and control, no maintenance like plugs and impeller, and no gas to buy or exhaust smoke. They're also very quiet, and you can run them from anywhere in the boat with the hand held remote control... your intial cost would probably be cheaper too.

 

[Trooper Steve]

Re: Help choosing/mounting kicker motor jack plate

I have been considering that. Right now I have a 12 volt trolling motor and have been thinking of upgrading to a 24 volt system. I just got back from a trip to Canada where I had to rent a boat due to the aforementioned rebuild. The rental was an 18' Lund with a 115 Yamaha, and 8hp Yamaha kicker and a wireless Motor-guide 24 volt trolling motor. The 8hp kicker was what really got me interested in putting one on my boat. We trolled most of the day for lake trout and the 8hp never missed a beat and was smooth as glass. The wireless control for the trolling motor was giving me fits. About every 6th activation of the control sent the trolling motor in a circle until the control was tapped again!! I was ready to toss it in the drink!! Not sure if it was an isolated case with this motor or what, but I was less than impressed. Give me wire controls anytime if that's what's gonna happen!!